Caribou observations on Queen Elizabeth Islands (Tab. 1 + 2)

• Main Authors: Miller, F L, Russell, R H, Gunn, A
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 1975
• Subjects: Alexander; Bathurst; Borden; Brock; Cameron; Counting; DATE/TIME; Eglinton; Emerald; Estimated; Event label; Individuals; Lougheed; Mackenzie_King; Massey; Melville; OBSE; Observation; Percentage; Prince_Patrick; Vanier; Western Queen Elizabeth Islands; Northwest Territories; Peary; Arctic; Polarforschung; Queen Elizabeth Islands
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.743321; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.743321

The numbers and distributions of Peary caribou (Rangiier tarandus pearyi) on western Queen Elizabeth Islands, Northwest Territories were determined by aerial surveys based on a standard census strip method. Surveys were flown in March-April and July-August periods in 1972, 1973, and 1974. Comparison of the 1973 and 1974 survevs with those results of a comparable survey in 1961 showed an overall decline of 89% in numbers of caribou between 1961 and 1974. Percentage reduction of caribou numbers from 1961 to 1874 followed a west-cast gradient on the three major islands: Prince Patrick 72%, Melville 87% , and Bathurst 92%. The marked decrease in numbers of caribou is attributed to a combination of high winter mortality in some years and an overall low rate of births and recruitment from 1961 to 1974.