Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan
We investigated landscape changes and their potential effects on woodland caribou-boreal ecotype (Rangifer tarandus caribou) within a portion of the Smoothstone-Wapaweka Woodland Caribou Management Unit (SW-WCMU). The SW-WCMU is one of eight areas delineated by the Province of Saskatchewan for poten...
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
2011
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.31.2.1988 https://doaj.org/article/7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de 2023-05-15T15:53:27+02:00 Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan A. Alan Arsenault Micheline Manseau 2011-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7557/2.31.2.1988 https://doaj.org/article/7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de EN eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1988 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.31.2.1988 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de Rangifer, Vol 31, Iss 2 (2011) boreal woodland caribou ecological integrity habitat connectivity habitat selection land management strategies non-invasive genetic sampling Animal culture SF1-1100 article 2011 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7557/2.31.2.1988 2022-12-31T11:19:56Z We investigated landscape changes and their potential effects on woodland caribou-boreal ecotype (Rangifer tarandus caribou) within a portion of the Smoothstone-Wapaweka Woodland Caribou Management Unit (SW-WCMU). The SW-WCMU is one of eight areas delineated by the Province of Saskatchewan for potential recovery planning efforts for boreal caribou, and is one of four management units located on the Boreal Plain Ecozone. The Prince Albert Greater Ecosystem (PAGE) study area was selected within the SW-WCMU for intensive study from 2004 - 2008. Studies focused on quantifying a suite of landscape and population parameters. This paper presents a summary of study results to date and recommends land management strategies intended to contribute to the long-term viability of boreal caribou in the central boreal plain ecoregion of Saskatchewan. The PAGE study area has undergone structural changes from an area that historically presented a lesser amount but well connected mature coniferous forest, to a currently larger amount of mature coniferous stands fragmented by a highly developed network of roads and trails. Movement data pointed to highly clustered use of the landscape by small groups of caribou and smaller home ranges when compared to 15 years ago. Calving sites were located within each individual home range in treed peatland and distant from hardwood/mixedwood forest stands, roads and trails access. Adult annual survival rates were low, averaging 73% over the course of the study. In order to ensure a self-sustaining population level, study results clearly point to the need for landscape restoration to reduce the level of anthropogenic disturbances in some key parts of the study area. Key strategies include retention of mature softwood forest interior proximate to local areas of caribou activity, protection of calving habitat, improving structural connectivity, planning disturbances (forest harvesting, fire salvage, resource exploration, access development) in ways to minimize the anthropogenic footprint, and ... Article in Journal/Newspaper caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Rangifer 33 48 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
boreal woodland caribou ecological integrity habitat connectivity habitat selection land management strategies non-invasive genetic sampling Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
boreal woodland caribou ecological integrity habitat connectivity habitat selection land management strategies non-invasive genetic sampling Animal culture SF1-1100 A. Alan Arsenault Micheline Manseau Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
topic_facet |
boreal woodland caribou ecological integrity habitat connectivity habitat selection land management strategies non-invasive genetic sampling Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
We investigated landscape changes and their potential effects on woodland caribou-boreal ecotype (Rangifer tarandus caribou) within a portion of the Smoothstone-Wapaweka Woodland Caribou Management Unit (SW-WCMU). The SW-WCMU is one of eight areas delineated by the Province of Saskatchewan for potential recovery planning efforts for boreal caribou, and is one of four management units located on the Boreal Plain Ecozone. The Prince Albert Greater Ecosystem (PAGE) study area was selected within the SW-WCMU for intensive study from 2004 - 2008. Studies focused on quantifying a suite of landscape and population parameters. This paper presents a summary of study results to date and recommends land management strategies intended to contribute to the long-term viability of boreal caribou in the central boreal plain ecoregion of Saskatchewan. The PAGE study area has undergone structural changes from an area that historically presented a lesser amount but well connected mature coniferous forest, to a currently larger amount of mature coniferous stands fragmented by a highly developed network of roads and trails. Movement data pointed to highly clustered use of the landscape by small groups of caribou and smaller home ranges when compared to 15 years ago. Calving sites were located within each individual home range in treed peatland and distant from hardwood/mixedwood forest stands, roads and trails access. Adult annual survival rates were low, averaging 73% over the course of the study. In order to ensure a self-sustaining population level, study results clearly point to the need for landscape restoration to reduce the level of anthropogenic disturbances in some key parts of the study area. Key strategies include retention of mature softwood forest interior proximate to local areas of caribou activity, protection of calving habitat, improving structural connectivity, planning disturbances (forest harvesting, fire salvage, resource exploration, access development) in ways to minimize the anthropogenic footprint, and ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
A. Alan Arsenault Micheline Manseau |
author_facet |
A. Alan Arsenault Micheline Manseau |
author_sort |
A. Alan Arsenault |
title |
Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
title_short |
Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
title_full |
Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
title_fullStr |
Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central Saskatchewan |
title_sort |
land management strategies for the long-term persistence of boreal woodland caribou in central saskatchewan |
publisher |
Septentrio Academic Publishing |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.31.2.1988 https://doaj.org/article/7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de |
genre |
caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
caribou Rangifer Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Rangifer, Vol 31, Iss 2 (2011) |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1988 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.31.2.1988 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/7d6365594a3e41a6919fe8ba9da8e5de |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.31.2.1988 |
container_title |
Rangifer |
container_start_page |
33 |
op_container_end_page |
48 |
_version_ |
1766388573040279552 |