Habitat Use by the Porcupine Caribou Herd during Predicted Insect Harassment

Walsh, Noreen E.; Fancy, Steven G.; McCabe, Thomas R.; Pank, Larry F.

doi:10.2307/3808860

Cited by 45 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…On days with severe oestrid harassment, the authors observed reindeer running from harassment in the morning until late in the evening. Rangifer seek relief from insect harassment on windy hilltops, on snow patches, and in other unproductive areas (Downes et al 1986;Ion and Kershaw 1989;Walsh et al 1992;Toupin et al 1996). The deleterious effects of parasitic insects are twofold.…”

Section: Parasites and Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

2018

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Abstract:The ability of many species to adapt to the shifting environmental conditions associated with climate change will be a key determinant of their persistence in the coming decades. This is a challenge already faced by species in the Arctic, where rapid environmental change is well underway. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) play a key role in Arctic ecosystems and provide irreplaceable socioeconomic value to many northern peoples. Recent decades have seen declines in many Rangifer populations, and there is strong concern that climate change is threatening the viability of this iconic Arctic species. We examine the literature to provide a thorough and full consideration of the many environmental factors that limit caribou and reindeer populations, and how these might be affected by a warming climate. Our review suggests that the response of Rangifer populations to climate change is, and will continue to be, varied in large part to their broad circumpolar distribution. While caribou and reindeer could have some resilience to climate change, current global trends in abundance undermine all but the most precautionary outlooks. Ultimately, the conservation of Rangifer populations will require careful management that considers the local and regional manifestations of climate change.Key words: climate change, caribou, reindeer, Rangifer, Arctic.Résumé : La capacité de bien des espèces à s'adapter aux conditions changeantes du milieu, associées au changement climatique, sera un facteur déterminant de leur pérennité dans les décennies à venir. Ceci constitue un défi auquel les espèces sont déjà confrontées dans l'Arctique, où la dégradation rapide de l'environnement est bien amorcée. Les caribous et les rennes (Rangifer tarandus) jouent un rôle essentiel dans les écosystèmes arctiques et apportent une valeur socio-économique irremplaçable aux populations du Nord. Au cours des dernières décennies, il y a eu des déclins dans beaucoup de populations de Rangifer et il règne une grande inquiétude que le changement climatique menace la viabilité de cette espèce iconique de l'Arctique. Nous examinons la littérature afin de fournir une étude complète et minutieuse des nombreux facteurs du milieu restreignant les populations de caribous et de rennes, et de déterminer comment ces populations pourraient être touchées par le réchauffement climatique. Notre examen suggère que la réponse des populations de Rangifer au changement climatique est, et continuera à être, diverse principalement en raison de leur vaste aire de répartition circumpolaire. Tandis que les caribous et les rennes pourraient avoir une certaine résilience au changement climatique, les tendances globales actuelles d'abondance des espèces affaiblissent toutes les perspectives sauf les plus préoccupantes. En fin de compte, la conservation des populations de Rangifer nécessitera une gestion prudente qui prenne en compte les manifestations locales et régionales de changement climatique. [Traduit par la Rédaction]

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Section: Parasites and Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

2018

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“…Calving tends to coincide with the rapid growth of protein-rich vascular tundra plants, which provide critical forage for lactating cows (Griffith et al 2002. As summer progresses, animals move to coastal zones or mountain ridges where breezes provide some relief from insect harassment (Walsh et al 1992). Caribou start moving south in August, and rut in early October, wintering in river valleys and slopes in the Ogilvie and Richardson mountains and the southern Brooks Range (Russell et al 1993, Russell and.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Climate Variation and Caribou Availability: Modeling Sequential Movement Using Satellite-Relocation Data

Nicolson¹,

Berman²,

West³

et al. 2013

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Livelihood systems that depend on mobile resources must constantly adapt to change. For people living in permanent settlements, environmental changes that affect the distribution of a migratory species may reduce the availability of a primary food source, with the potential to destabilize the regional social-ecological system. Food security for Arctic indigenous peoples harvesting barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) depends on movement patterns of migratory herds. Quantitative assessments of physical, ecological, and social effects on caribou distribution have proven difficult because of the significant interannual variability in seasonal caribou movement patterns. We developed and evaluated a modeling approach for simulating the distribution of a migratory herd throughout its annual cycle over a multiyear period. Beginning with spatial and temporal scales developed in previous studies of the Porcupine Caribou Herd of Canada and Alaska, we used satellite collar locations to compute and analyze season-by-season probabilities of movement of animals between habitat zones under two alternative weather conditions for each season. We then built a set of transition matrices from these movement probabilities, and simulated the sequence of movements across the landscape as a Markov process driven by externally imposed seasonal weather states. Statistical tests showed that the predicted distributions of caribou were consistent with observed distributions, and significantly correlated with subsistence harvest levels for three user communities. Our approach could be applied to other caribou herds and could be adapted for simulating the distribution of other ungulates and species with similarly large interannual variability in the use of their range.

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“…In summer, the presence of adult oestrid flies can provoke intense behavioural responses in Rangifer, disturbing foraging and increasing movement (Kelsall, 1968;White et al, 1975, Reimers, 1980Helle & Tarvainen, 1984;Kojola, 1991;Walsh et al, 1992;Russell, et al, 1993;Iver et al, 2002;Bergerud et al, 2008;Witter et al, 2011). Adult flies are strong fast fliers (Nilssen & Anderson 1995), which make it easy to locate, track and follow their hosts (Iver, et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are warbles and bots related to reproductive status in West Greenland caribou?

Cuyler

White

Lewis³

et al. 2012

Ran

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Abstract:In March-April 2008-09, using CARMA protocols, 81 cows and 16 calves were collected in West Greenland from two caribou populations; Akia-Maniitsoq (AM) and Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut (KS). In both populations, warble larvae numbers were highest in calves and higher in non-pregnant than pregnant cows. Nose bots showed no relationship with pregnancy or lactation; KS calves had higher nose bot loads than cows, a pattern not observed in AM. Pregnant cows had more rump fat than non-pregnant cows. KS cows lacking rump fat entirely had the highest warble burdens. We observed lactating pregnant cows with moderate larval burdens. Projected energy cost of the heaviest observed combined larvae burdens was equivalent to 2-5 days basal metabolic rate (BMR) for a cow, and 7-12 days BMR for a calf. Foregone fattening in adult cows with average burdens was 0.2 to 0.5 kg, but almost doubled with the heaviest infestations to 0.4 and 0.8 kg. Average burdens in calves resulted in forgone fattening of about 0.5 kg, with peak costs equivalent to 0.7 and 1.1 kg fat for AM and KS calves respectively. Although modest, these projected energy costs of hosting larvae for cows support the negative relationship between rump fat and larvae burden. For calves, hosting high burdens of warble larvae could affect winter survival, specifically those weaned normally in October or in early winter. Harmful effects of oestrid larvae burdens may remain subtle but clearly cumulative in relation to seasonal forage availability and incidence of other parasites.

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Habitat Use by the Porcupine Caribou Herd during Predicted Insect Harassment

Cited by 45 publications

References 15 publications

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

Seasonal Climate Variation and Caribou Availability: Modeling Sequential Movement Using Satellite-Relocation Data

Are warbles and bots related to reproductive status in West Greenland caribou?

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