Vegetation characteristics of forest stands used by woodland caribou and those disturbed by fire or logging in Manitoba

Juha M Metsaranta,Dale W Cross,Frank F Mallory

doi:10.7557/2.23.5.1709

Abstract

This study examined woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in an area known as the Kississing-Naosap caribou range in west central Manitoba. The vegetation characteristics of areas used by caribou and areas disturbed by fire or logging were measured in order to develop a model to estimate habitat quality from parameters collected during stan&not;dard resource inventories. There was evidence that habitat index values calculated using a visual score-sheet index could be used as the basis to relate parameters commonly collected during resource inventories to habitat suitability. Use of this model to select long and short-term leave areas during forest management planning could potentially mitigate some of the negative impacts of forest harvesting. Abundance of arboreal lichen and wind-fallen trees were important predictor variables in the suitability model, but their inclusion did not explain more variance in habitat suitability than models that did not include them. Extreme post-fire deadfall abundance may play a role in predator-prey dynamics by creating habitat that is equally unsuitable for all ungulates, and thus keeping both moose and caribou densities low.

Highlights

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are believed to be the late-successional forest ungulate in the boreal forest biome of North America
Numerous researchers have investigated the microhabitat characteristics of areas used by woodland caribou in boreal forest ecosystems over an entire year, as well as during specific seasonal periods, and across various disturbance regimes (e.g. Schaeffer & Pruitt, 1991; Racey et al, 1996; Rettie et al, 1997; Antoniak & Cumming, 1998; Martinez, 1998; Hirai, 1998; Wilson, 2000)
The results of this study suggest that deadfall accumulation may be an important factor, with the degree of impediment to travel imposed by the accumulation of deadfall possibly limiting the use of burned uplands at all times of year

Summary

Introduction

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are believed to be the late-successional forest ungulate in the boreal forest biome of North America. Numerous researchers have investigated the microhabitat characteristics of areas used by woodland caribou in boreal forest ecosystems over an entire year, as well as during specific seasonal periods, and across various disturbance regimes Studies have generally emphasized the importance of the abundance of arboreal and terrestrial lichen as a primary factor associated with microhabitat used by caribou during winter (Antoniak & Cumming, 1998; Martinez, 1998; Wilson, 2001). Special Issue No 14: 255-266 levels of snow accumulation (Schaeffer & Pruitt, 1991; Wilson, 2000). Spring and summer habitat characteristics reflect changes in diet from ter¬ restrial and arboreal lichens in winter to emergent herbs, grasses, and deciduous shrubs during the snow-free period (Bergerud, 1972; Darby & Pruitt, 1984). Deadfall can be a barrier to movement, potentially making habitat unsuitable for caribou, Rangifer, Special Issue No 14, 2003

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion