Calving ground habitat selection of boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Owl-Flintstone range

• Main Author: Dupont, Daniel L. J.
• Other Authors: Baydack, Rick (Environment and Geography) Kotak, Brian (Environment and Geography), Walker, David (Environment and Geography) Riewe, Rick (Biological Sciences) Brannen, Denis (Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship)
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: boreal woodland caribou; calving; islands; bog; black spruce; lichen; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23449

The Owl-Flintstone range in southeastern Manitoba is among the most at risk in the province. Through a series of transects and plots established throughout the study area, this study characterized calving habitat at a fine scale, examined the use of caribou calving areas by large mammals and examined if a calving habitat model correctly identified high quality calving habitat. Parturient females utilized black spruce dominated islands and peninsulas on lakes as well as islands and peninsulas in bogs. Bear utilized both predicted low and high quality sites. Black spruce and lichen cover were significantly greater within known calving sites compared to predicted low quality habitat. Forbs, herbs and downed woody debris values were significantly lower within known calving sites compared to predicted high quality sites. The calving habitat model correctly identified both high quality and low quality calving habitat in the Owl-Flintstone range, however parameters could be refined. May 2014