Wolf Reproduction in Response to Caribou Migration and Industrial Development on the Central Barrens of Mainland Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID16866009
AuthorsPaul F Frame (0009-0008-9261-948X), H Dean Cluff (0000-0002-9233-1450), David S Hik (0000-0002-8994-9305)
Year2009
Volume61
Issue2
Publication date2009-08-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueARCTIC (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-0843 • E-ISSN: 1923-1245
PublisherThe Arctic Institute of North America (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.14430/arctic18
OpenAlexW2123035287
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited4

Reproductive success of mammals is greatly influenced by food availability. Where wolves (Canis lupus) prey on migratory barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus), caribou migration patterns strongly influence food availability for wolves. However, industrial development in formerly undeveloped wolf range could also negatively influence wolf reproduction, either directly (by disrupting normal feeding behavior) or indirectly (by impacting caribou migrations). We used a cross-sectional timeseries regression to analyze eight years of wolf reproductive data with respect to spatial and temporal variation in caribou migration and economic development in a 49 900 km2 area of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Reproductive success decreased as the distance from wolf dens to caribou migration routes increased, while the timing of caribou migrations had little effect. There was no measurable effect of current levels of economic development on reproductive success, although evidence suggests the potential for indirect effects. Continued monitoring is required to identify possible thresholds of adverse effects for wolf populations

Biology · Canis · Geography · Mainland · Population · Predation · Range (aeronautics) · Reproduction · Reproductive success · Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies · Demography · Ecology · Indigenous Studies and Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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