Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Lab... more Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Labrador have demonstrated similar patterns of seasonal movements and distribution among four herds. Aerial surveys and radio-telemetry indicated that animals occupied forest-wetland habitat at densities of 0.03 caribou km 2 , or lower, for most of the year. Although females were widely dispersed at calving individuals demonstrated fidelity toward specific calving locations, in successive years. Caribou did not form large post-calving aggregations. Movement was greatest in the spring, prior to calving, and in the fall, during or immediately after rutting. Caribou were generally sedentary during summer and winter, although some moved relatively long distances to late-winter range. Although the herds occupy continuous range across Quebec and Labrador, our data indicate that the herds are largely discreete and should be managed individually.
Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Lab... more Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Labrador have demonstrated similar patterns of seasonal movements and distribution among four herds. Aerial surveys and radio-telemetry indicated that animals occupied forest-wetland habitat at densities of 0.03 caribou km2, or lower, for most of the year. Although females were widely dispersed at calving individuals demonstrated fidelity toward specific calving locations, in successive years. Caribou did not form large post-calving aggregations. Movement was greatest in the spring, prior to calving, and in the fall, during or immediately after rutting. Caribou were generally sedentary during summer and winter, although some moved relatively long distances to late-winter range. Although the herds occupy continuous range across Quebec and Labrador, our data indicate that the herds are largely discreete and should be managed individually.
The influence of habitat on fat storage by Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlanticus) on t... more The influence of habitat on fat storage by Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlanticus) on their St. Lawrence River estuary spring staging grounds was studied in 1979 and 1980. In all, 373 individuals (two-year old and older birds only) were collected in two types of marsh during the six-week staging halt: the traditionally-occupied freshwater , S&pus-dominated marshes of the upper estuary (SCI) and in the newly-invaded (after the early 1960s) saltwater , Spartina-dominated marshes (SPA) of the lower estuary. The birds reached SPA a few days later than SC1 in early April, at which time their total fat reserves amounted to about 10% of their body weight. Fattening at SC1 increased steadily throughout the staging period, while at SPA, it slowed markedly in females and stopped completely in males around the middle of the staging period. In birds departing for the arctic around 18-20 May, the total fat reserves amounted to 19-20% of the body weight. Males departing from SC1 carried 23% more fat on the average than those of SPA (P < 0.01) while the difference amounted to 9% in females (P > 0.05). It appears unlikely that the geese could increase these reserves after leaving the St. Lawrence estuary and before reaching their higharctic nesting grounds. In arctic-nesting geese, energy reserves available to birds at the beginning of the breeding season constitute one of the major determinants of reproductive success (Hanson 1962; Ryder 1967, 1970; Newton 1977; Raveling 1978). This has been shown for Lesser Snow Geese (Chen c. caerulescens; Harvey 197 1, Ankney 1977, Ankney and MacInnes 1978) and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis; Raveling and Lumsden 1977, Raveling 1979). However, until recently little attention had been paid to the process of fat accumulation in the spring (Wypkema and Ankney 1979, Mc-Landress and Raveling 198 1). The Greater Snow Goose (Chen caerulestens atlanticus) is unique among arctic-nesting North American geese because it makes only a single known stop during spring migration. The spring population has increased in recent years from 25,400 in 1965 to 170,000 and 180,000 in 1979 and 1980, respectively (Anon. 198 l), and the geese have also expanded their staging area. Traditionally, they used the bulrush-dominated (Scirpus americanus) tidal
White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are selective feeders and although they ingest a wide ... more White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are selective feeders and although they ingest a wide variety of plants, only a few taxa make up large proportions of their diet (Johnson et al. 1995; Healy 1971; Korschgen et al. 1980; McCaffery et al. 1974). Plant phenology influences their diet; forbs and leaves of deciduous woody plants are common food items in spring and summer, and fruits become major components of the autumn diet. White-tailed Deer also consume mushrooms in natural ecosystems (Crawford 1982; Johnson et al. 1995; Korschgen et al. 1980; Short 1971; Skinner and Telfer 1974), whereas farm crops can be major food sources in agricultural landscapes (Nixon et al. 1991). During winter, White-tailed Deer switch to twigs of both deciduous and evergreen woody plants and, where snow cover allows access, they also use grasses and farm crops left after harvest (
As most animals represent potential prey for others, predation risk must be taken into account fo... more As most animals represent potential prey for others, predation risk must be taken into account for understanding animal behaviour (Lima & Dill, 1990). Biologists have known for a long time that predation risk acts as a selective force driving the evolution of many morphological and behavioural traits among animals (Lima & Dill, 1990). Studies have shown that prey can modify their space use patterns, or reduce activity and movements, in order to decrease rates of encounter with predators (Schmitz, Beckerman & O'Brien, 1997, reviewed by Lima, 1998). Such behaviour can affect home-range size as well as many other factors, like vegetation structure (
