Estimating Mineral Requirements of Wild Herbivores: Modelling Arctic Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in Summer

Animals, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(6), P. 868 - 868

Published: March 12, 2024

Mineral requirements are poorly described for most wildlife. Consequently, the role of forage minerals in movement and productivity understood sedentary migratory ungulates, such as reindeer caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We applied estimates maintenance, lactation, body mass change, antler growth to production curves (body mass, daily intake, milk yield) female calculate their mineral over summer. The total (mg or g·d−1) were divided by intake (kg·d−1) estimate minimum concentration required diet g·kg−1) balance demand. (mg·d−1) all increased from parturition end dietary concentrations (mg·kg−1) macro-minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K) declined food (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) heavily influenced gain, which through late lactation even though intakes rose. Our modeling framework can be other wild ungulates assess impacts changing phenology, plant community compositions, environmental disturbances on productivity.

Language: Английский

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The biogeochemical boomerang: Site fidelity creates nutritional hotspots that may promote recurrent calving site reuse

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Animals interact with nutrient cycles by consuming and depositing nutrients, interactions studied separately in nutritional ecology zoogeochemistry. Recent theoretical work bridges these disciplines, highlighting that animal-driven recycling could be crucial helping animals meet their needs. When exhibit site fidelity, they consistently deposit potentially improving vegetation quality. We investigated this potential feedback analysing changes forage nitrogen stocks following simulated caribou calving. found increased after 2 weeks remained elevated 1 year, a change due to quality, not quantity. also developed budget within calving grounds, demonstrating natal fluid calf carcasses contribute substantial subsidies. We, thus, highlight positive zoogeochemical whereby nutrients deposited during become bioavailable lactation provide evidence fidelity creates biogeochemical boomerang which can reused later.

Language: Английский

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Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration

Journal of Mammalogy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 106(1), P. 96 - 104

Published: Sept. 9, 2024

Abstract Animals living in seasonal environments have adopted a wide array of tactics used to deal with resource scarcity. Many species migrate between habitats reach areas where food resources are more plentiful as an attempt address energetic demands through foraging. We assessed the winter behavioral adaptations Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), large ungulate inhabiting Arctic and sub-Arctic regions known for Movement rates lowest year during winter, revealing 1 mechanism individuals use reduce energy expenditures. However, migratory moved nearly twice much nonmigratory suggesting that rely upon income (forage), whereas capital (bodily reserves). Lichens primary forage large, herds Caribou, experienced than 2.5 times greater lichen cover individuals. documented both groups slowed their movement cover, increased foraging time these areas. were near villages, which may be suggestive disturbance, but effect was weak. Overall saved by reduced modest. savings 11% daily body lost or 47% early pregnancy, potentially could affect individual condition and/or fetal growth if not offset increases intake.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal somatic reserves of a northern ungulate influenced by reproduction and a fire-mediated landscape

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Sept. 12, 2024

Wildlife contend with seasonal fluctuations in resource availability and have adapted survival reproductive strategies to overcome limitations. Many northern ungulates are a dynamic nutritional landscape rely on somatic reserves accumulated during the short growing season. Moose ( Alces alces ) populations boreal forest respond variation their landscapes that quickly change after wildland fires. We tested associations between energy of female moose suite factors relevant demands nutrient scale fires Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. From 2015–2022, we immobilized 97 individual, adult n =163 early winter; =98 late winter) collected over 223,000 GPS locations. evaluated if cow were influenced by endogenous or exogenous demands, access forage accumulate reserves. Cows gave birth lost neonate(s) summer had more winter body fat (14.39% ± 0.24SE) compared cows neonate survived 4-months-old (10.59% 0.34SE). Body measured was positively correlated home ranges higher percent cover aspen forage. Late negatively forage, but willows shoulder season forages. Our results highlight plant species seral states is needed across for moderate loss year. Furthermore, our emphasize importance forages when snow depth low. Managing through interagency fire management could create mosaic enhances while reducing hazards along urban interface providing ecosystem services.

Language: Английский

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Morphological Traits Are Not Consistently Related to Population Size in Four Migratory Caribou Populations Across North America

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

To develop effective management to maintain or restore populations of large herbivores, wildlife managers require sound empirical data on their variations in size and associated parameters. Many studies have highlighted links between morphological traits individuals population density; however, less attention has been devoted whether not can reliably inform years when no estimates are available. We evaluated the relationships three (hind foot length, body mass, fat) interpolated over decades, for four migratory caribou (

Language: Английский

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