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The Return of Caribou to Ungava |
eBook Available
How a caribou population went from the brink of extinction in the 1950s to the largest herd in the world in the late 1980s - and whether it can survive today's environmental changes.
The George River caribou herd increased from 15,000 animals in 1958 to 700,000 in 1988 - the largest herd in the world at the time. The authors trace the fluctuations in this caribou population back to the 1700s, detail how the herd escaped extinction in the 1950s, and consider current environmental threats to its survival.
In an examination of the life history and population biology of the herd, The Return of Caribou to Ungava offers a synthesis of the basic biological traits of the caribou, a new hypothesis about why they migrate, and a comparison to herd populations in North America, Scandinavia, and Russia. The authors conclude that the old maxim, "Nobody knows the way of the caribou," is no longer valid. Based on a study in which the caribou were tracked by satellite across Ungava, they find that caribou are able to navigate, even in unfamiliar habitats, and to return to their calving ground, movement that is central to the caribou's cyclical migration. The Return of Caribou to Ungava also examines whether the herd can adapt to global warming and other changing environmental realities.
In an examination of the life history and population biology of the herd, The Return of Caribou to Ungava offers a synthesis of the basic biological traits of the caribou, a new hypothesis about why they migrate, and a comparison to herd populations in North America, Scandinavia, and Russia. The authors conclude that the old maxim, "Nobody knows the way of the caribou," is no longer valid. Based on a study in which the caribou were tracked by satellite across Ungava, they find that caribou are able to navigate, even in unfamiliar habitats, and to return to their calving ground, movement that is central to the caribou's cyclical migration. The Return of Caribou to Ungava also examines whether the herd can adapt to global warming and other changing environmental realities.
Details
Part of the McGill-Queen's Indigenous and Northern Studies (number 50 in series)
656 Pages, 6.5 x 9.75
106 illustrations, 44 maps, 95 tables, colour throughout
ISBN 9780773540774
July 2012
Formats: Paperback, Cloth, eBook
"Bergerud et al have gifted us with an intimate gaze on a natural wonder of the world ... If you wish to learn about the caribou, read this book. The book is mammoth, an opus magnum, chock full of data and insight into the lives of the iconic wanderer of the north. It is a rare type of work." John McCarthy, The Canadian Field-Naturalist
"The Return of Caribou to Ungava should be read by everyone with even a passing interest in northern ecology, caribou management, or predator-prey relationships. It should be read by historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists." Charles E. Kay, Utah State University
"The authors have produced an excellent, comprehensive and well-written book on caribou and reindeer population ecology, with special emphasis on the Ungava caribou. The thoughtful and knowledgeable discussions within almost all important Rangifer topics make this book a valuable reference source not only for caribou and reindeer biologists but also for ungulate biologists and ecologists in general. A very important contribution lies in the authors' creative thinking, combined with long field work experience with the caribou and their environments." Rangifer
"All those with an interest in Canada's North would want this book on their shelves as it has so much insight into caribou, people, and the landscape that they have shared from time immemorial to the present. For wildlife biologists - not just caribou specialists, but any biologists with an interest in large mammal ecology - the book is a gift for its quantity of information and ecological insights." Anne Gunn, ARCTIC
"The Return of Caribou to Ungava should be read by everyone with even a passing interest in northern ecology, caribou management, or predator-prey relationships. It should be read by historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists." Charles E. Kay, Utah State University
"The authors have produced an excellent, comprehensive and well-written book on caribou and reindeer population ecology, with special emphasis on the Ungava caribou. The thoughtful and knowledgeable discussions within almost all important Rangifer topics make this book a valuable reference source not only for caribou and reindeer biologists but also for ungulate biologists and ecologists in general. A very important contribution lies in the authors' creative thinking, combined with long field work experience with the caribou and their environments." Rangifer
"All those with an interest in Canada's North would want this book on their shelves as it has so much insight into caribou, people, and the landscape that they have shared from time immemorial to the present. For wildlife biologists - not just caribou specialists, but any biologists with an interest in large mammal ecology - the book is a gift for its quantity of information and ecological insights." Anne Gunn, ARCTIC
A.T. Bergerud is former chief biologist of Newfoundland. He has been a population ecologist involved in research on caribou populations in North America since 1955.
