Latham Alberta Wolves

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dc.contributor.authorLatham, A. David M.
dc.contributor.authorBoutin, Stan
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-14T16:39:44Z
dc.date.available2019-08-14T16:39:44Z
dc.date.issued2019-08-14
dc.description.abstractWoodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northeastern Alberta have historically been provided a refuge from wolf (Canis lupus) predation by using habitats not typically occupied by moose (Alces alces), which are the primary prey species for wolves in this region. However, in recent years most caribou populations in northeastern Alberta have declined, suggesting that they no longer have a refuge from wolf predation. I tested the hypotheses that (1) primary prey densities have increased since recent industrial expansion into caribou range, resulting in a numeric response by wolves; and (2) an altered wolf-primary prey system has reduced the ability of caribou to spatially separate from other prey - and consequently wolves - in this system. My results showed that wolf densities in the region have increased from approximately 6/1,000 km2 to approximately 11/1,000 km2. Based on my estimates, there has also been a corresponding increase in ungulate biomass, which appears to be primarily due to the recent increase in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). My results suggest that wolf use and selection of this novel prey species has also increased dramatically, particularly during the snow season. Similarly, I found that wolf use and selection for beaver (Castor canadensis) was substantively higher than suggested by previous studies in this region. Wolf use of beaver was highest in the snow-free season, and could result in increased wolf-caribou encounters at this time of year. Moose were an important prey species for wolves throughout the year. These results suggest that wolves within caribou range in northeastern Alberta currently utilize multiple primary prey species. The spatial overlap between wolves and caribou has increased substantively within the past decade; however, caribou still attempt to avoid high predation risk by spatially separating from areas that tend to be selected by primary prey species and wolves. Despite differential habitat selection, the proportion of caribou in wolf diet appears to have increased in the past decade, suggesting that bog-fen habitat provides only a partial refuge from predation. These findings are integral to the effective management of primary prey and wolves in caribou ranges in northeastern Alberta, and will help inform caribou landscape planning teams in decision making processes.
dc.identifier.doidoi:10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1
dc.identifier.urihttps://datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.949
dc.relation.ispartofdoi:10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987
dc.relation.isreferencedbyurl:http://search.proquest.com/docview/305051214
dc.rightsCC0 1.0 Universalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
dc.subjectanimal movement
dc.subjectanimal tracking
dc.subjectCanada
dc.subjectCanis lupus
dc.subjectGPS logger
dc.subjectmovement ecology
dc.subjectpredation
dc.subjectwolf
dc.titleLatham Alberta Wolves
dc.typeDataset
dspace.entity.typeData package
dwc.ScientificNameCanis lupus
mdr.citation.BibTex
@misc{001/1_7vr1k987/1,
  title = {Latham Alberta Wolves},
  author = {Latham, ADM and Boutin, S},
  year = {2019},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}
mdr.citation.CSE
Latham ADM, Boutin S. 2019. Latham Alberta Wolves. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1
mdr.citation.RIS
TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1
T1  - Latham Alberta Wolves
AU  - Latham, A. David M.
AU  - Boutin, Stan
Y1  - 2019/08/14
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - Canada
KW  - Canis lupus
KW  - GPS logger
KW  - movement ecology
KW  - predation
KW  - wolf
KW  - Canis lupus
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.7vr1k987/1
ER  -
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