Fall supplemental feeding increases population growth rate of an endangered caribou herd.

ABSTRACT: Most woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations are declining primarily because of unsustainable predation resulting from habitat-mediated apparent competition. Wolf (Canis lupus) reduction is an effective recovery option because it addresses the direct effect of predation. We considered the possibility that the indirect effects of predation might also affect caribou population dynamics by adversely affecting summer foraging behaviour. If spring and/or summer nutrition was inadequate, then supplemental feeding in fall might compensate for that limitation and contribute to population growth. Improved nutrition and therefore body condition going into winter could increase adult survival and lead to improved reproductive success the next spring. To test that hypoth

SUBMITTER: Heard DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7953878 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature