Kim G. Poole

Moose calving strategies in interior montane ecosystems

Abstract Parturient ungulates are relatively more sensitive to predation risk than other individuals and during other times of the year. Selection of calving areas by ungulates may be ultimately related to trade-offs between minimizing risk of predation and meeting nutritional needs for lactation. We used digital and field data to examine selection of calving areas by 31 global positioning system–collared moose (Alces alces) in southeastern British Columbia. We examined movements 12 days before and after calving, and analyzed habitat selection at 2 scales of comparison: the immediate calving area to the extended calving area (100 ha), and the extended calving area to the surrounding home range. Maternal moose exhibited 1 of 2 distinct elevational strategies for calving area selection during the days leading up to calving: 16 moose were climbers and 15 were nonclimbers. Climbers moved a mean of 310 m higher in elevation to calve, whereas nonclimbers showed little change in elevation. Hourly movements by all maternal females increased 2- to 3-fold in the 1–4 days before calving and were generally directional, such that all calving areas were outside of areas used during the 12 days before calving. At the broad scale, elevation was the strongest predictor of the extended calving area within the home range. At the fine scale, climbers selected areas with reduced tree density, reduced forage, and increased distance from water, whereas nonclimbers selected areas with increased forage, decreased distance from water, and decreased slope. Beyond the obvious elevation difference between climbers and nonclimbers, moose appeared to exhibit 2 distinct calving strategies in mountainous ecosystems. A functional explanation for the 2 strategies may be that climbers moved into areas where forage quantity and quality were relatively low, but where risk of predation (mainly by grizzly bears [Ursus arctos]) also was reduced. Nonclimber moose calved in areas with higher forage values, and appeared to select areas at the finer scale to reduce predation risk (e.g., association with water and reduced tree density for visibility).

GENETIC VARIABILITY OF WOLVERINES (GULO GULO) FROM THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA: CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Abstract Because of anthropogenic factors in the early 1900s that caused populations to decline dramatically, wolverines (Gulo gulo) currently are designated as endangered in eastern Canada and classified as vulnerable throughout the Holarctic Region by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Although numerous examples exist that illustrate the utility of genetic data for development of conservation plans, no study has investigated the genetic structure of natural populations of wolverines. We assessed allozymic and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability of wolverines within and among 5 sites from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Five of 46 presumptive allozyme loci were polymorphic. Estimates of heterozygosity (2.6%) and polymorphism (11.6%) were lower than values reported for most mammals but were within the range reported for Carnivora. To evaluate levels of variation in mtDNA, we sequenced the left domain of the control region. Six variable nucleotide sites were observed, resulting in 9 haplotypes of mtDNA. Within-site diversity of haplotypes (h) was high, but within-site diversity of nucleotides (π) was low, indicating little sequence divergence among the 9 haplotypes. Sequence data for mtDNA revealed considerably more genetic partitioning among sites (ϕST = 0.536) than did allozyme data (FST = 0.076). Based on fixation indices, gene flow estimates (Nm) were moderate for nuclear markers but low for mtDNA loci. These findings suggest that, although wolverines maintain large home ranges, they exhibit fidelity to discrete areas, gene flow is predominantly male-mediated, and most sites in the Northwest Territories are genetically independent and thus represent populations. Therefore, any conservation plan for wolverines in the Northwest Territories must consider preservation of populations if genetic diversity of this taxon is to be maintained.

Estimating the zone of influence of industrial developments on wildlife: a migratory caribou Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus and diamond mine case study

Wildlife species may respond to industrial development with changes in distribution. However, discerning a response to development from differences in habitat selection is challenging. Since the early 1990s, migratory tundra Bathurst caribou Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus in the Canadian Arctic have been exposed to the construction and operation of two adjacent open-pit mines within the herds summer range. We developed a statistical approach to directly estimate the zone of influence (area of reduced caribou occupancy) of the mines during mid-July-mid-October. We used caribou presence recorded during aerial surveys and locations of satellite-collared cow caribou as inputs to a model to account for patterns in habitat selection as well as mine activities. We then constrained the zone of influence curve to asymptote, such that the average distance from the mine complex where caribou habitat selection was not affected by the mine could be estimated. During the operation period for the two open-pit mines, we detected a 14-km zone of influence from the aerial survey data, and a weaker 11-km zone from the satellite-collar locations. Caribou were about four times more likely to select habitat at distances greater than the zone of influence compared to the two-mine complex, with a gradation of increasing selection up to the estimated zone of influence. Caribou are responding to industrial developments at greater distances than shown in other areas, possibly related to fine dust deposition from mine activities in open, tundra habitats. The methodology we developed provides a standardized approach to estimate the spatial impact of stressors on caribou or other wildlife species.

Carma's merra-based caribou range climate database.

1 Yukon College, Box 10038, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 7A1, Canada (Corresponding author: don.russell@ec.gc.ca). 2 Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. 3 Department of Statistics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. 4 368 Roland Road, Salt Spring Island, BC. V8K 1V1, Canada. 5 Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA. 6 Aurora Wildlife Research, 1918 Shannon Point Road, Nelson B. C., V1L 6K1, Canada.

A conceptual model for migratory tundra caribou to explain and predict why shifts in spatial fidelity of breeding cows to their calving grounds are infrequent

Calving grounds of migratory tundra caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have two prominent characteristics. Firstly, the cows are gregarious, and secondly, the annual calving grounds spatially overlap in consecutive years (spatial fidelity). The location of consecutive annual calving grounds can gradually shift (either rotationally or un-directional) or more rarely, abruptly (non-overlapping). We propose a mechanism to interpret and predict changes in spatial fidelity. We propose that fidelity is linked to gregariousness with its advantages for individual fitness (positive density-dependence). Our argument is based on a curvilinear relationship between the density of cows on the calving ground (which we use to index gregariousness) and spatial fidelity. Extremely high or low densities are two different mechanisms which can lead to reduced spatial fidelity to annual calving grounds and reflect the caribou’s adaptive use of its calving ranges.

Evaluation of caribou Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus survey methodology in West Greenland

Abundance estimates are important to management of most harvested species of wildlife. In West Greenland, recent estimates of barren-ground caribou Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus population size have been derived from aerial surveys conducted in early March of numerous short (7.5 km) transects that focused on obtaining high detection probabilities. The resultant study area coverage was low (≤ 1.6%), in part due to the survey design. In this article, we conducted a critical review of the current West Greenland caribou survey methodology using data from past surveys and recent GPS collar data, and present recommendations to improve the methodology. On an annual basis, movement rates of collared females were lowest in March, supporting survey timing. March distribution of collared caribou, however, differed markedly between 2009 and 2010, indicating that stratification flights prior to each survey are required to produce the most accurate and precise estimates. A viewshed analysis in GIS supported the use of a 300-m strip width, but demonstrated that the current 15-m survey flight altitude resulted in 4-5% availability bias due to the portion of the strip width hidden by topography and out of sight of observers, and a corresponding nil detection probability for caribou in these areas. A 30-m or 45-m flight height may be more appropriate to reduce the availability bias in this rugged terrain. Examination of the population composition data collected during and after abundance estimates suggested that robust calf:cow and bull:cow ratio data could be obtained with less sampling effort distributed proportionate to the population density. We suggest that systematic strip transects should be considered to increase survey coverage; this design would increase survey efficiency (ratio of helicopter time to coverage) and inherently increase precision. Distance sampling collected by group would be an improvement over the current negatively biased, transect-total method to calculate detection probabilities. Managers should ensure that sufficient resources are available to obtain robust estimates of abundance and composition of West Greenland caribou. These recommendations may be applicable to other areas in which ungulate populations exist in heterogeneous habitats with low sightability.

Have geographical influences and changing abundance led to sub-population structure in the Ahiak caribou herd, Nunavut, Canada?

We examined the premise that changing abundance and environmental conditions influence the seasonal dispersion and distribution of migratory tundra caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). The Ahiak herd’s (north-central Nunavut Territory, Canada) calving shifted from dispersed on islands to gregarious calving on the mainland coast. As abundance further increased, the calving ground elongated east and west such that we proposed a longitudinal climate gradient. As well, the calving ground’s east and west ends are different distances from the tree-line, which dips south closer to Hudson Bay. We proposed that whether caribou winter on the tundra or within boreal forest and the different climate across the long calving ground could contribute to differential survival and productivity such that sub-population structure would result. At the scale of the individual cows (identified through satellite-collars), we did not find inter-annual spatial fidelity to either the western or eastern parts of the calving ground. At the population scale (aerial surveys of calving distribution), we also did not find discontinuities in calving distribution. The spatial association of individual cows during calving compared with their association during the rut was inconsistent among years, but overall, cows that calve together, rut together. At this time and with the available evidence, we could not infer sub-population structure from shifts in dispersion and distribution as influenced by geography and changes in abundance for the Ahiak herd.

Peary caribou distribution within the Bathurst Island Complex relative to the boundary proposed for Qausuittuq National Park, Nunavut

How caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ), including Peary caribou ( R. t. pearyi ), use their annual ranges varies with changes in abundance. While fidelity to some seasonal ranges is persistent, use of other areas changes. Consequently, understanding changes in seasonal distribution is useful for designing boundaries of protected areas for caribou conservation. A case in point is the proposed Qausuittuq (Northern Bathurst Island) National Park for Bathurst Island and its satellite islands in the High Arctic of Canada. Since 1961, Peary caribou have been through three periods of high and low abundance. We examined caribou distribution and composition mapped during nine systematic aerial surveys (1961–2013), unsystematic helicopter surveys (1989–98), and limited radio-collaring from 1994–97 and 2003–06. While migration patterns changed and use of southern Bathurst Island decreased during lows in abundance, use of satellite islands, especially Cameron Island for winter range, persisted during both highs and lows in abundance. The northeast coast of Bathurst Island was used to a greater extent during the rut and during summer at low abundance. We suggest that Park boundaries which include Cameron Island and the northeast coast of Bathurst Island will be more effective in contributing to the persistence of Peary caribou on the Bathurst Island Complex.

Bighorn sheep and Elk Valley coal mines : ecology and winter range assessment

a Aurora Wildlife Research, 1918 Shannon Point Road, Nelson, BC V1L 6K1 b Integral Ecology Group, 88 Governor Drive SW, Calgary, AB T3E 4Y9 c BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 205 Industrial Road G., Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G5 d Teck Coal Ltd. – Line Creek Operations, P.O Box 2003, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 e Box 1522, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 f Teck Coal Ltd. – Fording River Operations, P.O. Box 100, Elkford, BC V0B 1H0 g Teck Coal Ltd. – Elkview Operations, R.R. # 1, Hwy. # 3, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G1