Habitat partitioning between woodland caribou and moose in Ontario: the potential role of shared prédation risk

This paper explores mechanisms of coexistence for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and moose (Akes alces) preyed upon by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario. Autocorrelation analysis of winter track locations showed habitat partitioning by caribou and moose. Numbers of Delaunay...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rangifer
Main Authors: H.G. Cumming, D.B. Beange, G. Lavoie
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1996
Subjects:
habitat partitioning
Ontario
apparent competition
autocorrelation
competition
gray wolf
Animal culture
SF1-1100
Canis lupus
caribou
Rangifer
Rangifer tarandus
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.4.1224
https://doaj.org/article/93309899bfc34fadbaaedd2324c6ea1d
Description
Summary:This paper explores mechanisms of coexistence for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and moose (Akes alces) preyed upon by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario. Autocorrelation analysis of winter track locations showed habitat partitioning by caribou and moose. Numbers of Delaunay link edges for moose-wolves did not differ significantly from what would be expected by random process, but those for caribou-wolves were significantly fewer. Thus, habitat partitioning provided implicit refuges that put greater distances between caribou and wolves, presumably decreasing predation on the caribou. Yet, direct competition cannot be ruled out; both apparent and direct competition may be involved in real-life situations. A synthesis including both explanations fits ecological theory, as well as current understanding about caribou ecology.

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