Collaborative work to capture and monitor caribou and their offspring in the Central Arctic herd
Climate change is affecting caribou populations by altering the quality of growing season habitats in the Arctic. Current declines of caribou on the North Slope are amplifying concerns of climate-mediated effects on habitat quality, yet, the direction and magnitude of realized effects for this species are uncertain. The ability of caribou populations to remain abundant in the Arctic will depend, in part, on the resilience of individuals to survive and reproduce despite environmental changes. The USGS, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the National Park Service will initiate studies to determine the nutritional and reproductive consequences of space use and habitat selection and how climate changes over the next 50 years may alter these factors for adult female caribou. A sample of 30 adult females in the Central Arctic was fitted with GPS-collars in April 2015 and will be recaptured each October and April to determine to nutritional performance (body mass and condition) over each of the 4 growing seasons. Each year, their offspring will be radiocollared shortly after birth and their survival monitored throughout each growing season to assess reproductive demands and performance of the GPS-collared females. Based on the nutritional and reproductive performance and movements of these individuals, we will evaluate consequences of space use and habitat selection of individual females throughout the growing season. Ultimately, we will estimate the capacity of free-ranging reproductive females to cope with the projected effects of climatic shifts on their growing season habitats.
Office: Geological Survey
Contracting Officer
Phone 916-278-9334
