Morphological Traits Are Not Consistently Related to Population Size in Four Migratory Caribou Populations Across North America.

ABSTRACT: To develop effective management to maintain or restore populations of large herbivores, wildlife managers require sound empirical data on their variations in size and associated parameters. Many studies have highlighted links between morphological traits of individuals and population density; however, less attention has been devoted to whether or not morphological traits can reliably inform on population size in years when no population estimates are available. We evaluated the relationships between three morphological traits (hind foot length, body mass, and body fat) and population size interpolated over three decades, for four migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herds in northern Canada and Alaska. Our sample included 8865 measurements of 4473 individuals. We used a Bayesian mo

SUBMITTER: Vuillaume B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11480523 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature