Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou
Abstract Across much of the range of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), predator–prey dynamics have changed as a result of large‐scale industrial development. Land clearing and associated early‐successional forests have resulted in a greater density and distribution of moose (Alces alces)...
Published in: | Ecosphere |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2016
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/article/41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee 2023-05-15T13:13:23+02:00 Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou Libby P. W. Ehlers Chris J. Johnson Dale R. Seip 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/article/41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/article/41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee Ecosphere, Vol 7, Iss 12, Pp n/a-n/a (2016) apparent competition Canis lupus cumulative impacts habitat industrial development Rangifer tarandus Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 2022-12-31T04:41:01Z Abstract Across much of the range of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), predator–prey dynamics have changed as a result of large‐scale industrial development. Land clearing and associated early‐successional forests have resulted in a greater density and distribution of moose (Alces alces), deer (Odocoileus spp.), and their associated predators. This process of apparent competition has resulted in increased predation on woodland caribou. We employed a combination of field and statistical methods to better understand the distribution and interactions of wolves (Canis lupus) and caribou across a region with high levels of industrial development. We used count models to investigate the frequency of wolf occurrence relative to landcover types, disturbance features, and caribou habitat. As predicted, the co‐occurrence between caribou and wolves was rare. Similarly, the remains of caribou were identified at a small proportion of the sites where wolves killed large prey. Caribou occurred at low densities across the study area, and thus, wolves likely pursued other more abundant deer species. Encounters between wolves and caribou habitat was most likely to occur in the low‐elevation boreal forest and areas closer to and with higher densities of forestry cutblocks. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the spatial dynamics of multi‐species interactions when developing recovery strategies for threatened and endangered species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecosphere 7 12 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
apparent competition Canis lupus cumulative impacts habitat industrial development Rangifer tarandus Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
apparent competition Canis lupus cumulative impacts habitat industrial development Rangifer tarandus Ecology QH540-549.5 Libby P. W. Ehlers Chris J. Johnson Dale R. Seip Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
topic_facet |
apparent competition Canis lupus cumulative impacts habitat industrial development Rangifer tarandus Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Across much of the range of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), predator–prey dynamics have changed as a result of large‐scale industrial development. Land clearing and associated early‐successional forests have resulted in a greater density and distribution of moose (Alces alces), deer (Odocoileus spp.), and their associated predators. This process of apparent competition has resulted in increased predation on woodland caribou. We employed a combination of field and statistical methods to better understand the distribution and interactions of wolves (Canis lupus) and caribou across a region with high levels of industrial development. We used count models to investigate the frequency of wolf occurrence relative to landcover types, disturbance features, and caribou habitat. As predicted, the co‐occurrence between caribou and wolves was rare. Similarly, the remains of caribou were identified at a small proportion of the sites where wolves killed large prey. Caribou occurred at low densities across the study area, and thus, wolves likely pursued other more abundant deer species. Encounters between wolves and caribou habitat was most likely to occur in the low‐elevation boreal forest and areas closer to and with higher densities of forestry cutblocks. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the spatial dynamics of multi‐species interactions when developing recovery strategies for threatened and endangered species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Libby P. W. Ehlers Chris J. Johnson Dale R. Seip |
author_facet |
Libby P. W. Ehlers Chris J. Johnson Dale R. Seip |
author_sort |
Libby P. W. Ehlers |
title |
Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
title_short |
Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
title_full |
Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
title_fullStr |
Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
title_sort |
evaluating the influence of anthropogenic landscape change on wolf distribution: implications for woodland caribou |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/article/41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Ecosphere, Vol 7, Iss 12, Pp n/a-n/a (2016) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.1600 https://doaj.org/article/41e12caebd7f4b4cabf7b0268707e1ee |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1600 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
7 |
container_issue |
12 |
_version_ |
1766258027055284224 |