Multi-scale foraging decisions made by woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in summer

We examined woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) selection of foraging locations across two spatiotemporal scales to test whether selection patterns between them were consistent (scaling-up) or different (hierarchical) to determine which framework most accurately describes their foraging behaviour. Seven adult female woodland caribou were equipped with GPS telemetry radio collars outfitted with high-definition video cameras that recorded woodland caribou foraging choices throughout the summer. Fine-scale data from videos combined with direct measurements in the field along movement trajectories obtained from GPS fixes were used to estimate (i) feeding station selection and (ii) food patch selection. We estimated resource selection functions for each scale following a use –availability structure. Woodland caribou exhibited resource selection at both scales. Apart from selection for species of the lichen Cladina (Nyl.) Nyl. and patches associated with high abundance of Cladina, few patterns were consistent across both scales. Our study suggests that even at very fin e scales, woodland caribou selection for foraging locations is hierarchical in nature.

Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - March 5, 2020 Category: Zoology Authors: E.P. McNeill I.D. Thompson P.A. Wiebe G.M. Street J. Shuter A.R. Rodgers J.M. Fryxell Source Type: research