Potential effects of global warming on calving caribou
Calving grounds of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are often in the portion of their range that remains covered by snow late into spring. The authors propose that global warming would alter the duration of snow cover on the calving grounds and the rate of snowmelt, and thus affect caribou population dynamics. The rationale for this hypothesis is based upon the following arguments. For females of the Porcupine Herd, one of the few forages available before and during early calving are the inflorescences of cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), which are very digestible, high in nitrogen and phosphorus, and low in phenols and acid-detergent fiber. The nutritional levels of the inflorescences are highest in the early stages of phenology and decline rapidly until they are lowest at seed set, about 2 weeks after being exposed from snow cover. The high nutritional level of cotton grass inflorescences is important to post-paturient caribou attempting to meet nutritional requirements of lactation while minimizing associated weight loss. The pattern of weight regain in summer is important to herd productivity as female body weight at mating influences conception in late summer and calving success in spring. Therefore, temporal changes in snowmelt may have major effects on nutritional regimes of the female.
- Research Organization:
- Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK (United States). Inst. of Arctic Biology
- OSTI ID:
- 7161012
- Report Number(s):
- AD-P-007325/4/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: This article is from 'Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change Held in Fairbanks, Alaska on 11-15 June 990. Volume 2', AD-A253 028, p460-464. See also Volume 1, AD-A253 027
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ARCTIC REGIONS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
DEER
POPULATION DYNAMICS
GREENHOUSE GASES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ALASKA
DIET
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GRAMINEAE
NUTRITION
PHENOLOGY
PRODUCTIVITY
SEEDS
SNOW
WEIGHT
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
POLAR REGIONS
RUMINANTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540210 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)