Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John P. Severson, Heather E. Johnson, Stephen M. Arthur, William B. Leacock, Michael J. Suitor
Summary: Phenological changes in spring can have significant impacts on the behavior and space utilization patterns of migratory barren-ground caribou, with future climate conditions projected to further shift their distributions westward.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
O. Alejandro Aleuy, Michele Anholt, Karin Orsel, Fabien Mavrot, Catherine A. Gagnon, Kimberlee Beckmen, Steeve D. Cote, Christine Cuyler, Andrew Dobson, Brett Elkin, Lisa-Marie Leclerc, Joelle Taillon, Susan Kutz
Summary: This study investigated the epidemiology and environmental factors of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in the Arctic and found that seropositivity was highest during warmer months and among adult males. Summer seroprevalence increases were associated with oestrid index, icing and snowing events, and precipitation from the same year, but decreased with growing degree days in the same year. The findings provide valuable insights into disease prevalence and can help in anticipating and mitigating climate change-related diseases among Arctic wildlife and human populations.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joshua H. Miller, Eric J. Wald, Patrick Druckenmiller
Summary: Studying skeletal remains of caribou provides insights into historical calving geography and climate change. These findings are crucial for understanding past ecosystem conditions and informing current and future management policies.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Zoology
Quinn M. R. Webber, Kristy M. Ferraro, Jack G. Hendrix, Eric Vander Wal
Summary: Historically, comprehensive circumpolar analyses of caribou and reindeer diet have been lacking. This study provides a systematic overview of caribou diet and tests biologically relevant hypotheses about dietary variation. The results reveal that caribou primarily consume lichen in winter, but switch to graminoids and other vascular plants in warmer seasons and areas with lower primary productivity. The study highlights the importance of understanding caribou diet as climate change impacts their food sources.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Timothy J. Fullman, Ryan R. Wilson, Kyle Joly, David D. Gustine, Paul Leonard, Wendy M. Loya
Summary: This study explores the behavior patterns of migratory species and their impact on development projects, presenting a technique that uses circuit theory to predict future effects of development. Caribou avoid dense vegetation, rugged terrain, and other natural environmental features during migration, with different relationships between resource selection and landscape resistance observed during spring and fall migrations.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
John P. Severson, Timothy C. Vosburgh, Heather E. Johnson
Summary: This study examines the influence of traffic volume on caribou's summer space use and road crossings in Arctic Alaska. The results show that caribou prefer areas further from roads during the post-calving and mosquito seasons, and select areas with lower traffic volumes. Additionally, during the insect seasons, caribou are less likely to cross roads as traffic increases, but this response dissipates as insect harassment becomes more severe.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Heather E. Johnson, Elizabeth A. Lenart, David D. Gustine, Layne G. Adams, Perry S. Barboza
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between summer forage and insect activity and the demographic rates of Arctic caribou. The findings showed that greater early summer digestible nitrogen was associated with increased subsequent calving success, while greater summer biomass was associated with increased adult survival. Mosquito activity was linked to reductions in adult female parturition, calving success, and survival.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Matthew D. Cameron, Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Greg A. Breed, Kyle Joly, Knut Kielland
Summary: The autumn migrations of Arctic barren-ground caribou are influenced by temperature, snow depth, and other environmental factors, with individuals continuously updating their migratory decisions based on dynamic conditions. While temperature and snow are consistent cues for migration, wind, NDVI, and barometric pressure show interannual variability in their effects. The dispersed distribution of individuals in autumn leads to diverse environmental conditions experienced by individual caribou, resulting in pronounced variability in migratory patterns.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Deborah A. Jenkins, James A. Schaefer, Glenn Yannic, Geoff Andrews, Erin L. Koen, William E. Peterman, Nicolas Lecomte
Summary: Sea ice loss, disturbance, and habitat modification by humans can negatively impact wildlife by altering functional landscape connectivity. Protecting habitat and identifying connectivity areas is critical for the survival of threatened species, such as caribou in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The study found that anthropogenic interference significantly affects gene flow and movement, with high Arctic Peary caribou experiencing more barriers compared to barren-ground caribou.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Catriona A. Morrison, Simon J. Butler, Robert A. Robinson, Jacquie A. Clark, Juan Arizaga, Ainars Aunins, Oriol Balta, Jaroslav Cepak, Tomasz Chodkiewicz, Virginia Escandell, Ruud P. B. Foppen, Richard D. Gregory, Magne Husby, Frederic Jiguet, John Atle Kalas, Aleksi Lehikoinen, Ake Lindstrom, Charlotte M. Moshoj, Karoly Nagy, Arantza Leal Nebot, Markus Piha, Jiri Reif, Thomas Sattler, Jana Skorpilova, Tibor Szep, Norbert Teufelbauer, Kasper Thorup, Chris van Turnhout, Thomas Wenninger, Jennifer A. Gill
