Climate change and deer in boreal and temperate regions: From physiology to population dynamics and species distributions

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract Climate change causes far‐reaching disruption in nature, where tolerance thresholds already have been exceeded for some plants and animals. In the short term, deer may respond to climate through individual physiological behavioral responses. Over time, responses can aggregate population level ultimately lead evolutionary adaptations. We systematically reviewed literature (published 2000–2022) summarize effect of temperature, rainfall, snow, combined measures (e.g., North Atlantic Oscillation), extreme events, on species inhabiting boreal temperate forests terms their physiology, spatial use, dynamics. targeted that inhabit relevant biomes America, Europe, Asia: moose, roe deer, wapiti, red sika fallow white‐tailed mule caribou, reindeer. Our review (218 papers) shows many populations will likely benefit part from warmer winters, but hotter drier summers exceed tolerances. found support expressing both morphological, physiological, plasticity response variability. For example, limit effects harsh weather conditions by modifying habitat use daily activity patterns, while female long‐lasting identified 20 among which illustrate antagonistic pathways, suggesting detrimental cancel out benefits change. findings highlight influence local variables density predation) how climatic conditions. several knowledge gaps, such as studies regarding potential impact these animals snow type, wetter autumns. The patterns we this should help managers understand be affected regionally projected futures snow.

Language: Английский

---

Indigenous‐Led Analysis of Important Subsistence Species Response to Resource Extraction

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: March 28, 2025

ABSTRACT Subsistence hunting, or “country food,” on traditional territories is essential for numerous Indigenous Peoples who face food insecurity. For many First Nations of Canada, subsistence hunting also inextricably linked to conservation practices, as an important way engaging with nature. In Canada's boreal forest, large game such moose ( Alces alces ) a primary source protein. However, resource extraction—including forestry and oil gas—has shifted distributions affected the availability abundance resources. Here, authors designed study processed remote camera trap data, then sought out Western scientists generate generalized linear models evaluate habitat use spatial‐numerical responses possible stressors in north‐central Alberta, including fire, harvest, gas extraction, other disturbances. Together, through coproduction knowledge, we examined effects human‐caused by sex age class. The proportion various land cover types human extraction was use. Notably, male, female, young all used differently at different spatial scales. (with their mothers) strongly selected natural forest disturbances burned areas but avoided human‐created petroleum exploration “seismic” lines. Female attempts maximize forage opportunities do not human‐disturbed forests same ways they naturally disturbed areas. Our findings, context interpretation from cameras community insights, have disturbance declines densities displacement grounds. Evaluating predicting shifts critical supporting security sovereignty identifying where industries operating lands can better engage responsibly Nations.

Language: Английский

---

Climate change mitigation through woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) habitat restoration in British Columbia

Environmental Research Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. 025004 - 025004

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Climate change poses a significant global threat, requiring rapid and effective mitigation strategies to limit future warming. Tree planting is commonly proposed readily implementable natural climate solution. It also vital component of habitat restoration for the threatened woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) . There potential goals conservation carbon sequestration be combined co-benefits. We examine this opportunity by estimating impacts tree in range British Columbia (BC), Canada. To do so, we couple Landsat-derived datasets with Physiological Processes Predicting Growth, process-based model forest growth. compare informed needs maximum under multiple scenarios including shared socio‐economic pathways (SSP) 2, representing ∼2.7 °C warming, SSP5, ∼4.4 Trees were modelled as planted 2025. Province-wide 2100, maximum-carbon averaged 1062 Mg CO 2 · ha −1 planted, while resulted an average 930 reduction 12%. found that relative between herds remained similar across warming that, most ecotypes, increased from 5% 7% coldest (∼2.7 warming) warmest (∼4.4 scenario. Variability was observed herds, highlighting importance spatially-explicit, herd-level analysis growth when planning activities. Our findings indicate large co-benefits BC all modelled. They underscore value models evaluating implications areas changing climate.

