Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska
Terrestrial lichen abundance, lichen availability as affected by snow, and winter fecal composition were investigated for the Delta Caribou Herd (DCH), which recently quadrupled in size and expanded its early winter range. Mean lichen abundance was relatively low (10-85 g/m2). However, even on heavi...
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1990
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/4758 2023-05-15T18:04:21+02:00 Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska Fleischman, Steven J. Klein, David R. Thompson, Steven K. Viereck, Leslie A. White, Robert G. Regelin, Wayne L. 1990-05 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4758 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4758 Department of Wildlife Management Thesis ms 1990 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:36:17Z Terrestrial lichen abundance, lichen availability as affected by snow, and winter fecal composition were investigated for the Delta Caribou Herd (DCH), which recently quadrupled in size and expanded its early winter range. Mean lichen abundance was relatively low (10-85 g/m2). However, even on heavily-used range, caribou ate only 7% of lichen standing crop annually. Snow affected lichen availability only slightly on peripheral tundra ranges, since lichens predominated on xeric sites with little snow. On traditional ranges, lichens were shorter and rarely found in high-density patches; disproportionate grazing and trampling of exposed lichens had caused reduced lichen availability. This was reflected in lower fecal lichen for caribou on traditional ranges, however DCH population growth or seasonal movements probably were not substantially affected. A model of caribou cratering energetics indicated that loss of potential foraging time may influence energy balance more than does cratering energy expenditure. Abstract -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Study Herd/Area -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Recommendations -- Literature Cited -- Appendix A: A Model of the Energy Required by Caribou to Dig a Feeding Crater -- Appendix B: Lichen Abundance by Study Area and Vegetation Type -- Appendix C: Snow Stake Readings Thesis Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
op_collection_id |
ftunivalaska |
language |
unknown |
description |
Terrestrial lichen abundance, lichen availability as affected by snow, and winter fecal composition were investigated for the Delta Caribou Herd (DCH), which recently quadrupled in size and expanded its early winter range. Mean lichen abundance was relatively low (10-85 g/m2). However, even on heavily-used range, caribou ate only 7% of lichen standing crop annually. Snow affected lichen availability only slightly on peripheral tundra ranges, since lichens predominated on xeric sites with little snow. On traditional ranges, lichens were shorter and rarely found in high-density patches; disproportionate grazing and trampling of exposed lichens had caused reduced lichen availability. This was reflected in lower fecal lichen for caribou on traditional ranges, however DCH population growth or seasonal movements probably were not substantially affected. A model of caribou cratering energetics indicated that loss of potential foraging time may influence energy balance more than does cratering energy expenditure. Abstract -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Study Herd/Area -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Recommendations -- Literature Cited -- Appendix A: A Model of the Energy Required by Caribou to Dig a Feeding Crater -- Appendix B: Lichen Abundance by Study Area and Vegetation Type -- Appendix C: Snow Stake Readings |
author2 |
Klein, David R. Thompson, Steven K. Viereck, Leslie A. White, Robert G. Regelin, Wayne L. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Fleischman, Steven J. |
spellingShingle |
Fleischman, Steven J. Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
author_facet |
Fleischman, Steven J. |
author_sort |
Fleischman, Steven J. |
title |
Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
title_short |
Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
title_full |
Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lichen Availability on the Range of an Expanding Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Population in Alaska |
title_sort |
lichen availability on the range of an expanding caribou (rangifer tarandus) population in alaska |
publishDate |
1990 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4758 |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4758 Department of Wildlife Management |
_version_ |
1766175699572359168 |