Effects of Dietary Protein and Energy Intake on Body Reserve Deposition and Milk Production in Caribou and Reindeer

Allaye-Chan, A. C.; White, Robert G.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-2782-3_104

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…For example, in caribou (Rangifer tarandus), endogenous maternal protein is probably the primary source of fetal protein accretion in late winter (Parker et al 2005), coinciding with the last trimester of gestation when 80% of fetal mass is deposited (Robbins andRobbins 1979, Oftedal 1985). Concurrently, calf body mass is correlated with maternal body protein reserves (Allaye-Chan 1991) and body mass at birth is often correlated with survival (Clutton-Brock et al 1987, Clutton-Brock and Albon 1989, Fairbanks 1993. Summer protein intake is especially important for lactating females.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer dietary nitrogen availability as a potential bottom‐up constraint on moose in south‐central Alaska

McArt

Spalinger

Collins

et al. 2009

Ecology

123

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Recent studies suggest that the growth and fecundity of northern ungulates may be coupled to their summer nutrition. Here, we compare summer dietary nitrogen availability of the five major browse plants (comprising approximately 79% of the diet) of moose (Alces alces) in Denali National Park and Nelchina Basin, Alaska, USA. In recent years the productivity of Denali moose has been significantly higher than that of Nelchina moose, prompting this comparison. We examined the phenological progression of leaf nitrogen concentration, tannin-protein precipitation capacity, and digestible protein over three summers in both regions. We then modeled the potential nutritional consequences for a cow moose consuming representative diets on each range, predicting both net protein intake (NPI) and lean body mass accumulation each year. We found that leaf nitrogen and digestible protein decreased, while tannin-protein precipitation capacity increased throughout the summer for all forages. There was 23% more digestible protein in Denali leaves than Nelchina leaves on average, and this difference was significant in all three years. Tannins accounted for a large (mean = 46%) reduction in protein availability, suggesting a key role of these secondary compounds in the nitrogen balance of moose in these regions. Finally, our NPI model predicted that Denali cows were in positive protein balance 17 days longer than Nelchina cows and accumulated 18 kg more lean body mass over the summer, on average. We conclude that summer dietary nitrogen availability may act as a nutritional constraint on moose and suggest that more emphasis be placed on elucidating its role in population dynamics and conservation of northern ungulates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer dietary nitrogen availability as a potential bottom‐up constraint on moose in south‐central Alaska

McArt

Spalinger

Collins

et al. 2009

Ecology

123

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“…We often observed females eating mushrooms before consuming any other resources in a feeding site. Selection of the most nutritious resources in summer may allow females to build enough fat reserves to increase the viability of their next offspring [ 59 , 60 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Béland,

Vuillaume,

Leclerc

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a socioeconomically and culturally key species for northern communities in the Arctic, and most of its populations are experiencing a sharp decline. Female migratory caribou 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 60 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. Wetlands were highly selected as feeding sites in June and July while they were avoided in August. Shrublands were mostly selected in July and August. At the resources scale, lichen, birch, willow, and mushrooms were the most strongly selected resources. Our results provide precise and novel information on habitat selection at feeding sites and food resources selected by female caribou in the wild. This information will help understand foraging patterns and habitat selection behavior of female migratory caribou and will contribute to the management and conservation of its declining populations.

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Effects of Dietary Protein and Energy Intake on Body Reserve Deposition and Milk Production in Caribou and Reindeer

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Summer dietary nitrogen availability as a potential bottom‐up constraint on moose in south‐central Alaska

Summer dietary nitrogen availability as a potential bottom‐up constraint on moose in south‐central Alaska

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

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