PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 39: Late Breaking and Newsworthy Posters
Friday, August 12, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Logging and caribou habitat selection in a spatially correlated world.
Schaefer, James*,1, Mahoney, Shane2, 1 Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada2 Department of Environment & Conservation, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
ABSTRACT- Habitat selection is commonly used to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on wildlife but may be confounded by spatial correlations among landscape features. We used a multivariate, distance-based approach to assess the effects of clearcut logging on the summer (May - September) range of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Newfoundland. We compared distances of random locations and caribou, from 9 years of radiotelemetry, to progressive clearcuts and other landcover types across three spatial scales: population range, individual ranges, and radiolocations. We tested for incremental avoidance of cutovers from each age class, and we measured changes in caribou proximity to mature softwood forests, the preferred type for caribou and forest harvesting, while controlling for distance to clearcuts. Landcover types were spatially correlated. Cutovers of all age classes, as well as non-impacted forests, were positively interrelated. At the individual range, females selected for hardwood and softwood forests, bogs and barrens, and avoided open water. Patterns for males were similar, although they avoided bogs and barrens at both scales. The sexes differed in their response to forest harvesting. Females progressively avoided cutovers, both pre- and post-harvest, and maintained an average of 9 km from active cutovers. Cutover avoidance accounted for their heightened disuse of softwood forests. Compared to females, males occurred in closer proximity, with no incremental response to clearcutting and no such change in habitat use. These results add to the mounting evidence of deleterious effects of timber harvesting on caribou, particularly females. Spatial associations among piecemeal developments may hamper studies of their impacts. Long-term investigations that deal with spatial correlations will enhance the capacity to evaluate anthropogenic habitat changes.
Key words: forestry, habitat selection, logging, spatial scale