Evaluating the mechanisms linking anthropogenic habitat alteration to caribou declines in western Canada
department or school: Science, Irving K. Barber Faculty of (Okanagan)
department or school: Biology, Department of (Okanagan)
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCO
creator: Dickie, Melanie
issued: 2024-12-02T20:26:27Z
issued: 2024
related degree: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: The study of ecological systems requires a nuanced understanding of the complex interactions that govern species dynamics. In this dissertation I investigate the intricate relationships between habitat alteration, climate change, and predator-prey dynamics that drive species declines in western Canada’s boreal forest, namely of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus). I explore the roles of habitat alteration and climate in facilitating the expansion of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a novel apparent competitor to caribou (Chapter 2). I demonstrate that deer densities are primarily influenced by winter severity, though habitat alteration and productivity can mediate this effect, suggesting an interaction where milder winters and human-altered habitats combine to support higher deer densities. These findings emphasize the significant role of climate in determining population abundance, while also highlighting the compounding effects of habitat alteration. In Chapter 3 I examine how resource density and exploitation efficiency influence wolf (Canis lupus) home ranges, a predator of caribou. Wolf home ranges were smaller in areas with increased linear feature density, though this relationship was weaker in more productive areas, indicating that wolves benefit most from linear features in less productive environments. These results suggest that increased access to prey in disturbed landscapes can reduce the area wolves need to survive, potentially linking to wolf densities; reinforcing the indirect role of habitat alteration in predator-prey dynamics. In Chapter 4, I synthesize existing knowledge on how the effects linear features cascade through the food web associated with caribou declines. While many studies explore how linear features affect the spatial behavior of caribou, their predators, and prey, few directly connect these changes to caribou demographic outcomes. This gap underscores the need for targeted research to inform effective conservation strat…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/89766
note: Evaluating the mechanisms linking anthropogenic habitat alteration to caribou declines in western Canada by Melanie Dickie A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Biology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Okanagan) November 2024 © Melanie Dickie, 2024 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the College of Graduate Studies for acceptance, a dissertation entitled: Evaluating the mechanisms linking anthropogenic habitat alteration to caribou declines in western Canada submitted by Melanie Dickie in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Dr. Adam Ford, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Supervisor Dr. Michael Noonan, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Robin Steenweg, Environment and Climate Change Canada Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Robert Serrouya, Biodiversity Pathways Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Warren Cardinal-McTeague, UBC Faculty of Forestry University Examiner Dr. Fanie Pelletier, University of Sherbrooke External Examiner iii ABSTRACT The study of ecological systems requires a nuanced understanding of the complex interactions that govern species dynamics. In this dissertation I investigate the intricate relationships between habitat alteration, climate change, and predator-prey dynamics that drive species declines in western Canada’s boreal forest, namely of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus). I explore the roles of habitat alteration and climate in facilitating the expansion of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a novel apparent competitor to caribou (Chapter 2). I demonstrate that deer densities are primarily influenced by winter severity, though habitat alteration and productivity can mediate this effect, suggesting an interaction where milder winters and human-altered habitats combine to support higher deer densities…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2025-02
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0447388
language: eng
degree discipline: Biology
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Ford, Adam
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89766