Summary: Conservation policies for declining wildlife species are challenging due to multiple environmental changes impacting population declines. Targeted actions to improve local productivity within Europe, combined with large-scale environmental protection across non-breeding ranges, could help halt migrant landbird declines. Such demographic approaches are increasingly necessary to address global wildlife declines.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stine Hojlund Pedersen, Torsten W. Bentzen, Adele K. Reinking, Glen E. Liston, Kelly Elder, Elizabeth A. Lenart, Alexander K. Prichard, Jeffrey M. Welker
Summary: The study found that snow depth has a significant impact on caribou winter range selection and movement. Caribou choose different habitats based on snow depth in different winter conditions, and snow depth affects their movement and selection within these habitats.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timothy J. Fullman, Brian T. Person, Alexander K. Prichard, Lincoln S. Parrett
Summary: Animals migrate to benefit from temporal and spatial variability in resources, but the cost-benefit ratio can lead to partial migration where only a portion of the population migrates. In the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd, there is variability in movement behavior and wintering area use, with low fidelity to wintering areas among individuals. The duration and distance of migration varied by season and wintering area, indicating the importance of understanding factors influencing migratory behaviors in the rapidly changing Arctic environment.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria Cavedon, Bridgett VonHoldt, Mark Hebblewhite, Troy Hegel, Elizabeth Heppenheimer, Dave Hervieux, Stefano Mariani, Helen Schwantje, Robin Steenweg, Jessica Theoret, Megan Watters, Marco Musiani
Summary: Habitat fragmentation and loss pose significant threats to wide-ranging animals, including migratory species. The genetic basis of migratory behavior in endangered terrestrial mammals has not been studied before. In this study, the researchers found a genetic subdivision of caribou into Northern and Southern clusters and detected multiple genetic variants associated with migratory behavior. The propensity to migrate in caribou depends on their ancestry, suggesting that the loss of migratory trait in isolated populations may have long-lasting effects. These findings highlight the importance of genetic factors in understanding and conserving migratory behavior in endangered species.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Chris J. Johnson, Justina C. Ray, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: Lethal population control has been used in wildlife management and conservation, and it remains a topic of debate. The situation in Canada, where wolves, bears, and coyotes are killed to conserve woodland caribou, raises questions about the effectiveness and ethics of such practices. While predator management may have short-term benefits, the long-term recovery of caribou requires addressing the root causes of population decline, such as habitat change. Governments need to make difficult decisions and prioritize the preservation of caribou.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea N. Hanke, Monica Angohiatok, Lisa-Marie Leclerc, Cindy Adams, Susan Kutz
Summary: The DU caribou herd is a unique and endangered ecotype in the central Canadian Arctic. Analysis of traditional knowledge interviews revealed that the herd was already showing signs of decline in 2003, with differences observed in population and disease trends between communities. This highlights the importance of considering unique local perspectives and mobilizing traditional knowledge for conservation efforts.
Article
Ecology
Eric C. Palm, Michael J. Suitor, Kyle Joly, Jim D. Herriges, Allicia P. Kelly, Dave Hervieux, Kelsey L. M. Russell, Torsten W. Bentzen, Nicholas C. Larter, Mark Hebblewhite
Summary: Climate change will lead to more frequent and severe fires in boreal forests, affecting caribou populations. Caribou in winter and at larger scales tend to avoid burns more strongly, while they decrease their avoidance in summer. They strongly avoid severely burned areas and select higher lichen cover within burns.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Libby Ehlers, Gabrielle Coulombe, Jim Herriges, Torsten Bentzen, Michael Suitor, Kyle Joly, Mark Hebblewhite
Summary: Summer diets are crucial for large herbivores in the subarctic and are affected by various environmental changes. Researchers used GPS video-camera collars to observe behaviors and summer diets of the migratory Fortymile Caribou Herd across Alaska, USA and the Yukon, Canada. The study found a tradeoff in summer foraging between lichens and shrubs, as well as the impact of insect harassment on eating behavior.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Matthew D. Cameron, Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Greg A. Breed, Kyle Joly, Knut Kielland
Summary: The autumn migrations of Arctic barren-ground caribou are influenced by temperature, snow depth, and other environmental factors, with individuals continuously updating their migratory decisions based on dynamic conditions. While temperature and snow are consistent cues for migration, wind, NDVI, and barometric pressure show interannual variability in their effects. The dispersed distribution of individuals in autumn leads to diverse environmental conditions experienced by individual caribou, resulting in pronounced variability in migratory patterns.
