Effects of diet quality and quantity on caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Thompson, Daniel Paul

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Author

Thompson, Daniel Paul

Chair

Barboza, Perry S.

Committee

Parker, Katherine L.
Kielland, Knut
Hundertmark, Kris J.

Abstract

Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) encounter natural and anthropogenic disturbances across the landscape. In late winter, Rangifer encounter acute food from disturbances such as icing events. Furthermore, as shrubs expand into the Arctic tundra, the proportion of low quality browse may increase in the summer diet of Rangifer. This study evaluated how Rangifer tolerate 1) fluctuations in food quantity in late winter and 2) changes in forage quality over the summer. Rangifer can compensate for food shortages by increasing intake after restriction, which would allow animals to restore body mass quickly during migration. High body fat reserves increase the tolerance of food shortages. During the summer, Rangifer can consume exclusively browse to meet daily energy requirements; however, low nitrogen supply and high toxin load would require the use of alternative forages to supplement nitrogen and reduce toxins.

Description

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2013

Chapter 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Importance of Rangifer -- 1.2. Natural disturbances to Rangifer -- 1.3. Anthropogenic disturbances to Rangifer -- 1.4. Rangifer requirements -- 1.5. Rangifer adaptations -- 1.6. Captive studies -- 1.7. Study of objectives -- 1.8. Literature cited -- Chapter 2. Responses of caribou and reindeer to food shortages in spring -- 2.1. Abstract -- 2.2. Introduction -- 2.3. Study area -- 2.4. Methods -- 2.4.1. Individual food intake -- 2.4.2. Experimental design -- 2.4.3. Calculations and statistics -- 2.5. Results -- 2.5.1. Control vs. treatment caribou -- 2.5.2. Caribou vs. reindeer -- 2.6. Discussion -- 2.7. Management implications -- 2.8. Figures -- 2.9. Literature cited -- 2.10. Appendices -- Chapter 3. Browse intakes of caribou during summer -- 3.1. Summary -- 3.2. Introduction -- 3.3. Materials and methods -- 3.3.1. Animals and facilities -- 3.3.2. Individual measurement -- 3.3.3. Experimental design -- 3.3.4. Forage collection -- 3.3.5. Chemical analysis -- 3.3.6. Calculations -- 3.4. Results -- 3.4.1. Environmental variables -- 3.4.2. Food intake and mass gain -- 3.4.3. Instantaneous forage intake -- 3.4.4. Predicting daily browse consumption -- 3.5. Discussion -- 3.5.1. Initial predictions -- 3.5.2. Seasonal intake and mass gain -- 3.5.3. Forage selection -- 3.5.4. Bite rate -- 3.5.5. Plant secondary metabolites -- 3.5.6. Intake rate -- 3.5.7. Implications -- 3.6. Figures -- 3.7. Tables -- 3.8. Literature cited -- 3.9. Appendices -- Chapter 4. Conclusion -- 4.1. Overview -- 4.2. Food shortages in late winter -- 4.2.1. Food intake in late winter -- 4.2.2. Body mass in late winter -- 4.2.3. Activity in late winter -- 4.2.4. Caribou vs. reindeer in late winter -- 4.3. Forage quality in summer -- 4.3.1. Summer intake and mass gain -- 4.3.2. Summer forage attributes -- 4.3.3. Summer instantaneous intake rates -- 4.3.4. Summer forage requirements -- 4.4. Grand finale -- 4.5. Literature cited.

Date

2013-05

Type

Thesis

Collections

Biological Sciences