Population demography of Peary caribou and muskox on Banks Island, N.W.T., 1982-1992
The Peary caribou population (excluding calves) on Banks Island declined from 6 970 (± 1133) in 1982 to 897 (± 151) in 1991. The 1992 estimate was 1 005 (± 133). Percent calves in the population varied among years (range 3.2¬31.1%). Mean group sizes dropped from 5.0 in 1985 to a low of 2.0 in 1989 a...
| Published in: | Rangifer |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Septentrio Academic Publishing
1996
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.4.1245 https://doaj.org/article/928318ae52f44f649c932cb1bab6a5ff |
| Summary: | The Peary caribou population (excluding calves) on Banks Island declined from 6 970 (± 1133) in 1982 to 897 (± 151) in 1991. The 1992 estimate was 1 005 (± 133). Percent calves in the population varied among years (range 3.2¬31.1%). Mean group sizes dropped from 5.0 in 1985 to a low of 2.0 in 1989 and 1991. Median group sizes were significantly larger between 1982 and 1987 than between 1989 and 1992 (P<0.001). Large post-calving aggregations prevalent on the NW portion of Banks Island in the early 1980's were absent by the 1990s. The muskox population (excluding calves), increased from 29 168 (± 2104) in 1985 to 52 959 (± 2240) in 1992. Percent calves in the population varied among years, (range 11.8-17.1%). These values may be underestimates, because calves are small and muskox groups sometimes form defensive circles in response to aircraft. Muskoxen were distributed throughout the island during all surveys; however, the greatest increase in density occurred in the southern parts of the island. |
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