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Labadie G, Hardy C, Boulanger Y, Vanlandeghem V, Hebblewhite M, Fortin D. Global change risks a threatened species due to alteration of predator–prey dynamics. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
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2
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Leblond M, Boulanger Y, Pascual Puigdevall J, St-Laurent MH. There is still time to reconcile forest management with climate-driven declines in habitat suitability for boreal caribou. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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Palm EC, Suitor MJ, Joly K, Herriges JD, Kelly AP, Hervieux D, Russell KLM, Bentzen TW, Larter NC, Hebblewhite M. Increasing fire frequency and severity will increase habitat loss for a boreal forest indicator species. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2549. [PMID: 35094462 PMCID: PMC9286541 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will lead to more frequent and more severe fires in some areas of boreal forests, affecting the distribution and availability of late-successional forest communities. These forest communities help to protect globally significant carbon reserves beneath permafrost layers and provide habitat for many animal species, including forest-dwelling caribou. Many caribou populations are declining, yet the mechanisms by which changing fire regimes could affect caribou declines are poorly understood. We analyzed resource selection of 686 GPS-collared female caribou from three ecotypes and 15 populations in a ~600,000 km2 region of northwest Canada and eastern Alaska. These populations span a wide gradient of fire frequency but experience low levels of human-caused habitat disturbance. We used a mixed-effects modeling framework to characterize caribou resource selection in response to burns at different seasons and spatiotemporal scales, and to test for functional responses in resource selection to burn availability. We also tested mechanisms driving observed selection patterns using burn severity and lichen cover data. Caribou avoided burns more strongly during winter relative to summer and at larger spatiotemporal scales relative to smaller scales. During the winter, caribou consistently avoided burns at both spatiotemporal scales as burn availability increased, indicating little evidence of a functional response. However, they decreased their avoidance of burns during summer as burn availability increased. Burn availability explained more variation in caribou selection for burns than ecotype. Within burns, caribou strongly avoided severely burned areas in winter, and this avoidance lasted nearly 30 years after a fire. Caribou within burns also selected higher cover of terrestrial lichen (an important caribou food source). We found a negative relationship between burn severity and lichen cover, confirming that caribou avoidance of burns was consistent with lower lichen abundance. Consistent winter avoidance of burns and severely burned areas suggests that caribou will experience increasing winter habitat loss as fire frequency and severity increase. Our results highlight the potential for climate-induced alteration of natural disturbance regimes to affect boreal biodiversity through habitat loss. We suggest that management strategies prioritizing protection of core winter range habitat with lower burn probabilities would provide important climate-change refugia for caribou.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C. Palm
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W. A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Michael J. Suitor
- Department of EnvironmentYukon GovernmentDawson CityYukon TerritoriesCanada
| | - Kyle Joly
- Yukon‐Charley Rivers National Preserve, National Park ServiceFairbanksAlaskaUSA
| | | | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesGovernment of the Northwest TerritoriesFort SmithNorthwest TerritoriesCanada
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks − Operations DivisionGrande PrairieAlbertaCanada
| | | | | | - Nicholas C. Larter
- Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesGovernment of the Northwest TerritoriesFort SimpsonNorthwest TerritoriesCanada
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W. A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
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Konkolics S, Dickie M, Serrouya R, Hervieux D, Boutin S. A Burning Question: What are the Implications of Forest Fires for Woodland Caribou? J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean Konkolics
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Melanie Dickie
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Robert Serrouya
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Resource Stewardship Division Alberta Environment and Parks Grande Prairie AB T8V 6J8 Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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Nagy‐Reis M, Dickie M, Calvert AM, Hebblewhite M, Hervieux D, Seip DR, Gilbert SL, Venter O, DeMars C, Boutin S, Serrouya R. Habitat loss accelerates for the endangered woodland caribou in western Canada. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nagy‐Reis
- Caribou Monitoring Unit Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Melanie Dickie
- Caribou Monitoring Unit Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Anna M. Calvert
- Landscape Science & Technology Division Environment & Climate Change Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks Grande Prairie Alberta Canada
| | | | - Sophie L. Gilbert
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Oscar Venter
- University of Northern British Columbia Prince George British Columbia Canada
| | - Craig DeMars
- Caribou Monitoring Unit Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Robert Serrouya
- Caribou Monitoring Unit Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
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Serrouya R, Dickie M, Lamb C, van Oort H, Kelly AP, DeMars C, McLoughlin PD, Larter NC, Hervieux D, Ford AT, Boutin S. Trophic consequences of terrestrial eutrophication for a threatened ungulate. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202811. [PMID: 33468013 PMCID: PMC7893279 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in primary productivity have the potential to substantially alter food webs, with positive outcomes for some species and negative outcomes for others. Understanding the environmental context and species traits that give rise to these divergent outcomes is a major challenge to the generality of both theoretical and applied ecology. In aquatic systems, nutrient-mediated eutrophication has led to major declines in species diversity, motivating us to seek terrestrial analogues using a large-mammal system across 598 000 km2 of the Canadian boreal forest. These forests are undergoing some of the most rapid rates of land-use change on Earth and are home to declining caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations. Using satellite-derived estimates of primary productivity, coupled with estimates of moose (Alces alces) and wolf (Canis lupus) abundance, we used path analyses to discriminate among hypotheses explaining how habitat alteration can affect caribou population growth. Hypotheses included food limitation, resource dominance by moose over caribou, and apparent competition with predators shared between moose and caribou. Results support apparent competition and yield estimates of wolf densities (1.8 individuals 1000 km-2) above which caribou populations decline. Our multi-trophic analysis provides insight into the cascading effects of habitat alteration from forest cutting that destabilize terrestrial predator-prey dynamics. Finally, the path analysis highlights why conservation actions directed at the proximate cause of caribou decline have been more successful in the near term than those directed further along the trophic chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Serrouya