Few studies have examined the influence of distribution of vegetation types at the landscape leve... more Few studies have examined the influence of distribution of vegetation types at the landscape level on movement of bears in and around a protected area. We analyzed movement and spatial use patterns of 19 adult female black bears (Ursus americanus) in relation to distribution of vegetation types in and near La Mauricie National Park (LMNP), Quebec, Canada, between July 1990 and December 1992. The home range of radiotracked females included a core area of 11.6 km 2 in 1991 (n = 9) and 13.3 km 2 (n = 14) in 1992. The proportion of locations in this core area was correlated (P < 0.050) with the availability of early-successional stands and maple-beech forests that provide 2 important food sources for bears (i.e., soft mast, beechnuts). In 1991-92, bears were located more often (P < 0.050) inside the park between late April and mid-July than during the period of soft-mast ripening between mid-July and mid-September. The declining use of the park during the period of soft-mast ripening was caused by the low occurrence of early-successional stands inside the park, and increased the vulnerability of female black bears to human-related mortality. This vulnerability would probably decrease if early-successional stands were maintained inside the park, and if a surrounding buffer zone was established. In this buffer zone, agriculture and residential developments should be prohibited, and hunting should be restricted to the spring period.
... Nitrogen content was deter-mined with an automated macro-Kjeldahl an-alyzer (Kjell-Foss, mode... more ... Nitrogen content was deter-mined with an automated macro-Kjeldahl an-alyzer (Kjell-Foss, model 16210) following the Association of Official Analytical Chemists&#x27; (1984:154) method. ... Bulrush rhizomes were collected at Cap-St-Ig-nace along the St. ...
1 Changes in demography and studies on physical condition of the Riviere George caribou Rangifer ... more 1 Changes in demography and studies on physical condition of the Riviere George caribou Rangifer tarandus herd have suggested that its size may be primarily regulated by the amount of forage available on the summer range. 2 We therefore document the impact of grazing and ...
Abstract: Among ungulate species living in boreal regions, moose (Alces alces) are most likely to... more Abstract: Among ungulate species living in boreal regions, moose (Alces alces) are most likely to suffer from heat stress since they have a relatively low upper critical temperature (14 °C in summer and -5 °C in winter). We tested the hypothesis that moose adopt behaviours to reduce thermoregulatory costs. We predicted that moose exposed to high intensities of solar radiation or high air temperatures would 1) seek a type of vegetation association that provides thermal shelter and 2) reduce activity. We also predicted that these behaviours would be most evident in summer. Thermal-shelter use and activity of 30 free-ranging moose were measured over 3 y in a 940-km2 study area of boreal forest using GPS telemetry collars. The effect of solar radiation and air temperature on thermal-shelter use and activity were assessed using logistic and multiple regression analyses. Habitat use and activity rates of moose were related to air temperature but not solar radiation. The probability of finding moose in thermal shelters increased with air temperature in summer and fall. Moose activity did not decrease as air temperature increased, but it increased at night during hot periods. As expected, moose response to thermal conditions was most noted in summer. Our results suggest that moose reduce exposure to thermal stress by using thermal shelters during the day and by increasing nocturnal activity. These behavioural adaptations allow moose to cope with thermal stress on a small temporal scale. Negative effects of heat stress could be important in areas where air temperatures are very high for extended periods of time or where thermal cover is scarce.
E CosCIENCE Historically, the coyote (Canis latrans Say) was mainly restricted to the open grass ... more E CosCIENCE Historically, the coyote (Canis latrans Say) was mainly restricted to the open grass prairies and plains of central and western North America (Young & Jackson, 1951). The opening of the landscape caused by human settlement, combined with the eradication of wolves (Canis lupus L.) and coyotes' adaptiveness, paved the way for range expansion northward and eastward through New England, Québec, the Maritimes, the Yukon, and Alaska (Moore & Parker, 1992). Coyotes were first observed in southwestern Québec in 1944 (Young & Jackson, 1951) and in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of southeastern Québec in the early 1970s (Georges, 1976). The eastward range expansion of coyotes was accompanied by an apparent increase in body size (Thurber & Peterson, 1991; Larivière & Crête, 1993), which makes possible group hunting during winter and killing of large prey (Messier, Barrette & Huot, 1986; Patterson, Benjamin & Messier, 1998). The arrival of coyotes in southeastern Québec seriously affected two ungulate species: whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) and cari
Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Lab... more Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Labrador have demonstrated similar patterns of seasonal movements and distribution among four herds. Aerial surveys and radio-telemetry indicated that animals occupied forest-wetland habitat at densities of 0.03 caribou km 2 , or lower, for most of the year. Although females were widely dispersed at calving individuals demonstrated fidelity toward specific calving locations, in successive years. Caribou did not form large post-calving aggregations. Movement was greatest in the spring, prior to calving, and in the fall, during or immediately after rutting. Caribou were generally sedentary during summer and winter, although some moved relatively long distances to late-winter range. Although the herds occupy continuous range across Quebec and Labrador, our data indicate that the herds are largely discreete and should be managed individually.
Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Lab... more Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Labrador have demonstrated similar patterns of seasonal movements and distribution among four herds. Aerial surveys and radio-telemetry indicated that animals occupied forest-wetland habitat at densities of 0.03 caribou km2, or lower, for most of the year. Although females were widely dispersed at calving individuals demonstrated fidelity toward specific calving locations, in successive years. Caribou did not form large post-calving aggregations. Movement was greatest in the spring, prior to calving, and in the fall, during or immediately after rutting. Caribou were generally sedentary during summer and winter, although some moved relatively long distances to late-winter range. Although the herds occupy continuous range across Quebec and Labrador, our data indicate that the herds are largely discreete and should be managed individually.
The influence of habitat on fat storage by Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlanticus) on t... more The influence of habitat on fat storage by Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlanticus) on their St. Lawrence River estuary spring staging grounds was studied in 1979 and 1980. In all, 373 individuals (two-year old and older birds only) were collected in two types of marsh during the six-week staging halt: the traditionally-occupied freshwater , S&pus-dominated marshes of the upper estuary (SCI) and in the newly-invaded (after the early 1960s) saltwater , Spartina-dominated marshes (SPA) of the lower estuary. The birds reached SPA a few days later than SC1 in early April, at which time their total fat reserves amounted to about 10% of their body weight. Fattening at SC1 increased steadily throughout the staging period, while at SPA, it slowed markedly in females and stopped completely in males around the middle of the staging period. In birds departing for the arctic around 18-20 May, the total fat reserves amounted to 19-20% of the body weight. Males departing from SC1 carried 23% more fat on the average than those of SPA (P < 0.01) while the difference amounted to 9% in females (P > 0.05). It appears unlikely that the geese could increase these reserves after leaving the St. Lawrence estuary and before reaching their higharctic nesting grounds. In arctic-nesting geese, energy reserves available to birds at the beginning of the breeding season constitute one of the major determinants of reproductive success (Hanson 1962; Ryder 1967, 1970; Newton 1977; Raveling 1978). This has been shown for Lesser Snow Geese (Chen c. caerulescens; Harvey 197 1, Ankney 1977, Ankney and MacInnes 1978) and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis; Raveling and Lumsden 1977, Raveling 1979). However, until recently little attention had been paid to the process of fat accumulation in the spring (Wypkema and Ankney 1979, Mc-Landress and Raveling 198 1). The Greater Snow Goose (Chen caerulestens atlanticus) is unique among arctic-nesting North American geese because it makes only a single known stop during spring migration. The spring population has increased in recent years from 25,400 in 1965 to 170,000 and 180,000 in 1979 and 1980, respectively (Anon. 198 l), and the geese have also expanded their staging area. Traditionally, they used the bulrush-dominated (Scirpus americanus) tidal
White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are selective feeders and although they ingest a wide ... more White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are selective feeders and although they ingest a wide variety of plants, only a few taxa make up large proportions of their diet (Johnson et al. 1995; Healy 1971; Korschgen et al. 1980; McCaffery et al. 1974). Plant phenology influences their diet; forbs and leaves of deciduous woody plants are common food items in spring and summer, and fruits become major components of the autumn diet. White-tailed Deer also consume mushrooms in natural ecosystems (Crawford 1982; Johnson et al. 1995; Korschgen et al. 1980; Short 1971; Skinner and Telfer 1974), whereas farm crops can be major food sources in agricultural landscapes (Nixon et al. 1991). During winter, White-tailed Deer switch to twigs of both deciduous and evergreen woody plants and, where snow cover allows access, they also use grasses and farm crops left after harvest (
As most animals represent potential prey for others, predation risk must be taken into account fo... more As most animals represent potential prey for others, predation risk must be taken into account for understanding animal behaviour (Lima & Dill, 1990). Biologists have known for a long time that predation risk acts as a selective force driving the evolution of many morphological and behavioural traits among animals (Lima & Dill, 1990). Studies have shown that prey can modify their space use patterns, or reduce activity and movements, in order to decrease rates of encounter with predators (Schmitz, Beckerman & O'Brien, 1997, reviewed by Lima, 1998). Such behaviour can affect home-range size as well as many other factors, like vegetation structure (
