Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management
We studied body mass of female calves and natality rate of adult females in two adjacent Interior Alaskan caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) herds during 1991-2001. Mass of newborn calves was similar in both herds, but Delta calves gained significantly more mass over summer than Nelchina calves. In...
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
2003
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.23.5.1702 https://doaj.org/article/2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a 2023-05-15T15:53:30+02:00 Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management Patrick Valkenburg Robert W. Tobey Bruce W. Dale Bradley D. Scotton Jay M. Ver Hoef 2003-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7557/2.23.5.1702 https://doaj.org/article/2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a EN eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1702 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.23.5.1702 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a Rangifer, Vol 23, Iss 5 (2003) caribou Alaska body size body mass Delta Herd metatarsus length Animal culture SF1-1100 article 2003 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7557/2.23.5.1702 2022-12-30T23:13:31Z We studied body mass of female calves and natality rate of adult females in two adjacent Interior Alaskan caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) herds during 1991-2001. Mass of newborn calves was similar in both herds, but Delta calves gained significantly more mass over summer than Nelchina calves. In contrast, Nelchina calves consistently maintained their mass during winter while Delta calves lost mass. Metatarsus length was similar in both herds in 4-month-old and 10-month-old calves, and it increased over winter in both herds. Natality rates of females >3 years old were consistently higher in the Delta Herd than in the Nelchina Herd, primarily because natality in 3- to 5-year-old Nelchina females was low. Although body mass of Delta Herd calves consistently declined over winter, we concluded that nutrition was not significantly limiting herd growth. Managers are more likely to maximize harvest by maintaining the Delta Herd near its present size (i.e., 3500), or allowing it to increase only slightly. The only real option for increasing harvestable surpluses of caribou in the Delta Herd is reducing predation during calving and summer. In contrast, we conclude that summer nutrition significantly limits potential population growth and body mass in the Nelchina Herd, and managers are more likely to maximize harvest by maintaining herd size at or below 30 000 than by allowing the herd to grow to near historical highs (i.e., 60 000-70 000). Article in Journal/Newspaper caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Rangifer 23 5 203 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
caribou Alaska body size body mass Delta Herd metatarsus length Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
caribou Alaska body size body mass Delta Herd metatarsus length Animal culture SF1-1100 Patrick Valkenburg Robert W. Tobey Bruce W. Dale Bradley D. Scotton Jay M. Ver Hoef Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
topic_facet |
caribou Alaska body size body mass Delta Herd metatarsus length Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
We studied body mass of female calves and natality rate of adult females in two adjacent Interior Alaskan caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) herds during 1991-2001. Mass of newborn calves was similar in both herds, but Delta calves gained significantly more mass over summer than Nelchina calves. In contrast, Nelchina calves consistently maintained their mass during winter while Delta calves lost mass. Metatarsus length was similar in both herds in 4-month-old and 10-month-old calves, and it increased over winter in both herds. Natality rates of females >3 years old were consistently higher in the Delta Herd than in the Nelchina Herd, primarily because natality in 3- to 5-year-old Nelchina females was low. Although body mass of Delta Herd calves consistently declined over winter, we concluded that nutrition was not significantly limiting herd growth. Managers are more likely to maximize harvest by maintaining the Delta Herd near its present size (i.e., 3500), or allowing it to increase only slightly. The only real option for increasing harvestable surpluses of caribou in the Delta Herd is reducing predation during calving and summer. In contrast, we conclude that summer nutrition significantly limits potential population growth and body mass in the Nelchina Herd, and managers are more likely to maximize harvest by maintaining herd size at or below 30 000 than by allowing the herd to grow to near historical highs (i.e., 60 000-70 000). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Patrick Valkenburg Robert W. Tobey Bruce W. Dale Bradley D. Scotton Jay M. Ver Hoef |
author_facet |
Patrick Valkenburg Robert W. Tobey Bruce W. Dale Bradley D. Scotton Jay M. Ver Hoef |
author_sort |
Patrick Valkenburg |
title |
Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
title_short |
Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
title_full |
Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
title_fullStr |
Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
title_full_unstemmed |
Body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent Alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
title_sort |
body size of female calves and natality rates of known-aged females in two adjacent alaskan caribou herds, and implications for management |
publisher |
Septentrio Academic Publishing |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.23.5.1702 https://doaj.org/article/2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a |
genre |
caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
genre_facet |
caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
op_source |
Rangifer, Vol 23, Iss 5 (2003) |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1702 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.23.5.1702 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/2f7b5a558f5d402e99e0e517fbd1370a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.23.5.1702 |
container_title |
Rangifer |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
203 |
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1766388608788332544 |