Stuart N. Luttich, a provincial biologist in Labrador, monitored the caribou herd from 1974 to 1993.
Lodewijk Camps studied the George River caribou herd from 1988 to 1992.
Stuart N. Luttich, a provincial biologist in Labrador, monitored the caribou herd from 1974 to 1993.
Lodewijk Camps studied the George River caribou herd from 1988 to 1992.
The Return of Caribou to Ungava
.T. Bergerud, Stuart N. Luttich and Lodewijk Camps
of Contents
ix
xv
of Tables xix
of Figures xxv
xxxv
xxxix
Setting and Background 3
Eruption of the George River Caribou Herd 3
4
of Vegetative Zones 12
Species Composition of Vegetative Zones 15
Fires 17
Fauna 21
Other Animals 27
Inhabitants 28
Taxonomy, Ecotypes, Herds, and Morphology 31
34
Herds 40
41
The Return of Caribou to Ungava after the Last Ice Age 54
Dispersal and Ecotypes 54
64
The Abundance and Distribution of Sedentary Caribou 74
76
Dynamics Background 81
Dynamics of the Major Herds 85
Regulation and Management 102
Past Population Fluctuations 106
Distribution of Ungava Caribou 106
Distribution 109
Fluctuation of Numbers 113
Home in the Wilderness: The Mushuau Innu and Caribou 123
Stephen Loring, Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution
Causal Factors in Historical Fluctuations 135
Explanations 137
Recent Hypothesis: Increased Snow Cover 143
of Green Forage and Cold Springs 146
Forage and Range 150
Survey, 1988-89 151
Preferences1155
Condition of Winter Pastures 160
Condition of Summer Pastures 166
and Energy Budgets 174
Trends 177
Look Ahead 179
Body and Antler Growth 181
Measurement of Growth and Body Size 182
Size 183
Growth 187
Mass of Calves 190
of Calves and Yearlings 196
Growth and Compensation 197
Body Mass 207
Size 214
and Demography 218
Physical Condition 222
and Calving Indexes 223
Condition Index 226
Antler Casting 229
of Antlers 232
Chronology 234
and Antler Casting 239
Weights 241
Cycle 242
Expenditure during Migration 251
/Habitat Strategies and Fat Deposition 256
Deposition Strategies 257
in Condition Indices 262
Recruitment, Mortality, and Population Growth 267
Indices 268
/Parous Rates 273
Mortality Statistics 275
Mortality 282
Growth 286
Decline Phase, 1988-93 287
Limiting Factors 292
292
295
Mortality 297
Factors 298
and Parasite 300
305
Mortality of Males and Females 310
The Use of Space 318
Surveys and Radio Monitoring 319
Centre of Habitation 321
Expansion 324
Contraction 331
Predictability 337
, Rutting, and Winter Distributions 341
Routes 341
/Expansion Densities 348
“Social Stimulus” Concept 348
Dependent Changes in the Use of Space 349
Environmental Factors in Distribution and Movement 353
Quantification Methods 353
Changes in Mobility 358
Dispersion and Fidelity in Distributions 375
Influences on Seasonal Distributions 381
Optimal Foraging and Predation Risk in the Winter and
Season 404
Strategy in Winter 404
Strategy in the Growing Season 413
Interference at High Densities 424
Warming and Optimal Foraging/Predation Risk 427
Spacing Theory of Calving and Migration 432
Hypotheses 432
Destination Hypothesis 434
Displacement Hypothesis 437
Location and Shifting of Calving Grounds 443
Shifted to Reduce Predation Risk 447
Cover on Calving Grounds 450
Grounds at Maximum Distance from Tree Line 451
Dependence of Calving Ground Location 452
of Births 456
of Births 460
and Navigation 462
Evidence of True Navigation 467
Site Fidelity 469
of Yearlings 476
Population Regulation 479
Rates 480
Calf Mortality 484
Mortality of Calves 488
Mortality 491
Foraging Carrying Capacity 494