Article
Ecology
Eliezer Gurarie, Chloe Bracis, Angelina Brilliantova, Ilpo Kojola, Johanna Suutarinen, Otso Ovaskainen, Sriya Potluri, William F. Fagan
Summary: This study presents a cognitive analysis of wolf movements in Finland and finds that wolves choose foraging locations based on memory, but there is individual variation in response strategies, possibly influenced by pack size, number of pups, and territory features.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
William F. Fagan, Cole Saborio, Tyler D. Hoffman, Eliezer Gurarie, Robert Stephen Cantrell, Chris Cosner
Summary: This article discusses the tracking and acquisition of resources by consumers in complex environments and investigates the impact of resource gradients on consumer behavior through six different definitions. The study found that movement strategies based on temporal gradients afforded consumers with the best opportunities to match resource distributions.
THEORETICAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Calum X. Cunningham, Glen E. Liston, Adele K. Reinking, Natalie T. Boelman, Todd J. Brinkman, Kyle Joly, Mark Hebblewhite, Stan Boutin, Sophie Czetwertynski, Leonard E. Sielecki, Laura R. Prugh
Summary: The risk of moose-vehicle collisions increases during winter due to concurrent seasonal changes in human and wildlife behavior. Snow depth influences collision risk through its impacts on moose movement, while strong seasonal changes in daylight hours cause an increase in nighttime traffic volumes that further contribute to risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ophelie H. Couriot, Matthew D. Cameron, Kyle Joly, Jan Adamczewski, Mitch W. Campbell, Tracy Davison, Anne Gunn, Allicia P. Kelly, Mathieu Leblond, Judy Williams, William F. Fagan, Anna Brose, Eliezer Gurarie
Summary: Warming temperatures and advancing spring are impacting the annual snow and ice cycles, as well as plant phenology, in the Arctic and boreal regions, which in turn affects the timing and location of calving for barren-ground caribou. Weather conditions during gestation have contrasting effects on calving, with unfavorable conditions resulting in delayed arrival on the calving area or failure to reach it in time. Overall, there is considerable variability in timing and location of calving across years and herds, but no significant trend for earlier calving by caribou, despite earlier indicators of spring and snow phenology. Monitoring calving timing and location is crucial, as well as examining how weather conditions during summer and winter impact reproductive success.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nathaniel R. Bowersock, Lana M. Ciarniello, William W. Deacy, Doug C. Heard, Kyle Joly, Clayton T. Lamb, William B. Leacock, Bruce N. McLellan, Garth Mowat, Mathew S. Sorum, Frank T. van Manen, Jerod A. Merkle
Summary: Herbivorous animals tend to seek out plants at intermediate phenological states to improve energy intake while minimizing consumption of fibrous material. In some ecosystems, the timing of green-up is heterogeneous and propagates across space in a wave-like pattern, known as the green wave. Tracking the green wave allows individuals to prolong access to higher-quality forage.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Boris Fuchs, Kyle Joly, Grant V. Hilderbrand, Alina L. Evans, Ilia Rodushkin, Lindsey S. Mangipane, Buck A. Mangipane, David D. Gustine, Andreas Zedrosser, Ludovick Brown, Jon M. Arnemo
Summary: Contamination with toxic elements like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead is a global concern, affecting the resilience of organisms and ecosystems. Bears living in remote areas can still be exposed to these elements through atmospheric and oceanic pathways. The study found that the blood concentrations of these elements varied based on bear diet and age, with Alaskan bears feeding on salmon having higher mercury concentrations. These findings highlight the importance of understanding baseline contaminant concentrations in the changing world.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Mathew S. Sorum, Matthew D. Cameron, Anthony Crupi, George K. Sage, Sandra L. Talbot, Grant V. Hilderbrand, Kyle Joly
Summary: A study conducted in the interior Brooks Range mountains of northern Alaska revealed that the use of salmon-bearing streams by brown bears is more prevalent than previously believed. By collecting hair samples and conducting DNA analysis, it was estimated that 24 brown bears used a 7 km section of one stream. Additionally, a higher level of relatedness was found among bears that used the same stream. Potential mitigation measures to reduce human-bear conflicts related to brown bear use of salmon-bearing streams are proposed based on these findings.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander K. Prichard, Kyle Joly, Lincoln S. Parrett, Matthew D. Cameron, D. Alexander Hansen, Brian T. Person
Summary: A fundamental assumption in many ecological studies is that the sample being studied represents the population of interest. However, fish and wildlife studies often rely on opportunistic sampling of marked individuals, which may provide little information about unmarked individuals. Evaluating the representativeness of newly marked individuals can be difficult without data on unmarked individuals. Comparing the spatial distribution of different cohorts of marked individuals can provide an alternative means to assess representativeness.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)