scholarly journals The West Central Alberta Woodland Caribou Landscape Plan: Using a Modeling Approach to Develop Alternative Scenarios

Rangifer ◽  
2011 ◽  
pp. 103-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Hubbs ◽  
Piotr Weclaw ◽  
Michael Sullivan ◽  
Nicole McCutchen
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Fire Control ◽  
The West ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
West Central ◽  
Alternative Scenarios

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are classified as threatened in Alberta. In support of Canada's Species at Risk Act, a Recovery Plan for Woodland Caribou in Alberta was completed in 2004 which required local implementation plans to be completed within 5 areas of the province. The West Central Alberta Caribou Landscape Plan (WCCLP) is the first of these to be initiated and it addresses the recovery strategies for 4 herds. Two aspatial computer models built on the STELLA© modelling platform (ISee Systems, 2007) were used to assist the planning team in evaluating cumulative effects and alternative scenarios for caribou conservation. The ALCES© (Forem Technologies 2008) modelling tool was used to forecast potential changes in the west central Alberta landscape over time. Yearly landscape condition outputs from ALCES© were then exported into a caribou-specific population model, REMUS© (Weclaw, 2004), that was used to project potential population responses by woodland caribou, other primary prey species [moose (Alces alces), elk (Cervus elaphus) and deer (Odocoileus sp.)] and wolves (Canis lupus) (Weclaw & Hudson, 2004). Simulated habitat management strategies that resulted in the highest likelihood of caribou recovery included the maintenance of a high proportion of old forest, the aggregation of industrial footprints and the reclamation of historic seismic lines (although the latter took decades to provide real dividends). Sharing of industrial roads, protection of fragments of old-growth, and expanding an already aggressive fire control strategy in Alberta had little additional effect on caribou recovery. Simulated population management strategies that were successful all involved decades of intensive wolf control, either directly or indirectly through intensive primary prey control (with the exception of woodland caribou) until old-growth forests recovered to densities that provided caribou habitat and decreased alternate prey of wolves. Although this modelling approach makes broad assumptions, it provides simple fundamental relationships that were useful in a multi-stakeholder team setting when evaluating the efficacy of different management strategies for the conservation of woodland caribou.

Comparison of pre-fire and post-fire space use reveals varied responses by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Boreal Shield

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
pp. 751-760
Author(s):  
J.A. Silva ◽  
S.E. Nielsen ◽  
P.D. McLoughlin ◽  
A.R. Rodgers ◽  
C. Hague ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Boreal Shield ◽  
Calving Season

By regulating successional dynamics in Canada’s boreal forest, fires can affect the distribution of the Threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). Caribou tend to avoid areas burned within the last 40 years; however, few studies have compared pre-fire and post-fire caribou observations. In this study, we used caribou GPS locations from the Boreal Shield of Saskatchewan, Canada, to assess the short-term response of caribou to areas that burned while they were collared (hereafter recent burns). We used a “before–after, control–impact” design to compare the overlap of pre-fire and post-fire seasonal home ranges to the overlap of year-to-year seasonal home ranges. Caribou rarely encountered recent burns and when they did, they adjusted their space use in variable and complex ways that were largely indistinguishable from regular, interannual variation. Caribou tended to reduce use of recent burns in summer–autumn and winter, but not during the calving season, in some cases shifting their home range to incorporate more burned habitat. We conclude that recently burned areas (<5 years) may provide habitat value to woodland caribou, particularly during the calving season, requiring a more flexible approach to interpret fire in habitat management strategies.

scholarly journals Managing second-growth forests as caribou habitat

Rangifer ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan K. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Stand Management ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Habitat management for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in southeastern British Columbia has generally focussed on protecting old-growth forests from logging. As that strategy becomes more difficult to maintain, biologists are beginning to explore opportunities to manage second-growth stands to provide arboreal lichens and other habitat resources important to caribou. Special harvesting and stand management practices are being developed and formulated into strategies for maintaining caribou populations in managed stands.

scholarly journals Conserving woodland caribou habitat while maintaining timber yield: a graph theory approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 914-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan L.W. Ruppert ◽  
Marie-Josée Fortin ◽  
Eldon A. Gunn ◽  
David L. Martell
Keyword(s):  
Graph Theory ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Heuristic Procedure ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest

