Impacts of climate change on the seasonal distribution of migratory caribou

Authors: SHARMA, SAPNA¹; COUTURIER, SERGE²; CÔTÉ, STEEVE D.³

Source: Global Change Biology, Volume 15, Number 10, October 2009 , pp. 2549-2562(14)

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Abstract:

Arctic ecosystems are especially vulnerable to global climate change as temperature and precipitation regimes are altered. An ecologically and socially highly important northern terrestrial species that may be impacted by climate change is the caribou, Rangifer tarandus. We predicted the current and potential future occurrence of two migratory herds of caribou [Rivière George herd (RG) and Rivière-aux-Feuilles (RAF) herd] under a Canadian General Circulation Model climate change scenario, across all seasons in the Québec-Labrador peninsula, using climatic and habitat predictor variables. Argos satellite-tracking collars have been deployed on 213 caribou between 1988 and 2003 with locations recorded every 4-5 days. In addition, we assembled a database of climate (temperature, precipitation, snowfall, timing and length of growing season) and habitat data obtained from the SPOT VEGETATION satellite sensor. Logistic regression models indicated that both climatic and physical habitat variables were significant predictors of current migratory caribou occurrence. Migratory caribou appeared to prefer regions with higher snowfall and lichen availability in the fall and winter. In the summer, caribou preferred cooler areas likely corresponding to a lower prevalence of insects, and they avoided disturbed and recently burnt areas. Climate change projections using climate data predicted an increased range for the RAF herd and decreased range for the RG herd during 2040-2069, limiting the herds to northeastern regions of the Québec-Labrador peninsula. Direct and indirect consequences of climate change on these migratory caribou herds possibly include alteration in habitat use, migration patterns, foraging behaviour, and demography, in addition to social and economic stress to arctic and subarctic native human populations.

Keywords: caribou (Rangifer tarandus); climate change; occurrence models; seasonal habitat selection

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.01945.x

Affiliations: 1: Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7, 2: Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Direction de la recherche sur la faune, 880 Ch. Ste-Foy, 2nd floor, Québec, QC, Canada G1S 4X4, 3: Département de Biologie and Centre for Northern Studies, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6

Publication date: 2009-10-01

Impacts of climate change on the seasonal distribution of migratory caribou

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