Few studies have examined the influence of distribution of vegetation types at the landscape leve... more Few studies have examined the influence of distribution of vegetation types at the landscape level on movement of bears in and around a protected area. We analyzed movement and spatial use patterns of 19 adult female black bears (Ursus americanus) in relation to distribution of vegetation types in and near La Mauricie National Park (LMNP), Quebec, Canada, between July 1990 and December 1992. The home range of radiotracked females included a core area of 11.6 km 2 in 1991 (n = 9) and 13.3 km 2 (n = 14) in 1992. The proportion of locations in this core area was correlated (P < 0.050) with the availability of early-successional stands and maple-beech forests that provide 2 important food sources for bears (i.e., soft mast, beechnuts). In 1991-92, bears were located more often (P < 0.050) inside the park between late April and mid-July than during the period of soft-mast ripening between mid-July and mid-September. The declining use of the park during the period of soft-mast ripening was caused by the low occurrence of early-successional stands inside the park, and increased the vulnerability of female black bears to human-related mortality. This vulnerability would probably decrease if early-successional stands were maintained inside the park, and if a surrounding buffer zone was established. In this buffer zone, agriculture and residential developments should be prohibited, and hunting should be restricted to the spring period.
... Nitrogen content was deter-mined with an automated macro-Kjeldahl an-alyzer (Kjell-Foss, mode... more ... Nitrogen content was deter-mined with an automated macro-Kjeldahl an-alyzer (Kjell-Foss, model 16210) following the Association of Official Analytical Chemists&#x27; (1984:154) method. ... Bulrush rhizomes were collected at Cap-St-Ig-nace along the St. ...
1 Changes in demography and studies on physical condition of the Riviere George caribou Rangifer ... more 1 Changes in demography and studies on physical condition of the Riviere George caribou Rangifer tarandus herd have suggested that its size may be primarily regulated by the amount of forage available on the summer range. 2 We therefore document the impact of grazing and ...
Abstract: Among ungulate species living in boreal regions, moose (Alces alces) are most likely to... more Abstract: Among ungulate species living in boreal regions, moose (Alces alces) are most likely to suffer from heat stress since they have a relatively low upper critical temperature (14 °C in summer and -5 °C in winter). We tested the hypothesis that moose adopt behaviours to reduce thermoregulatory costs. We predicted that moose exposed to high intensities of solar radiation or high air temperatures would 1) seek a type of vegetation association that provides thermal shelter and 2) reduce activity. We also predicted that these behaviours would be most evident in summer. Thermal-shelter use and activity of 30 free-ranging moose were measured over 3 y in a 940-km2 study area of boreal forest using GPS telemetry collars. The effect of solar radiation and air temperature on thermal-shelter use and activity were assessed using logistic and multiple regression analyses. Habitat use and activity rates of moose were related to air temperature but not solar radiation. The probability of finding moose in thermal shelters increased with air temperature in summer and fall. Moose activity did not decrease as air temperature increased, but it increased at night during hot periods. As expected, moose response to thermal conditions was most noted in summer. Our results suggest that moose reduce exposure to thermal stress by using thermal shelters during the day and by increasing nocturnal activity. These behavioural adaptations allow moose to cope with thermal stress on a small temporal scale. Negative effects of heat stress could be important in areas where air temperatures are very high for extended periods of time or where thermal cover is scarce.
E CosCIENCE Historically, the coyote (Canis latrans Say) was mainly restricted to the open grass ... more E CosCIENCE Historically, the coyote (Canis latrans Say) was mainly restricted to the open grass prairies and plains of central and western North America (Young & Jackson, 1951). The opening of the landscape caused by human settlement, combined with the eradication of wolves (Canis lupus L.) and coyotes' adaptiveness, paved the way for range expansion northward and eastward through New England, Québec, the Maritimes, the Yukon, and Alaska (Moore & Parker, 1992). Coyotes were first observed in southwestern Québec in 1944 (Young & Jackson, 1951) and in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of southeastern Québec in the early 1970s (Georges, 1976). The eastward range expansion of coyotes was accompanied by an apparent increase in body size (Thurber & Peterson, 1991; Larivière & Crête, 1993), which makes possible group hunting during winter and killing of large prey (Messier, Barrette & Huot, 1986; Patterson, Benjamin & Messier, 1998). The arrival of coyotes in southeastern Québec seriously affected two ungulate species: whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) and cari
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