Abstract
Locational data collected over a one year period from 10 female woodland caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou, collared with Argos satellite collars in northwestern Ontario, Canada were superimposed on supervised Landsat images using Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. Landscape parameters, land cover classifications, and drainage were utilized to create the basemap. Using ARCVIEW software, all digital fixes from collared caribou with information of date, time, and activity status were overlain on the basemap to facilitate a preliminary analysis of habitat use in this species. Results supported the conclusions (1) that woodland caribou in northwestern Ontario select habitats containing high to moderate conifer cover and avoided disturbed areas and shrub-rich habitats, (2) that seasonal changes in habitat utilization occurs in females of this species, and (3) that satellite telemetry technology can be employed in the boreal forest ecosystem to assess habitat utilization by large ungulate species.
Highlights
IntroductionRecent cooperative initiatives between the forestry industry and provinical government to improve the image and efficiency of forest resource management has lead to the development of an integrated forest management policy, which considers the impact of forest harvesting practices on sustaining wildlife populations, and enhancing forest regeneration and harvest rotation time
Locational data collected over a one year period from 10 female woodland caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou collared with Argos satellite collars in northwestern Ontario, Canada were superimposed on supervised Landsat images using Geographical Information System (GIS) technology
Results supported the conclusions (1) that woodland caribou in northwestern Ontario select habitats containing high to moderate conifer cover and avoided disturbed areas and shrub-rich habitats, (2) that seasonal changes in habitat utilization occurs in females of this species, and (3) that satellite telemetry technology can be employed in the boreal forest ecosystem to assess habitat utilization by large ungulate species
Summary
Recent cooperative initiatives between the forestry industry and provinical government to improve the image and efficiency of forest resource management has lead to the development of an integrated forest management policy, which considers the impact of forest harvesting practices on sustaining wildlife populations, and enhancing forest regeneration and harvest rotation time. In this regard, experimentation with new cutting practices has been initiated and research on regeneration and wildlife populations has been ongoing for the past few years. An understanding of the interactions associated with current forest harvesting practices, ungulate populations, and their primary predators would aid in the development of sustainable forest management policy and expand our knowledge of the population dynamics and behaviour of these important species (Edmonds, 1988; Seip, 1992)
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