Bridging Traditional and scientific knowledge through a novel predictive approach to understand the role of pathogens in the decline of a key Arctic species ...

• Main Authors: Padilla, Benjamin, Aleuy, Oscar, Dobson, Andy, Jacobsen, Petter, Pruvot, Mathieu, Kutz, Susan
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2023
• Subjects: bioenergetic; caribou; parasites; integral projection model; rangier; Arctic; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8213196; https://zenodo.org/record/8213196

The main objective of this project is to understand and quantify the potential role of parasites and pathogens in population dynamics and declines of barren-ground caribou ( Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus ) through ecological modeling and Indigenous observation and monitoring. We hypothesized that the costs of diseases will have a negative impact on caribou physiology and, as a direct consequence, a negative impact on caribou population dynamics. This is likely to be a combination of cumulative effects through subtle energetic mechanisms such as decreasing body condition and pregnancy rates, as well as direct mortality, fetal abortion, or infertility. We built a bio-energetic integral projection model to evaluate the impact of parasites and biting insects on caribou body condition, and as a result, caribou population dynamics. Results from this model demonstrate the significant impact that sub-lethal infection and behavioural modifications caused by parasites and insect pests can have on caribou. We then ...