Merging indigenous and scientific knowledge links climate with the growth of a large migratory caribou population ...

1. Climate change in the Arctic is two to three times faster than anywhere else in the world. It is therefore crucial to understand the effects of weather on keystone arctic species, particularly those such as caribou (Rangifer tarandus) that sustain northern communities. Bridging long-term scientif...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gagnon, Catherine A., Hamel, Sandra, Russell, Don E., Powell, Todd, Andre, James, Svoboda, Michael Y., Berteaux, Dominique
Format: Dataset
Language:English
Published: Dryad 2019
Subjects:
body condition
icing events
Rangifer tarandus
Snow
community-based monitoring
Arctic
Canada
Caribou Range
Merra
Northwest Territories
Yukon
Climate change
Alaska
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbh4
https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbh4
Description
Summary:1. Climate change in the Arctic is two to three times faster than anywhere else in the world. It is therefore crucial to understand the effects of weather on keystone arctic species, particularly those such as caribou (Rangifer tarandus) that sustain northern communities. Bridging long-term scientific and indigenous knowledge offers a promising path to achieve this goal, as both types of knowledge may complement one another. 2. We assessed the influence of environmental variables on the spring and fall body condition of caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd. This herd ranges in the Yukon and Northwest Territories (Canada) and Alaska (USA), and is the only large North American herd that has not declined since the 2000s. Using observations recorded through an indigenous community-based monitoring program between 2000-2010, we analyzed temporal trends in caribou condition and quantified the effects of weather and critical weather-dependent variables (insect harassment and vegetation growth), on spring (n = ... : The seasonal weather variables present in this database were calculated based on daily weather variables specific to the seasonal ranges used by the PCH during the fall and spring. These daily weather variables are part of the CircumArctic RangiferMonitoring and Assessment (CARMA) network’s caribou range climate database (https://carma.caff.is/. The CARMA database was developed using NASA’s MERRA database, containing remotely sensed daily averaged climate data with a spatial resolution of 0.50° Lat. x 0.66° Long. ...

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