Groups versus individuals in the determination of caribou distribution
Studies of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) habitat selection based on group analyses have led to erroneous conclusions. Convenient designations such as «male-» or «female-dominated» group encompass a wide array of possible sizes and compositions which change continuously and erratically. Whenever indivi...
| Published in: | Rangifer |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Septentrio Academic Publishing
1986
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.666 https://doaj.org/article/13fae2ee69bb4ec5857c3a2b298f6d99 |
| Summary: | Studies of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) habitat selection based on group analyses have led to erroneous conclusions. Convenient designations such as «male-» or «female-dominated» group encompass a wide array of possible sizes and compositions which change continuously and erratically. Whenever individuals of at particular sex/age class can occur in more than one group type, and/or whenever groups within a type vary in size, an analysis based on groups alone is fallacious. Data must be based on individual caribou for most, if not all, determinations of distribution. |
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