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Melanie Dickie
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Clayton Lamb
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Harry van Oort
- Environment, BC Hydro, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada V0E 2S0
| | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada X0E 0P0
| | - Craig DeMars
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Philip D. McLoughlin
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - Nicholas C. Larter
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada X0E 0N0
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Box 23 Provincial Building, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada T8V 6J4
| | - Adam T. Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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Neufeld BT, Superbie C, Greuel RJ, Perry T, Tomchuk PA, Fortin D, McLoughlin PD. Disturbance‐Mediated Apparent Competition Decouples in a Northern Boreal Caribou Range. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Branden T. Neufeld
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Clara Superbie
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Ruth J. Greuel
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Thomas Perry
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Patricia A. Tomchuk
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Daniel Fortin
- Département de biologie Université Laval Québec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Philip D. McLoughlin
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Canada
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Silva J, Nielsen S, McLoughlin P, Rodgers A, Hague C, Boutin S. Comparison of pre-fire and post-fire space use reveals varied responses by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Boreal Shield. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.A. Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - S.E. Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - P.D. McLoughlin
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - A.R. Rodgers
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 421 James Street South, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 2V6, Canada
| | - C. Hague
- Ontario Parks, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 227 Howey Street, Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0, Canada
| | - S. Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Walker PD, Rodgers AR, Shuter JL, Thompson ID, Fryxell JM, Cook JG, Cook RC, Merrill EH. Comparison of Woodland Caribou Calving Areas Determined by Movement Patterns Across Northern Ontario. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip D. Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Arthur R. Rodgers
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay ON P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Jennifer L. Shuter
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay ON P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Ian D. Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service (Retired) 1219 Queen Street E, Sault Ste. Marie ON P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - John G. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Forestry and Range Science Laboratory 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Rachel C. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Forestry and Range Science Laboratory 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Eveyln H. Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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Johnson CA, Sutherland GD, Neave E, Leblond M, Kirby P, Superbie C, McLoughlin PD. Science to inform policy: Linking population dynamics to habitat for a threatened species in Canada. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A. Johnson
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | | | - Erin Neave
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Patrick Kirby
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Clara Superbie
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK Canada
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Application of Least-Cost Movement Modeling in Planning Wildlife Mitigation Measures along Transport Corridors: Case Study of Forests and Moose in Lithuania. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10100831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present work presents the development of a moose movement model to explore the value of wildlife mitigation structures and examine how hypothetical changes in land use patterns could alter wildlife habitats at landscape scales. Collisions between vehicles and animals pose a threat to humans and wildlife populations, the most dangerous collisions being with moose. Migrations of moose are generally predictable and habitat-dependent. Here, we use GIS-based simulations of moose movements to examine road-related habitat fragmentation around the main highways A1 and A2 in Lithuania. From forest data, we develop a moose habitat suitability map. Then, by running multiple simulation iterations, we generate potential moose pathways and statistically describe the most efficient potential long-range movement routes that are based on the principles of habitat utilization. Reflecting the probabilities of cross-highway moose movement, ranks are assigned to all 1 km highway segments, characterizing them in terms of their likelihood of moose movement, and thus identifying discrete migration corridors and highway crossing zones. Bottlenecks are identified through simulation, such as where sections of wildlife fencing end without highway crossing structures, thereby creating a ‘spillover’ effect, i.e., moose moving parallel to the highway, then crossing. The tested model has proven the prognostic capacity of the tool to foresee locations of moose-vehicle collisions with high accuracy, thus allowing it to be a valuable addition to the toolbox of highway planners.
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