Language: Английский

---

Influence of Reproductive Status on Occupancy of Salvage‐Logged Boreal Forest by Moose (Alces americanus)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Wildlife‐habitat relationships reflect the behavioral choices made by species in response to perceived risks and rewards. Ungulates must often choose between habitats that provide forage those offering concealment from predators, yet natural anthropogenic disturbances create risky landscapes where tradeoffs may be difficult navigate. Ungulate responses forest disturbance vary sex reproductive state, given females with calves prioritize predator avoidance. We investigated state‐dependent habitat use solitary moose ( Alces americanus ) salvage logging after a widespread infestation spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis boreal of Yukon, Canada. used camera traps multistate occupancy models examine occurrence unsalvaged salvage‐logged forests at different regenerative stages (0–10 years 11–25 postlogging) levels tree retention logging. compared results single‐state did not account for status. As predicted, showed high stands low canopy cover maximum removal (i.e., clear‐cuts). This suggested capitalized on shrubby available logged stands, regardless stage. However, this result was overly simplistic. Multistate revealed age most important factor female calves, contrast moose. Females tended avoid newly areas preferred regenerating hiding cover, although estimates effect size had precision. Climate change is contributing rising frequency severity bark outbreaks, post‐infestation has been implicated decline populations western Our support need maintain diverse, mixed‐age meet food requirements demographic classes.

Language: Английский

---

Silviculture shapes the spatial distribution of wildlife in managed landscapes

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(5)

Published: May 2, 2025

Silviculture-managing tree establishment for landscape objectives-influences ecological outcomes of forests. While forest harvest impacts on wildlife are well-documented, silvicultural treatment effects remain unclear. We investigated how and silviculture shape predator ungulate distributions interactions, providing insights management. deployed two camera arrays in extensively harvested North American landscapes to evaluate relationships between harvest, silviculture, occurrences. Forest predator/prey activity Wolf (Canis lupus), influenced by moose (Alces alces), decreased with regenerating (9-24 years) clearcuts, new (0-8 clearcuts reserves, fertilized cutblocks. Wolves increased regenerating/older (25-40 reserves. Coyote (C. latrans) manually or chemically brushed cutblocks at high low deer occurrence, respectively. Black bear (U. americanus), prey, prepared fewer Prey elevated lynx (Lynx canadensis) occurrence older unprepared Depending predators, mule (Odocoileus hemionus) cutblocks; white-tailed (O. virginianus) selection- even-aged Harvest age wolves best explained moose, although mattered seasonally. Silviculture shapes interactions. Integrating these into research management is essential meeting objectives. The online version contains supplementary material available 10.1007/s10980-025-02095-z.

Language: Английский

---

Wildlife, fire, and forestry: Understanding the spatial and temporal relationships between caribou habitat and disturbance

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03636 - e03636

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Mixed evidence for disturbance‐mediated apparent competition for declining caribou in western British Columbia, Canada

Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 19, 2025

Abstract Understanding causal mechanisms of decline for species at risk is critical effective conservation. Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) face threats from habitat loss and degradation due to human activities, many caribou populations across Canada have experienced dramatic declines in recent decades. Disturbance‐mediated apparent competition (DMAC) has been implicated these declines, but its generality questioned, particularly low‐productivity ranges. The DMAC hypothesis leads the following predictions: 1) a vegetation productivity pulse after disturbance, 2) primary ungulate prey attraction disturbed areas, 3) predator 4) increased predation overlapping use with predators. We tested predictions declining Itcha‐Ilgachuz population, located Chilcotin Plateau region west‐central British Columbia, Canada. used remotely sensed index examine recovery patterns disturbance camera traps Bayesian mixed effects negative binomial regression models estimate responses prey, predator, relative abundance landscape disturbances <40 years old, interacting species, other features. identified harvested burnt forest patches, overall was lower than ranges where occurs. Primary moose Alces alces mule deer Odocoileus hemionus ), showed strong positive areas weak forest. For predators, wolves Canis lupus black bears Ursus americanus grizzly arctos were positively associated while coyotes latrans lynx Lynx canadensis more strongly snowshoe hare Lepus wolverines Gulo gulo not any focal species. Wolves, bears, coyotes, responded burned areas. did reduced forests or burns, potentially increasing their overlap Overall, we found support stronger evidence pathway mediated by fire, rather harvest. recommend further research action on wildfire management this including monitoring population trends response management. Our results emphasize context‐dependency underscore need population‐specific knowledge effectively conserve threatened

