Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis
Delineating relevant local populations of widely distributed species is a common challenge in conservation ecology. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are in general decline throughout their global range, despite ongoing conservation efforts. In Canada, recovery actions for the threatened bore...
Published in: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2022
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 https://doaj.org/article/0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 2023-05-15T18:04:14+02:00 Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis Steven F. Wilson Wendy Crosina Elston Dzus Dave Hervieux Philip D. McLoughlin Laura M. Trout Thomas D. Nudds 2022-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 https://doaj.org/article/0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989422003298 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 https://doaj.org/article/0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 40, Iss , Pp e02327- (2022) Boreal woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou Spatial analysis Gaussian Bayesian Networks Community detection Species recovery planning Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 2022-12-30T19:40:18Z Delineating relevant local populations of widely distributed species is a common challenge in conservation ecology. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are in general decline throughout their global range, despite ongoing conservation efforts. In Canada, recovery actions for the threatened boreal population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are stratified by ‘local population units’ (LPUs) on ranges distributed across 2.4 × 10 km2 of the species’ geographic range. To estimate local population dynamics, LPUs are assumed to be geographically closed, though supporting evidence varies widely. We assembled an exceptionally large database of GPS telemetry locations (891,306 telemetry days, 1998–2020) from 1586 adult female caribou across the 19 northwesternmost LPUs. We generated a many-to-many Gaussian Bayesian Network to identify candidate local populations at range-level extents, as well as subpopulations, termed ‘communities’ in network analysis. We detected local population boundaries that in some cases were consistent with accepted LPUs and consistent with the assumption of geographic closure. In other cases, local population boundaries did not map well to currently delineated LPUs. Several communities at smaller spatial extents were consistent with expert and local knowledge of caribou movements and support recovery planning and actions “stepped down” from entire ranges. Evidence consistent with population fragmentation was confirmed along the southern and southwestern boundaries of the species’ geographic range within the study area, as were more continuous distributions confirmed to the north. We suggest that network analysis can help to inform conservation planning for boreal caribou and other wide-ranging species that would benefit from data-driven characterizations of multiscale population spatial structure. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Global Ecology and Conservation 40 e02327 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Boreal woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou Spatial analysis Gaussian Bayesian Networks Community detection Species recovery planning Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Boreal woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou Spatial analysis Gaussian Bayesian Networks Community detection Species recovery planning Ecology QH540-549.5 Steven F. Wilson Wendy Crosina Elston Dzus Dave Hervieux Philip D. McLoughlin Laura M. Trout Thomas D. Nudds Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
topic_facet |
Boreal woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou Spatial analysis Gaussian Bayesian Networks Community detection Species recovery planning Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Delineating relevant local populations of widely distributed species is a common challenge in conservation ecology. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are in general decline throughout their global range, despite ongoing conservation efforts. In Canada, recovery actions for the threatened boreal population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are stratified by ‘local population units’ (LPUs) on ranges distributed across 2.4 × 10 km2 of the species’ geographic range. To estimate local population dynamics, LPUs are assumed to be geographically closed, though supporting evidence varies widely. We assembled an exceptionally large database of GPS telemetry locations (891,306 telemetry days, 1998–2020) from 1586 adult female caribou across the 19 northwesternmost LPUs. We generated a many-to-many Gaussian Bayesian Network to identify candidate local populations at range-level extents, as well as subpopulations, termed ‘communities’ in network analysis. We detected local population boundaries that in some cases were consistent with accepted LPUs and consistent with the assumption of geographic closure. In other cases, local population boundaries did not map well to currently delineated LPUs. Several communities at smaller spatial extents were consistent with expert and local knowledge of caribou movements and support recovery planning and actions “stepped down” from entire ranges. Evidence consistent with population fragmentation was confirmed along the southern and southwestern boundaries of the species’ geographic range within the study area, as were more continuous distributions confirmed to the north. We suggest that network analysis can help to inform conservation planning for boreal caribou and other wide-ranging species that would benefit from data-driven characterizations of multiscale population spatial structure. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Steven F. Wilson Wendy Crosina Elston Dzus Dave Hervieux Philip D. McLoughlin Laura M. Trout Thomas D. Nudds |
author_facet |
Steven F. Wilson Wendy Crosina Elston Dzus Dave Hervieux Philip D. McLoughlin Laura M. Trout Thomas D. Nudds |
author_sort |
Steven F. Wilson |
title |
Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
title_short |
Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
title_full |
Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
title_fullStr |
Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
title_sort |
nested population structure of threatened boreal caribou revealed by network analysis |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 https://doaj.org/article/0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 40, Iss , Pp e02327- (2022) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989422003298 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 https://doaj.org/article/0c1005c7811a4cb18c3a66430a65cea2 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02327 |
container_title |
Global Ecology and Conservation |
container_volume |
40 |
container_start_page |
e02327 |
_version_ |
1766175533374111744 |