Abstract
Since the 1990s, Newfoundland’s woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) population has declined by an estimated 66%. Low calf recruitment has been associated to the decline, possibly triggered by increasing calf predation and/or decreasing resources. To investigate the role of landscape composition in this system, we studied the yearly (2005-2008) calving/post-calving range (CPCR) of 104 satellite-collared females belonging to six herds. We mapped nine disturbance factors (e.g. roads, logging, etc), as well as vegetation cover types (e.g. coniferous, deciduous forests, etc), and determined the total area they occupied within CPCRs yearly for each herd. Using an information theoretic approach, we assessed the model that best explained variation in recruitment using these components. Based on corrected Akaike Information Criterion, the model that best explained variation in calf recruitment included total disturbance and deciduous forest area, both showing the expected negative relationship with calf recruitment. Other landscape variables among the models with ΔAICc < 2 were mixed forest, also with a suggested negative relationship, and barrens and wetlands with a significant positive trend. This study highlights the need to minimize total disturbance footprint and account for resulting changes in forest composition within CPCRs during land use planning. Expanding forestry operations and road infrastructure in critical woodland caribou habitat across Canada may additionally contribute to habitat loss via fragmentation. This in turn, may lead to range recession beyond the initial local avoidance footprint. We see the possibility of using calf recruitment models based on landscape parameters, among others, to predict the impact of new industrial developments on calf recruitment.
Highlights
Canada loses an average 50 000 hectares of forest per year due to land development, not including the additional areas temporarily disturbed by forest harvesting or fires (Natural Resources Canada, 2009)
These studies have found that anthropogenic disturbance, fires, and associated early seral stage forests can be negatively related to both survival and reproduction
Our goal was to assess the relationship between calf recruitment and landscape composition for woodland caribou herds in Newfoundland, focusing on the calving/post-calving range (CPCR)
Summary
Canada loses an average 50 000 hectares of forest per year due to land development, not including the additional areas temporarily disturbed by forest harvesting or fires (Natural Resources Canada, 2009) If these disturbances occur within the home range of sensitive wildlife populations, the associated habitat loss and fragmentation effects may lead to range recession, associated changes in population dynamics, and eventually population declines A few studies have focused on direct relationships between habitat composition and vital rates (Nellemann et al, 2003; Wittmer et al, 2007; Sorensen et al, 2008) These studies have found that anthropogenic disturbance (e.g. logging), fires, and associated early seral stage forests can be negatively related to both survival and reproduction. Such expansions beyond the common behavioural-type examinations of movement and habitat-use may be increasingly informative from a populationmanagement perspective
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
