Lost in translation? Insights into caribou habitat selection from forest inventory data

Rudolph, Tyler D.; MacNearney, Doug; Finnegan, Laura

doi:10.1139/facets-2018-0050

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 74 publications

(106 reference statements)

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“…conifers) at adequate stocking densities (Government of Alberta, 2018). Caribou in the Narraway, Redrock Prairie Creek, A La Peche and Little Smoky populations select for conifer forests, including closed canopy lodgepole pine stands (DeCesare, 2012; Rudolph et al, 2019). Silviculture practices aimed at reducing specific ungulate forage species and establishing high densities of pine could meet forestry goals and reduce ungulate densities while restoring forests towards becoming functional caribou habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ungulate occurrence in forest harvest blocks is influenced by forage availability, surrounding habitat and silviculture practices

McKay¹,

Finnegan²

2023

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Forest harvesting causes habitat loss and alteration and can change predator–prey dynamics. In Canada, forest harvesting has shifted the distribution and abundance of ungulates (deer, elk and moose) that prefer early seral forest, resulting in unsustainable caribou predation by shared predators (bears, cougars and wolves). Long‐term solutions for caribou recovery require management to reduce ungulate prey species within caribou ranges. Silviculture practices applied after forest harvesting directly affect the amount of forage available in harvested areas, and therefore influence ungulate distribution, but few studies have completed detailed assessments on how specific treatments of site preparation, planting and stand tending influence ungulate use of harvest blocks. We used camera traps, silviculture data, GIS‐derived habitat and disturbance data, and detailed vegetation data collected at field sites to investigate ungulate occurrence in harvest blocks in west‐central Alberta, Canada. We compared seasonal ungulate occurrence and investigated how site‐specific characteristics, the surrounding habitat and disturbance density, and fine‐scale silviculture treatments influenced ungulate occurrence in blocks. Deer, elk and moose occurrence was higher in summer compared to winter. Elk, moose and white‐tailed deer occurrence was higher in blocks with greater availability of specific forage species. Moose occurrence was higher in blocks with a lower road density in the surrounding area, and white‐tailed deer occurrence was higher in blocks further from seismic lines and with a lower proportion of harvest blocks in the surrounding area. Deer, elk and moose occurrence was higher in younger harvest blocks. Mule deer and white‐tailed deer occurrence was lower in blocks with higher planting densities of lodgepole pine, and mule deer occurrence was also lower in blocks that had been stand tended. Our study provides detailed information on ungulate response to fine‐scale silviculture methods used in Alberta, directly linking wildlife occurrence to forestry practices, and providing practical scientific information to inform sustainable forestry. Translating this research into practical landscape management decisions could benefit boreal biodiversity, including threatened species like caribou, and culturally and economically important species like deer, elk and moose.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ungulate occurrence in forest harvest blocks is influenced by forage availability, surrounding habitat and silviculture practices

McKay¹,

Finnegan²

2023

Ecol Sol and Evidence

Self Cite

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Cut vs. fire: a comparative study of the temporal effects of timber harvest and wildfire on ecological indicators of the boreal forest

Best,

Brown,

Elkin

et al. 2024

Landsc Ecol

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Context Large-scale natural disturbances are crucial drivers of ecosystem function and composition for many forested ecosystems. In the last century, the prevalence of anthropogenic disturbances has increased across Canada’s boreal forest. Habitat disturbance from timber harvest and wildfire is linked to declines of boreal species, including woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Objectives We tested how disturbances influenced the recovery trajectory of ecological indicators of timber, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat through time following timber harvest and wildfire across the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada. Methods During 2021 and 2022, we collected field data from 251 timber harvested and 264 burned stands (0–40 years since disturbance), as well as 256 older forest stands used by caribou (> 40 years since disturbance). Field data included metrics of stand attributes (e.g., basal area, stems per hectare), coarse woody debris (CWD), and abundance of forage for caribou, moose (Alces americanus), and bears (black bear: Ursus americanus, grizzly bear: Ursus arctos). Results Basal area of trees and stems per hectare recovered more quickly in timber harvest sites when compared to wildfire sites, but as time since disturbance increased there were no differences in these attributes among timber harvest, wildfire, and caribou use sites. CWD was greatest in recently burned sites, but declined over time to be similar in quantity as in harvested stands and older forest stands. Terrestrial lichens, important forage for caribou, were most abundant in the older caribou use sites, whereas forage for moose and bears, including shrubs, was most abundant in younger timber harvest and wildfire sites. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that timber harvesting may result in a quicker development of timber volume when compared to wildfire. However, this anthropogenic disturbance is less advantageous for the development of caribou habitat.

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The impact of mountain pine beetle outbreaks and their treatment methods on the abundance of plant-foods important to caribou and grizzly bears

McClelland¹,

Nobert²,

Larsen³

et al. 2023

Forest Ecology and Management

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Lost in translation? Insights into caribou habitat selection from forest inventory data

Cited by 6 publications

References 74 publications

Ungulate occurrence in forest harvest blocks is influenced by forage availability, surrounding habitat and silviculture practices

Ungulate occurrence in forest harvest blocks is influenced by forage availability, surrounding habitat and silviculture practices

Cut vs. fire: a comparative study of the temporal effects of timber harvest and wildfire on ecological indicators of the boreal forest

The impact of mountain pine beetle outbreaks and their treatment methods on the abundance of plant-foods important to caribou and grizzly bears

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