The fragmentation and loss of old-growth forest has led to the decline of many forest-dwelling species that depend on old-growth forest as habitat. Emblematic of this issue in many areas of the managed boreal forest in Canada is the threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). We develop a methodology to help determine when and how timber can be harvested to best satisfy both industrial timber supply and woodland caribou habitat requirements. To start, we use least-cost paths based on graph theory to determine the configuration of woodland caribou preferred habitat patches. We then developed a heuristic procedure to schedule timber harvesting based on a trade-off between merchantable wood volume and the remaining amount of habitat and its connectivity during a planning cycle. Our heuristic can attain 84% of the potential woodland caribou habitat that would be available in the absence of harvesting at the end of a 100 year planning horizon. Interestingly, this is more than that which is attained by the current plan (50%) and a harvesting plan that targets high volume stands (32%). Our results indicate that our heuristic procedure (i.e., an ecologically tuned optimization approach) may better direct industrial activities to improve old-growth habitat while maintaining specified timber production levels.

If You Build It, Will They Come? Caribou Habitat Restoration for Pipeline Projects

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Coupal ◽  
Paula Bentham
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Landscape Fragmentation ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Northeastern Alberta

The federal Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population in Canada, identifies coordinated actions to reclaim woodland caribou habitat as a key step to meeting current and future caribou population objectives. Actions include restoring industrial landscape features such as roads, seismic lines, pipelines, cut-lines, and cleared areas in an effort to reduce landscape fragmentation and the changes in caribou population dynamics associated with changing predator-prey dynamics in highly fragmented landscapes. Reliance on habitat restoration as a recovery action within the federal Recovery Strategy is high, identifying 65% undisturbed habitat in a caribou range as the threshold to providing a 60% chance that a local population will be self-sustaining. In alignment with the federal Recovery Strategy, Alberta’s Provincial Woodland Caribou Policy identifies habitat restoration as a critical component of long-term caribou habitat management. Habitat restoration initiatives of Alberta’s historical industrial footprint within caribou ranges began in 2001 and have largely focused on linear corridors, including pipelines. Initiatives include revegetation treatments, access control programs and studies, and restricting the growth of plant species that are favourable to moose and deer, the primary prey for wolves. Habitat restoration for pipelines also includes pre-construction planning to reduce disturbance and create line-of-sight breaks, and construction techniques that promote natural vegetation recovery. Lessons learned from habitat restoration programs implemented on pipeline projects in northeastern Alberta will be shared as an opportunity to improve common understanding of restoration techniques, the barriers to implementation, and potential outcomes.

Early-winter diet of woodland caribou in relation to snow accumulation, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, Canada

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2691-2694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Rominger ◽  
John L. Oldemeyer
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Accumulation Rates ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Selkirk Mountains

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the southern Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia shift from a diet of primarily vascular taxa during snow-free months to an arboreal lichen – conifer diet during late winter. We present evidence that caribou diets, during the early-winter transition period, are influenced by snow accumulation rates. Caribou shift to an arboreal lichen – conifer diet earlier during winters of rapid snow accumulation and forage extensively on myrtle boxwood (Pachistima myrsinites), an evergreen shrub, and other vascular plants during years of slower snow accumulation. The role of coniferous forage in early-winter food habits is examined. Forest management strategies can be developed to provide habitat that will enable caribou to forage in response to varying snow accumulation rates.

scholarly journals Winter distribution of woodland caribou in relation to clear-cut logging in west-central Alberta

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirby G Smith ◽  
E Janet Ficht ◽  
David Hobson ◽  
Troy C Sorensen ◽  
David Hervieux
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Daily Movement ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
West Central

The responses of a herd of migratory woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) to timber harvesting that fragmented about 11% of their winter range in west-central Alberta were examined in this study. From 1981 to 1996, 45 caribou were radio-collared and monitored during the initiation and completion of first-pass timber harvest (50% removal). Variables examined were home-range size, daily movement rates, and distance to the nearest cut block for radio-collared individuals. Daily movement rates and individual winter range sizes decreased as timber harvesting progressed. Caribou avoided using recently fragmented areas by an average of 1.2 km. If fragmentation of the winter range continues through timber harvesting and other industrial activities, the "spacing out" antipredator strategy used by caribou may be compromised. Based on these findings, timber-harvesting strategies are recommended that (i) ensure an adequate area of usable habitat to support the current population, (ii) minimize the amount of fragmented area, and (iii) in the short term avoid presently defined core use areas.

Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 817-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Janet Edmonds
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Adult Mortality ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Population Status ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
West Central ◽  
The Face ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Maximum Estimate

Twenty-four woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the mountains and foothills of west central Alberta were radio collared to obtain information on seasonal movements, location and extent of seasonal ranges, rutting and calving areas, and population status. The study was conducted from December 1979 to June 1984 (fall composition surveys continued to 1986). Two populations of woodland caribou resided in the foothills winter range: a migratory mountain variety that moved west to the mountains in spring and returned in fall, and a more sedentary woodland variety that remained year round in the forested foothills. Calving and rutting grounds of the two populations were widely separated (minimum of 60 km). The mountain population ranged over a much larger area (11 000 km2) than the woodland population (4000 km2). Woodland caribou were fewer (maximum estimate 50) than the mountain caribou (maximum estimate 200). Population sex–age structure of the mountain caribou population, based on six surveys during the rut (October), averaged 54 males: 100 females: 27 calves (15% calves). Annual minimum adult mortality was 22% for the mountain and woodland populations, and both populations appeared to be declining. Predation, primarily by wolves, was strongly implicated in adult mortality, but causes of calf mortality were not determined. Human-caused mortality was an additional factor. Intensive management is required to ensure the viability of these caribou populations in the face of increasing industrial and recreational development. A short-term wolf reduction program and long-term public education, law enforcement, and habitat protection programs are recommended.

scholarly journals Towards a Caribou Habitat Management Strategy for Northwestern Ontario: Running the Gauntlet

Rangifer ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald D. Racey ◽  
Edward R. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategy ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Wood Supply ◽  
The Public ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
The Government

A management strategy for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) habitat is being developed in northwestern Ontario. This strategy is based upon a set of draft Timber Management Guidelines for the Provision of Woodland Caribou Habitat. These guidelines recommend maintaining a sustainable supply of winter habitat within large tracts of old forest, protecting calving areas and minimizing human disturbance. Due to the large temporal and spatial scale of caribou habitat management, an ecosystem-based approach is recommended. Public response to the strategy shows a strong dichotomy between environmental and utilitarian values among all the major stakeholder groups. The major issues raised by the public include security of industrial wood supply, quality of the knowledge base, level of awareness of caribou, economic impacts on remote communities, concern about environmental impacts and silvicultural know-how. The government is responding to these concerns as the strategy evolves. Current emphasis is placed on increasing awareness of the public, training resource managers in caribou biology, management and habitat planning, implementing interim habitat management prescriptions and studying the potential impact on wood supply. The final direction for a northwestern Ontario strategy to conserve woodland caribou habitat has yet to be decided, although a commitment has been made to strive for the conservation of woodland caribou populations and their habitat.

scholarly journals The diet of woodland caribou populations in west-central Alberta

Rangifer ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C. Thomas ◽  
E. Janet Edmonds ◽  
W. Kent Brown
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
West Central ◽  
Conifer Needles ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Conservation And Management ◽  
Salix Spp

The diet of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations in the foothills and Rocky Mountains of west-central Alberta was estimated by microhistological analyses of feces collected in winter and summer. In winter, terrestrial lichens averaged 60-83% of fecal fragment densities in both areas. In the mountains, decreasing proportions of terrestrial lichens and increasing proportions of conifer needles and moss indicated decreasing accessibility of forage because of deeper/harder snow. Apparent diets in summer were dominated by Salix spp., sedges, and lichens. However, forb inflorescences and stems were largely undetected by the microhistological technique and results for summer samples must be interpreted accordingly. We conclude that the conservation and management of forest ecotypes of caribou must include options of lichen-rich habitats as a major component of management plans.

scholarly journals Little Smoky Woodland Caribou Calf Survival Enhancement Project

Rangifer ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirkby G. Smith ◽  
Lois Pittaway
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Landscape Change ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
The Past ◽  
West Central ◽  
Calf Survival ◽  
In Captivity

The Little Smoky woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd is a boreal ecotype located in west central Alberta, Canada. This herd has declined steadily over the past decade and is currently thought to number approximately 80 animals. Factors contributing to the herds' decline appear related to elevated predator-caused mortality rates resulting from industrial caused landscape change. At current rates of decline, the herd is at risk of extirpation. A calf survival enhancement project was initiated in the first half of 2006 as a means of enhancing recruitment while other longer-term approaches were implemented. A total of 10 pregnant females were captured in early March and held in captivity until all calves were at least 3 weeks old. Before release, calves were radiocollared with expandable drop-off collars. Following release, survival of mother and offspring were tracked at intervals until the fall rut. Survival of penned calves was compared to "wild-born" calves at heel of non captive radiocollared females. This approach is compared to other techniques designed to increase recruitment in caribou.

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