Distribution of barren‐ground caribou during winter in response to fire

Abstract

We investigated the influence of past fires on the large‐scale distribution of barren‐ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Territories, Canada, during winter. We used an information‐theoretic approach and data describing fire history, vegetation, and predation risk to develop resource selection functions that explained caribou distribution on early‐ and late‐winter ranges. We evaluated multiple sets of models constructed across years for all caribou (pooled models) and for individual caribou by period (early and late winter). Winter range habitats important to caribou were characterized by a high percentage of ground cover of lichen and herbaceous forage and a close proximity to lakes and rivers. Although caribou avoided areas densely populated with burns, there was considerable use of early‐seral habitats as well as areas adjacent to the burn boundary. Disparate selection strategies among caribou highlight the importance of investigating both individual and global resource selection models. These results suggest that at some spatial and temporal scales, individual barren‐ground caribou may be less averse to fire than previously thought.