Computer simulation of Rangifer energetics ...

• Main Author: Russell, Donald Edmund
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Subjects: Rangifer tarandus; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0100115; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0100115

With increasing demands on and development of northern mineral resources, a basic understanding of the wildlife productivity is required for the careful management of any species. Barren-ground caribou, Rangifer tarandus (Richarson) , has been an integral part of these northern regions and the culture of the natives for centuries. With the use of simulation modeling much of the diverse data concerning caribou was integrated and evaluated into two model structures. Model BIOEN examined the winter bioenergetics of caribou while model ACTIVE examined the role of biting insects in the summer energetics of caribou. During the construction of these models much data collected on ungulates other than caribou were incorporated when comparative data for caribou were available. Model BIOEN proposes a critical environment for a 100 Kg male caribou under two nutritional regimes. Simulated effects of snow cover on energy balance appear important and deserve more research attention. Two areas, one in the tundra and one in ...