Abstract
The seasonal migration of the Dolphin and Union caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) herd between Victoria Island and the mainland (Nunavut/Northwest Territories, Canada) relies on the formation of sea-ice that connects the Island to the mainland from late-October to early-June. During an aerial survey of the Dolphin and Union caribou herd in October 2007 on southern Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, we documented the short-term effects of the artificial maintenance of an open water channel in the sea-ice on caribou migratory movements during staging along the coast.
Highlights
Editor in Chief: Birgitta Åhman, Technical Editor Eva Wiklund and Graphic Design: Bertil Larsson, www.rangifer.no landicus) herd to be currently listed as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act (Canada Gazette, 2011). e Dolphin and Union herd is somewhat unique as its annual range encompasses Victoria Island for calving, postcalving, and rut, and the mainland as its main winter ground (Gunn & Nishi, 1998; Poole et al, 2010). is implies annual migrations across the sea-ice between Victoria Island and the mainland. e fall migration across the sea-ice is preceded by a staging period (Poole et al, 2010) when caribou aggregate along the south coast of Victoria Island waiting for the ice to form between the Island and the mainland
We describe the short-term e ects on the Dolphin and Union caribou herd migratory movements due to the temporary maintenance of an open channel through the sea-ice in the fall 2007, at Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut
It seems that overall, because it was stopped rapidly, the impact of the ice breaking resulted only in a few days delay for caribou movements. e cold temperature likely decreased the risk of caribou breaking through thin ice
Summary
Observation of Arctic island barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) migratory movement delay due to human induced sea-ice breaking. Abstract: e seasonal migration of the Dolphin and Union caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) herd between Victoria Island and the mainland (Nunavut/Northwest Territories, Canada) relies on the formation of sea-ice that connects the Island to the mainland from late-October to early-June. During an aerial survey of the Dolphin and Union caribou herd in October 2007 on southern Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, we documented the short-term e ects of the arti cial maintenance of an open water channel in the sea-ice on caribou migratory movements during staging along the coast
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