The population dynamics of Newfoundland caribou ...

• Main Author: Bergerud, Arthur Thompson
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2011
• Subjects: Newfoundland; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0104108; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0104108

The population dynamics of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) on the Island of Newfoundland were studied 1957 to 1967. Four herds were recognized and censused: the Northern Peninsula — 450 animals in 1958 and 400 in 1966, the Avalon Peninsula — 125 in 1957 and 720 in 1967, the Humber River — 130 in 1956 and 115 in 1964, and the Interior -- 4600 in 1957 and 6200 animals in 1966. The Island population 1900-1910 was estimated at 40,000 animals. After 1915 these herds rapidly declined and reached a low of perhaps only 2000 animals by 1930. The annual rate of increase (r) of all the herds was low. The Humber and Northern Peninsula herds showed no increase while the Interior Herd grew at only 0.044. The Avalon Peninsula Herd showed the greatest rate-of-increase 1961 to 1967, r= 0.120. The potential r of Newfoundland caribou is probably greater than 0.30. A herd of caribou introduced to Brunette Island increased at r=0.352, from 17 to 100 animals in 5 years. In the Interior Herd, birth rates were high and constant and ...