Selection for Forage and Avoidance of Risk by Woodland Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus Caribou) at Coarse andLocal Scales

Authors

Madeleine T. McGreer, University of GuelphFollow
Erin E. Mallon, University of Guelph
Lucas M. Vander Vennen, University of Guelph
Philip A. Wiebe, Canadian Forest Service
James A. Baker, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Glen S. Brown, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Tal Avgar, Utah State UniversityFollow
Jevon Hagens, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Andrew M. Kittle, University of Guelph
Anna Mosser, University of Guelph
Garrett M. Street, University of Guelph
Doug E. B. Reid, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Arthur R. Rodgers, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Jennifer Shuter, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Ian D. Thompson, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
et al.

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Ecosphere

Volume

6

Issue

12

Publisher

Ecological Society of America

Publication Date

12-21-2015

First Page

1

Last Page

11

Abstract

The relationship between selection at coarse and fine spatiotemporal spatial scales is still poorly understood. Some authors claim that, to accommodate different needs at different scales, individuals should have contrasting selection patterns at different scales of selection, while others claim that coarse scale selection patterns should reflect fine scale selection decisions. Here we examine site selection by 110 woodland caribou equipped with GPS radio‐collars with respect to forage availability and predation risk across a broad gradient in availability of both variables in boreal forests of Northern Ontario. We tested whether caribou selection for forage and avoidance of risk was consistent between coarse (seasonal home range) and fine scales of selection. We found that local selection patterns predicted coarse scale selection patterns, indicating a close relationship between the drivers of selection at both spatial scales.

Recommended Citation

McGreer, M.T., E.E. Mallon, L.M. Vander Vennen, P.A. Wiebe, T. Avgar, et al. (2015) Selection for Forage and Avoidance of Risk by Woodland Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus Caribou) at Coarse and Local Scales. Ecosphere, 6: e288.