Presentation Type

Presentation

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

Tyler (T.J.) Clark

Faculty Mentor’s Department

Wildlife Biology

Abstract / Artist's Statement

The complex population dynamics of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are being studied to determine the patterns and processes driving their population cycles. It is well established, via previous archaeological research and indigenous knowledge, that large migrating caribou herds found in around the tundra at northern latitudes experience population boom and busts roughly every several decades. However, the processes driving the dynamics of these cycles are relatively unknown, which makes managing caribou herds for recreational and subsistence harvests difficult. It has been hypothesized that a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape these cycles, with birth rates, density-dependence, and climate (among many others) likely all playing a role. I collected population data on 43 caribou herds throughout the world, and in doing so, assembled the largest caribou (and likely large mammal) population database to date. I used statistical interpolation to fill in the gaps between available data due to low sampling frequency. I am now in the process of analyzing these data, determining which herds are showing clear signs of cycling and narrowing down the potential mechanisms causing these cycles. I collected additional information on other factors hypothesized to affect caribou cycles, including predator presence data, climate oscillation data, subspecies and ecotype data, and the latitudes of each herd. I am using the interpolated data for each herd to determine the variables influencing the periods and amplitudes of caribou population cycles. The potential management implications of my research are far-reaching. A better understanding of caribou population dynamics could help wildlife professionals and policymakers adapt their caribou management strategies, potentially giving them the tools to avoid extreme population fluctuations. The overarching goal of my research is to aid in the conservation of caribou for both ecological and cultural purposes, and understanding their basic ecology is the first step in achieving that goal.

Category

Life Sciences

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Understanding Caribou Population Cycles

The complex population dynamics of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are being studied to determine the patterns and processes driving their population cycles. It is well established, via previous archaeological research and indigenous knowledge, that large migrating caribou herds found in around the tundra at northern latitudes experience population boom and busts roughly every several decades. However, the processes driving the dynamics of these cycles are relatively unknown, which makes managing caribou herds for recreational and subsistence harvests difficult. It has been hypothesized that a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape these cycles, with birth rates, density-dependence, and climate (among many others) likely all playing a role. I collected population data on 43 caribou herds throughout the world, and in doing so, assembled the largest caribou (and likely large mammal) population database to date. I used statistical interpolation to fill in the gaps between available data due to low sampling frequency. I am now in the process of analyzing these data, determining which herds are showing clear signs of cycling and narrowing down the potential mechanisms causing these cycles. I collected additional information on other factors hypothesized to affect caribou cycles, including predator presence data, climate oscillation data, subspecies and ecotype data, and the latitudes of each herd. I am using the interpolated data for each herd to determine the variables influencing the periods and amplitudes of caribou population cycles. The potential management implications of my research are far-reaching. A better understanding of caribou population dynamics could help wildlife professionals and policymakers adapt their caribou management strategies, potentially giving them the tools to avoid extreme population fluctuations. The overarching goal of my research is to aid in the conservation of caribou for both ecological and cultural purposes, and understanding their basic ecology is the first step in achieving that goal.