Differential habitat use and sexual segregation in the Central Arctic caribou herd

Abstract

Distribution of the Central Arctic caribou herd is characterized by segregation of the sexes and different habitat preferences by male and female caribou over most of the annual cycle. During all periods except late winter and postcalving, females showed a more northern distribution than did males. Females used riparian habitats less than availability and were generally farther from major river valleys than expected during all seasons except late winter. In contrast, males preferred riparian habitats from late winter to calving and were generally found closer to river valleys than were females from late winter to August dispersal. During the spring and calving periods near the coast females preferred sedge meadow and used riparian habitat less than availability whereas males preferred riparian and tussock tundra and used sedge meadow less than availability. It is theorized that sexual segregation and differential habitat use reflect predator avoidance strategies of females with calves and optimal foraging by adult males.

Modelling sperm whale habitat preference: a novel approach combining transect and follow data

“…mature males in the case of sperm whales) as a result of their different ecological and biological needs. This difference has been recorded in other terrestrial (Jakimchuk et al 1987, Litvaitis 1990) and marine mammal species (Stewart & DeLong 1995, Ersts & Rosenbaum 2003, and its evaluation can be particularly interesting in those areas that are identified both as breeding and feeding grounds.…”

“…mature males in the case of sperm whales) as a result of their different ecological and biological needs. This difference has been recorded in other terrestrial (Jakimchuk et al 1987, Litvaitis 1990) and marine mammal species (Stewart & DeLong 1995, Ersts & Rosenbaum 2003, and its evaluation can be particularly interesting in those areas that are identified both as breeding and feeding grounds.In this study we develop a novel analytical framework that can make use of combined acoustic and tracking data and account for autocorrelation in such data. We use a multi-scale approach to investigate the pattern of sperm whale distribution around the Balearic archipelago, and the potential differences in habitat selection by single individuals versus groups.…”

Variables Associated With Besnoitia Tarandi Prevalence and Cyst Density in Barren-Ground Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus) Populations

“…Increased susceptibility may occur from the suppression of immune functions associated with reproductive stress in males (Schuurs and Verheul, 1989) such as the rut during the postsummer period. Gender habitat preferences (i.e., summer calving grounds for adult females; Jakimchuk et al, 1987) may also account for different levels of exposure to the infective forms of the parasite. However, the low number of males and the inclusion of 2-day-old male calves during the summer season as well as the effect of pooling caribou harvested from different sources might have created this sex bias.…”

Ecological effects of river regulation on mammals and birds: A review

“…Much work has been published on the important role of rivers, and especially riverbank vegetation, for mammals and birds, mostly from North America, for example for wapiti (Cervus elaphus) (Ranta et af., 1982;McCorquodale et al, 1986), moose (Alces afces) (Brusnyk and Gilbert, 1983;Doerr, 1983;Risenhoover, 1989), reindeer or caribou, (Rangifer tarandus) (Jakimchuk et al, 1987), mule deer (Carson and Peek, 1987;Dusek et al, 1989), coyote (Canis latrans) (Parker and Maxwell, 1989), American black bear (Ursus americanus) (Unsworth et al, 1989), American beaver (Castor canadensis) (Naiman et al, 1988) and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) (Campbell, 1990). The river corridor is especially important in high latitude catchments.…”