Selection of summer feeding sites and food resources by female migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) determined using camera collars

• Main Authors: Béland, Sophiane, Barbara, Vuillaume, Leclerc, Martin, Bernier, Martin, Côté, Steeve
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2023
• Subjects: Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10140184

Female migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) depend on the availability of summer habitat resources to meet the needs associated with lactation and the accumulation of fat reserves to survive when resources are less abundant. Because of the large scales at which habitat and resource data are usually available, information on how female migratory caribou select habitat and resources at fine scales in the wild is lacking. To document selection of summer feeding sites, we equipped 52 female caribou with camera collars from 2016 to 2018. We collected a total of 65,150 10-sec videos between June 1st and September 1st for three years with contrasted spring phenology. We determined the selection at the feeding site scale (3rd scale of Johnson) and food item scale (4th scale of Johnson) using resource selection probability functions. This data base contains the data of the behaviors observed, habitat used as feeding site, habitat unused has habitat, consumed and unconsumed resources, insect presence and other variables.