Caribou Feeding Sites in Relation to Snow Characteristics in Northeastern
ABSTRACT. Caribou select areas of relatively shallow snow for winter feeding, and do so on at least two levels: broad area and microsite. They do not normally select sites with snow-packs having mean integrated Ram hardness values in &cess of 85. However, in areas of relatively shallow hard-pack...
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| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.557.4793 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic30-2-101.pdf |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT. Caribou select areas of relatively shallow snow for winter feeding, and do so on at least two levels: broad area and microsite. They do not normally select sites with snow-packs having mean integrated Ram hardness values in &cess of 85. However, in areas of relatively shallow hard-packed snow, which is easily fractured into slab-like pieces, they can obtain access to vegetation with less expen-diture of energy than Ram hardness values alone would suggest. Alpine feeding areas in the Porcupine Lake basin of northeastern Alaska had this type of snow-pack in the winter of 1972-73. In typical taiga winter range, caribou use areas where the snow depth is less than 50 centimetres. R&UM&. Lieux 02 s'alimente le caribou, en relation avec les particularitks de la neige dans l'Alaska du nord-est. POW s'alimenter en hiver le caribou choisit des tapis de neige relativement peu profonds, et ceci sw au moins deux sortes de terrains: vastes &endues et espaces trh restreints. Normalement il ne choisit pas les emplacements dont les tapis de ne @ tassb dCpasse en duret6 des valeurs moyennes intdgrbs de Ram de 85. Cependant, sur des dtendues de neige dure t a d e relati-vement peu profonde et qui peut &re facilement bris & en plaques, le caribou a a d s B la v6g6tation en dhensant moins d'dnergie que ne le donneraient B supposer, B elles seules, les valeurs de duret6 de Ram. Les r6gions de pfiturages alpins du lae du HCrisson dans l'Alaska du nord-est ont eu ce type de tapis neigeux au.couP,.de l'hiver 1972-73. Pendant un hiver typique de taiga, le caribou utilise, pour s'ali-menter, des fitendues couvertes par une 6paisseur de neige infhiewe B 50 centi-mhtres. WTRODUCTION The characteristics of snow cover have often been acknowlèdged ah p critical factor influencing the survival and wellbeing of ungulates in the Arctic and Sub- |
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