The use of coniferous forests and cutovers by Newfoundland woodland caribou

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 291; pp. 318 - 325
• Main Authors: Hébert, Issac, Weladji, Robert B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; canopy; Caribous; Coarsening; coniferous forests; Fixed-kernel home range; forage; Forages; Forest harvesting; forest regeneration; forest stands; Forestry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitat preferences; Habitat selection; Habitats; landscapes; linear models; predation; prediction; Rangifer tarandus caribou; Scale; stand characteristics; Stands; Succession; Supports; Synecology; Terrestrial animal productions; Terrestrial ecosystems; Vertebrates; Woodland caribou; Woodlands; Canada; Newfoundland; North America; America; Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland; Fixed-kernel home range; Succession; Scale; Forest harvesting; Habitat selection; Woodland caribou; Deforestation; Herbivorous; Home range; Ruminant animal; Harvesting; Forest ecology; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Gymnospermae; Softwood forest tree; Forestry; Cervidae; Spermatophyta; Coniferales; Artiodactyla; Ungulata; Coniferous forest
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.11.011

► We determined woodland caribou habitat preferences across different spatial scales. ► We assessed if cutovers regenerate into quality caribou habitat. ► Caribou had similar preference for coniferous forests and cutovers. ► Forests with more forage were more likely to be used by caribou. ► Cutovers did not develop the same characteristics as forests used by caribou. Habitat selection and preferences are driven by population limiting factors which can vary across spatial and temporal scales. For example, woodland caribou prefer coniferous forests to avoid predation at the coarse-scale and at finer scales select for forage within forests. Forestry reduces the benefits of forests and prevents the regeneration of adequate caribou habitat. We described Newfoundland woodland caribou habitat preferences across coarse and fine spatial scales and assessed whether cutovers regenerate into forests of similar value to those preferred by the caribou. We determined if caribou preferred coniferous forests at the coarse-scale and which stand characteristics were selected within coniferous stands at the fine-scale. Linear regression was used to determine which stand characteristics predicted the intensity of use of the coniferous forests by the caribou. The same stand characteristics were used to compare cutovers of various ages to coniferous forests using principal component analyses to determine if they share similar characteristics. We found at the coarse-scale that coniferous forests were most preferred but did not differ from cutovers, and at the fine-scale caribou used coniferous forests with more forage. Cutovers did not develop into forests with similar stand characteristics as the coniferous forests selected by the caribou; the canopy of the cutovers was more closed and supported less forage than the coniferous forests. Old cutovers (>40years) foster less forage for caribou and may act as a refuge from predation. This may cause caribou to seek forage in more risky landscapes in order to meet dietary requirements.