Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Steven F. Wilson, Thomas D. Nudds, Andrew de Vries
Summary: With the urgency of conservation actions increasing, the identification of causal relationships becomes crucial for the successful recovery of endangered species. While observational studies are the main source of information, limitations in experimental conditions may lead to weak inferences, constraining decision-making.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martin-Hugues St-Laurent, Yan Boulanger, Dominic Cyr, Francis Manka, Pierre Drapeau, Sylvie Gauthier
Summary: This study evaluated how climate change will affect boreal caribou habitat, finding that it may lead to a decrease in habitat quality, a reduction in high-quality habitat, and a northward recession of suitable habitat. Timber harvesting was found to be the most important factor of change for the 2030-2050 horizon, although it may be replaced by changes in fire regime by 2100.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
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
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Doug MacNearney, Barry Nobert, Laura Finnegan
Summary: The study found that oil and gas development has a dynamic impact on woodland caribou habitat selection, with wellsites having the greatest influence when human activity is highest, continuing to affect habitat selection even after activity ceases. Caribou tend to avoid wellsites, with avoidance increasing based on the level of activity at the nearest wellsites. Management practices and land-use planning are needed to minimize impacts on caribou and their habitat.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Smith, C. J. Johnson
Summary: Populations of barren-ground caribou have declined due to climate change, natural fluctuations, human harvest, and industrial activities. This decline poses a significant threat to the Indigenous peoples who rely on caribou. Roads, especially those with high traffic, can impede caribou movement. A study in Canada found that caribou rarely crossed a winter road when any level of traffic was present. The research suggests that mitigation strategies should focus on minimizing traffic volume or providing breaks in traffic when caribou are near winter roads.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Mathieu Leblond, Yan Boulanger, Jesus Pascual Puigdevall, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: Many boreal populations of woodland caribou in Canada are declining due to human activities and climate change. This study used a forest landscape model to predict future caribou habitat suitability and found that harvesting has a dominant impact on habitat suitability, while climate change also plays a role, especially under high radiative forcing scenarios.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
John Boulanger, Kim G. Poole, Anne Gunn, Jan Adamczewski, Jack Wierzchowski
Summary: Our study found that seasonal ranges of caribou around diamond mines in NWT, Canada contracted due to decline in herd size from 2009 to 2017. Significant ZOIs were observed in 9 of 15 years from 2003 to 2017 when both mines were in full operation, with distances ranging from 6.1 to 18.7 km.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca S. Taylor, Micheline Manseau, Cornelya F. C. Klutsch, Jean L. Polfus, Audrey Steedman, Dave Hervieux, Allicia Kelly, Nicholas C. Larter, Mary Gamberg, Helen Schwantje, Paul J. Wilson
Summary: The study found that a major population expansion of caribou occurred at the start of the last glacial period, with effective population sizes reaching 700,000 to 1,000,000 individuals, one of the highest for any mammal species recorded. Mitochondrial analyses dated introgression events prior to the last glacial maximum, demonstrating the importance of pre-LGM events in shaping demographic history.
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
Jordan A. McNamara, James A. Schaefer, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Shane P. Mahoney
Summary: The study found that landscape features can influence the distribution of caribou and hunting harvests. Across different decades, the distribution and harvests of caribou and hunters showed varying relationships.
Article
Zoology
M. Mueller, C. J. Johnson, R. S. McNay
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of maternity penning on parturition in a caribou population in east-central British Columbia, Canada, and found no difference in the occurrence and date of parturition between penned and free-ranging caribou. It also found that years with higher snowfall and warmer winter weather were associated with earlier calving dates.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Samantha McFarlane, Micheline Manseau, Teri B. B. Jones, Darren Pouliot, Gabriela Mastromonaco, Gigi Pittoello, Paul J. J. Wilson
Summary: This study examines the effects of variable density on demographic parameters in a wild population of boreal woodland caribou. The results show that density affects individual reproductive success, female pregnancy status, and dispersal distance. The study suggests that remnant habitat patches may create population sinks.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe Morineau, Yan Boulanger, Philippe Gachon, Sabrina Plante, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: The contraction of species range is a significant symptom of biodiversity loss. This study assesses the potential effects of recent climate change on the observed range contraction of boreal populations of woodland caribou in Quebec. The results suggest that the range recession of caribou in Quebec is mainly caused by anthropogenic drivers rather than climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)