MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU
Limiting factors of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations vary regionally. In tundra environments, this species appears to be regulated by food, either because wolves (Canis lupus) are absent or because migration of caribou allows escape from predation during part of the year. In the boreal forest...
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ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/343 2023-05-15T13:13:34+02:00 MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre 2007-01-01 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343/435 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343 Copyright (c) 2007 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 43 (2007): Alces Vol. 43 (2007); 13-27 2293-6629 0835-5851 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2007 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:46Z Limiting factors of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations vary regionally. In tundra environments, this species appears to be regulated by food, either because wolves (Canis lupus) are absent or because migration of caribou allows escape from predation during part of the year. In the boreal forest, the main limiting factors are hunting and predation but because of low caribou densities, no regulation mechanism seems to exist between caribou and wolves. Moose (Alces alces) is the primary prey species of wolves and consequently, if moose abundance increases, wolves should also increase, independently of the caribou population. Thus, caribou could experience high predation rates and be eliminated in high wolf densities. Here we attempted to identify the necessary conditions to maintain caribou numbers in the presence of moose. To do so, we built a deterministic model that simulated the relationship between a caribou population regulated by food competition and limited by predation, a moose population regulated by predation, and a wolf population, the abundance of which is determined by moose abundance. At current hunting rates for caribou and moose in the boreal forest, and in the absence of wolf trapping, the model predicted that the caribou population would be extirpated in approximately 100 years. Wolf trapping was not adequate to conserve the caribou population unless very intensive control was undertaken. In the absence of trapping, cessation of caribou hunting allowed a 3-fold increase in caribou numbers over the long term, if the moose population remained low. According to our model, the best management measure for caribou consisted of maintaining a low moose density through appropriate population and habitat management strategies, which prevented expansion of the wolf population and limited predation on caribou. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
op_collection_id |
ftjalces |
language |
English |
description |
Limiting factors of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations vary regionally. In tundra environments, this species appears to be regulated by food, either because wolves (Canis lupus) are absent or because migration of caribou allows escape from predation during part of the year. In the boreal forest, the main limiting factors are hunting and predation but because of low caribou densities, no regulation mechanism seems to exist between caribou and wolves. Moose (Alces alces) is the primary prey species of wolves and consequently, if moose abundance increases, wolves should also increase, independently of the caribou population. Thus, caribou could experience high predation rates and be eliminated in high wolf densities. Here we attempted to identify the necessary conditions to maintain caribou numbers in the presence of moose. To do so, we built a deterministic model that simulated the relationship between a caribou population regulated by food competition and limited by predation, a moose population regulated by predation, and a wolf population, the abundance of which is determined by moose abundance. At current hunting rates for caribou and moose in the boreal forest, and in the absence of wolf trapping, the model predicted that the caribou population would be extirpated in approximately 100 years. Wolf trapping was not adequate to conserve the caribou population unless very intensive control was undertaken. In the absence of trapping, cessation of caribou hunting allowed a 3-fold increase in caribou numbers over the long term, if the moose population remained low. According to our model, the best management measure for caribou consisted of maintaining a low moose density through appropriate population and habitat management strategies, which prevented expansion of the wolf population and limited predation on caribou. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre |
spellingShingle |
Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
author_facet |
Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre |
author_sort |
Courtois, Réhaume |
title |
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
title_short |
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
title_full |
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
title_fullStr |
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
title_full_unstemmed |
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MOOSE AND WOLF MANAGEMENT ON PERSISTENCE OF WOODLAND CARIBOU |
title_sort |
modeling the impact of moose and wolf management on persistence of woodland caribou |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343 |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Tundra |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Tundra |
op_source |
Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 43 (2007): Alces Vol. 43 (2007); 13-27 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343/435 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/343 |
op_rights |
Copyright (c) 2007 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose |
_version_ |
1766259130768556032 |