Observation of Arctic island barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) migratory movement delay due to human induced sea-ice breaking

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Authors: Mathieu Dumond, Shane Sather, Rob Harmer
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2013
• Subjects: caribou; ice breaking; migration; movements; Rangifer; sea-ice; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Arctic; Nunavut; Northwest Territories; Canada; Arctic Island; Rangifer tarandus; Sea ice; Victoria Island; victoria island
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.33.2.2533; https://doaj.org/article/9a3a6e2773624dbd92890a0f6ca65f03

The seasonal migration of the Dolphin and Union caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) herd between Victoria Island and the mainland (Nunavut/Northwest Territories, Canada) relies on the formation of sea-ice that connects the Island to the mainland from late-October to early-June. During an aerial survey of the Dolphin and Union caribou herd in October 2007 on southern Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, we documented the short-term effects of the artificial maintenance of an open water channel in the sea-ice on caribou migratory movements during staging along the coast.