Starvation 494
Fecundity and Calf Survival 496
Model 498
Shortage of Summer Foods 501
Comments 508
Summer Energy Budgets for Lactating Females 513
539
577
.T. Bergerud, Stuart N. Luttich and Lodewijk Camps
of Contents
ix
xv
of Tables xix
of Figures xxv
xxxv
xxxix
Setting and Background 3
Eruption of the George River Caribou Herd 3
4
of Vegetative Zones 12
Species Composition of Vegetative Zones 15
Fires 17
Fauna 21
Other Animals 27
Inhabitants 28
Taxonomy, Ecotypes, Herds, and Morphology 31
34
Herds 40
41
The Return of Caribou to Ungava after the Last Ice Age 54
Dispersal and Ecotypes 54
64
The Abundance and Distribution of Sedentary Caribou 74
76
Dynamics Background 81
Dynamics of the Major Herds 85
Regulation and Management 102
Past Population Fluctuations 106
Distribution of Ungava Caribou 106
Distribution 109
Fluctuation of Numbers 113
Home in the Wilderness: The Mushuau Innu and Caribou 123
Stephen Loring, Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution
Causal Factors in Historical Fluctuations 135
Explanations 137
Recent Hypothesis: Increased Snow Cover 143
of Green Forage and Cold Springs 146
Forage and Range 150
Survey, 1988-89 151
Preferences1155
Condition of Winter Pastures 160
Condition of Summer Pastures 166
and Energy Budgets 174
Trends 177
Look Ahead 179
Body and Antler Growth 181
Measurement of Growth and Body Size 182
Size 183
Growth 187
Mass of Calves 190
of Calves and Yearlings 196
Growth and Compensation 197
Body Mass 207
Size 214
and Demography 218
Physical Condition 222
and Calving Indexes 223
Condition Index 226
Antler Casting 229
of Antlers 232
Chronology 234
and Antler Casting 239
Weights 241
Cycle 242
Expenditure during Migration 251
/Habitat Strategies and Fat Deposition 256
Deposition Strategies 257
in Condition Indices 262
Recruitment, Mortality, and Population Growth 267
Indices 268
/Parous Rates 273
Mortality Statistics 275
Mortality 282
Growth 286
Decline Phase, 1988-93 287
Limiting Factors 292
292
295
Mortality 297
Factors 298
and Parasite 300
305
Mortality of Males and Females 310
The Use of Space 318
Surveys and Radio Monitoring 319
Centre of Habitation 321
Expansion 324
Contraction 331
Predictability 337
, Rutting, and Winter Distributions 341
Routes 341
/Expansion Densities 348
“Social Stimulus” Concept 348
Dependent Changes in the Use of Space 349
Environmental Factors in Distribution and Movement 353
Quantification Methods 353
Changes in Mobility 358
Dispersion and Fidelity in Distributions 375
Influences on Seasonal Distributions 381
Optimal Foraging and Predation Risk in the Winter and
Season 404
Strategy in Winter 404
Strategy in the Growing Season 413
Interference at High Densities 424
Warming and Optimal Foraging/Predation Risk 427
Spacing Theory of Calving and Migration 432
Hypotheses 432
Destination Hypothesis 434
Displacement Hypothesis 437
Location and Shifting of Calving Grounds 443
Shifted to Reduce Predation Risk 447
Cover on Calving Grounds 450
Grounds at Maximum Distance from Tree Line 451
Dependence of Calving Ground Location 452
of Births 456
of Births 460
and Navigation 462
Evidence of True Navigation 467
Site Fidelity 469
of Yearlings 476
Population Regulation 479
Rates 480
Calf Mortality 484
Mortality of Calves 488
Mortality 491
Foraging Carrying Capacity 494
Starvation 494
Fecundity and Calf Survival 496
Model 498
Shortage of Summer Foods 501
Comments 508
Summer Energy Budgets for Lactating Females 513
539
577
9780228005681
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