Caribou movement patterns reveal distinct populations

Researchers used individual movements of caribou to help them identify distinct population units. In a study published in Biological Conservation, the team used data collected from GPS collars placed on caribou (Rangifer tarandus) across western Canada. From this data, they identified six distinct behavioral groups and could determine whether they were migrating, how large of an area they were spending time in and if they were moving to different elevations. Past approaches used genetic analysis to identify caribou populations at risk. “We took the approach of using behavior to try to see if there are differences between individuals and groups that can be clustered into similarities,” said Margaret Hughes, a PhD candidate with the Department of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science and lead author of the study. “You can infer when and where they’re going and try to infer why they are doing that based on what’s actually out across the landscape.” The researchers said each group requires different conservation actions. “It allows conservation managers to recognize ecologically meaningful variation within species, helping to maintain biodiversity and improve management strategies,” Hughes said.

Read the study in Biological Conservation.