Language: Английский

---

The role of predation, forestry and productivity in moose harvest at different spatial levels of management units

Wildlife Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(6)

Published: June 24, 2024

Management of ungulate populations to the desired density and/or demographic composition are challenged by contrasting aims different stakeholders. For example, hunters may want maximize hunting opportunities whereas commercial forest owners minimize moose densities mitigate browsing damage. In addition, return large predators such as wolves Canis lupus affects possible harvest yield ungulates and influences population through their selection specific age classes. The aim this study was gain a better understanding factors related variation in Alces alces harvest. We used statistics from period 2012–2020, wolf annual monitoring data, brown bear Ursus arctos density, proportion young per management unit, agricultural land unit (index for productivity roe deer Capreolus capreolus density) explain across units at two spatial levels bordering countries, Sweden Norway. results showed variable responses total changes territory both regional local level. correlated with increased calves. Increased linked calves, likely due that re‐directed predation deer, an inverse relationship density. Differences between countries be differences regime moose, historical present perspective. Improved individual areas over time will important how affected various wildlife shared borders.

Language: Английский

---

Cut vs. fire: a comparative study of the temporal effects of timber harvest and wildfire on ecological indicators of the boreal forest

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(4)

Published: March 23, 2024

Abstract Context Large-scale natural disturbances are crucial drivers of ecosystem function and composition for many forested ecosystems. In the last century, prevalence anthropogenic has increased across Canada’s boreal forest. Habitat disturbance from timber harvest wildfire is linked to declines species, including woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ). Objectives We tested how influenced recovery trajectory ecological indicators timber, biodiversity, wildlife habitat through time following forest Alberta, Canada. Methods During 2021 2022, we collected field data 251 harvested 264 burned stands (0–40 years since disturbance), as well 256 older used by (> 40 disturbance). Field included metrics stand attributes (e.g., basal area, stems per hectare), coarse woody debris (CWD), abundance forage caribou, moose Alces americanus ), bears (black bear: Ursus , grizzly arctos Results Basal area trees hectare recovered more quickly in sites when compared sites, but there were no differences these among harvest, wildfire, use sites. CWD was greatest recently declined over be similar quantity stands. Terrestrial lichens, important most abundant whereas bears, shrubs, younger Conclusions Our results demonstrate that harvesting may result a quicker development volume wildfire. However, this less advantageous habitat.

Language: Английский

---

Moose responses to anthropogenic disturbance across a range of spatial scales: Diet, habitat use, and movement

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Habitat loss and climate change are two of the leading causes global decline biodiversity. Declines in abundance moose (Alces americanus) British Columbia, Canada, 2000s were hypothesized to result from an interaction between a severe climate-induced insect outbreak resulting increases salvage harvest affected forests. I investigated behavioral distributional responses forest harvesting disturbance across range spatial scales tested use N-mixture models camera trap data estimate population abundance. At fine scale, used microhistological analysis fecal samples assess effects logging on diet moose. In areas with greater intensities harvesting, consumed fewer forbs, shrubs, fir trees, their was more diverse. These dietary consistent Niche Expansion Hypothesis, which predicted that generalist herbivore would eat diversity plants compensate for decreased availability or quality preferred forage. LiDAR GPScollar test hypotheses explained horizontal vertical cover by Risk predation hunting (Direct Mortality Hypothesis) primary factor influenced cover. Moose different structures, ranging open closed, depending threat (predation hunting) response modulated maternal status. coarser assessed suite concerning partial migration, migration habitat used, fitness migration. Wildfire winter driver most migratory experienced less wildfire after leaving range. Migrants displaying specific movement tactics (e.g., distance timing movements) increased probability parturition neonate survival. Migration exposed risk but residents vulnerable health-related mortality. While provided some benefits, it did not fully mitigate amount summer range, particularly seasons. Finally, sensitivity estimates produced parameterized ecological conditions, scale covariates, potential temporally non-independent detections, model choice based parsimony. Nmixture accurate reasonably precise robust formulation, associated criteria define independent detection. However, recommend avoiding measures parsimony selecting generate estimate. total, results my dissertation suggest land management should maintain communities vary structure composition. particular, large-scale can alter moose, expose mortality, and, case wildfire, could lead behaviors populations.

Language: Английский

---