Response of Overwintering Caribou to Burned Habitat in Northwest Alaska

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Joly, Kyle, Bente, Peter, Dau, Jim
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 2009
• Subjects: boreal forest; caribou; fire; habitat use; Rangifer tarandus; selection; tundra; forêt boréale; feu; utilisation de l’habitat; sélection; toundra; Arctic; Midwinter; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63259

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) use lichens, when available, as primary forage on their winter range. In boreal forest habitats, wildland fires effectively destroy lichens, and overwintering caribou are known to avoid burned areas for decades while lichen communities regenerate. However, little h...