Terrestrial Mammal Ecology Research Active
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Research conducted by the USGS Alaska Science Center on terrestrial mammals is focused on informing Department of Interior management decisions across Alaska. Our work provides timely and highly relevant scientific information for management issues such as the response of caribou to a warming climate and human development, future possible changes in distribution and abundance, and the effects of changing habitats used for forage.
Population dynamics
Why do caribou populations fluctuate? Why do their migration patterns change year after year? How healthy is the herd? Working in collaboration with multiple partners in Alaska, the USGS is addressing these common questions for caribou populations in Alaska. Read more here: Improving calf survival of the Chisana Caribou Herd
Response of caribou to industrial infrastructure
Are Arctic caribou habituated to energy development on the North Slope? Do caribou use habitats near and within the oilfields in northern Alaska? Read more here:
- Effects of vehicle traffic on space use and road crossings of caribou in the Arctic
- Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
Forage and weather
Will caribou be impacted by changes in weather, insects and plant forages? Are their habitats changing?
Read more here: Resilience of caribou to climatic shifts in the Arctic
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Utility of stable isotope analysis in studying foraging ecology of herbivores: Examples from moose and caribou
Testing releasable GPS radiocollars on wolves and white-tailed deer
Reproductive performance of female Alaskan caribou
The wolves of Denali
Serum biochemistry of captive and free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus)
Timing and synchrony of parturition in Alaska caribou
Electrocardiographic consequences of a peripatetic lifestyle in gray wolves (Canis lupus)
Is incest common in gray wolf packs?
Our living resources: A report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems
Caribou calf mortality in Denali National Park, Alaska
Functional response of wolves preying on barren-ground caribou in a multiple-prey ecosystem
- Overview
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Research conducted by the USGS Alaska Science Center on terrestrial mammals is focused on informing Department of Interior management decisions across Alaska. Our work provides timely and highly relevant scientific information for management issues such as the response of caribou to a warming climate and human development, future possible changes in distribution and abundance, and the effects of changing habitats used for forage.
Population dynamics
Why do caribou populations fluctuate? Why do their migration patterns change year after year? How healthy is the herd? Working in collaboration with multiple partners in Alaska, the USGS is addressing these common questions for caribou populations in Alaska. Read more here: Improving calf survival of the Chisana Caribou Herd
Response of caribou to industrial infrastructure
Are Arctic caribou habituated to energy development on the North Slope? Do caribou use habitats near and within the oilfields in northern Alaska? Read more here:
- Effects of vehicle traffic on space use and road crossings of caribou in the Arctic
- Caribou use of habitat near energy development in Arctic Alaska
Forage and weather
Will caribou be impacted by changes in weather, insects and plant forages? Are their habitats changing?
Read more here: Resilience of caribou to climatic shifts in the Arctic - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 24No results found. - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 47Utility of stable isotope analysis in studying foraging ecology of herbivores: Examples from moose and caribou
Recently, researchers emphasized that patterns of stable isotope ratios observed at the individual level are a result of an interaction between ecological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Isotopic models for herbivores provide additional complications because those mammals consume foods that have high variability in nitrogen concentrations. In addition, distribution of amino acids in plaAuthorsMerav Ben-David, Einav Shochat, Layne G. AdamsTesting releasable GPS radiocollars on wolves and white-tailed deer
We tested prototype GPS collars on 8 free-ranging wolves (Canis lupus) and 3 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for varying periods between February and August 1997. We programmed the 920-gm collars to make a location attempt 6-96 times per day. The collars were designed to be remotely released from the animal and the data were then downloaded to a desktop computer. The collars produced 47AuthorsSamuel B. Merrill, Layne G. Adams, Michael E. Nelson, L. David MechReproductive performance of female Alaskan caribou
We examined the reproductive performance of female caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in relation to age, physical condition, and reproductive experience for 9 consecutive years (1987-95) at Denali National Park, Alaska, during a period of wide variation in winter snowfall. Caribou in Denali differed from other cervid populations where reproductive performance has been investigated, because they oAuthorsLayne G. Adams, Bruce W. DaleThe wolves of Denali
No abstract available.AuthorsL. David Mech, Layne G. Adams, T.J. Meier, John W. Burch, B.W. DaleSerum biochemistry of captive and free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus)
Normal serum biochemistry values are frequently obtained from studies of captive sedentary (zoo) or free-ranging (wild) animals. It is frequently assumed that values from these two populations are directly referable to each other. We tested this assumption using 20 captive gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota, USA, and 11 free-ranging gray wolves in Alaska, USA. Free-ranging wolves had significaAuthorsPeter Constable, Ken Hinchcliff, Nick Demma, Margaret Callahan, B.W. Dale, Kevin Fox, Layne G. Adams, Ray Wack, Lynn KramerTiming and synchrony of parturition in Alaska caribou
Timing of parturition of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) varies within populations, but the relative influences of nutritional condition of females during the autumn breeding season and during gestation on that variation is not known. We determined timing of parturition of caribou in Denali National Park, Alaska, during 1984–1995, which had wide variation in snowfall that influenced nutritional conditAuthorsLayne G. Adams, Bruce W. DaleElectrocardiographic consequences of a peripatetic lifestyle in gray wolves (Canis lupus)
Cardiac chamber enlargement and hypertrophy are normal physiologic responses to repetitive endurance exercise activity in human beings and domestic dogs. Whether similar changes occur in wild animals as a consequence of increased activity is unknown. We found that free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus, n=11), the archetypical endurance athlete, have electrocardiographic evidence of cardiac chamberAuthorsPeter Constable, Ken Hinchcliff, Nick Demma, Margaret Callahan, Bruce W. Dale, Kevin Fox, Layne G. Adams, Ray Wack, Lynn KramerIs incest common in gray wolf packs?
Wolf packs generally consist of a breeding pair and their maturing offspring that help provision and protect pack young. Because the reproductive tenure in wolves is often short, reproductively mature offspring might replace their parents, resulting in sibling or parent-offspring matings. To determine the extent of incestuous pairings, we measured relatedness based on variability in 20 microsatellAuthorsDeborah E. Smith, Thomas J. Meier, Eli Geffen, L. David Mech, John W. Burch, Layne G. Adams, Robert K. WayneOur living resources: A report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems
This report on the distribution, abundance, and health of our nation's biological resources is the first product of the National Biological Service’s Status and Trends Program. This information has many potential uses: it can document successful management efforts so resource managers will know what has worked well; it can identify problems so managers can take early action to restore the resourceCaribou calf mortality in Denali National Park, Alaska
Calf mortality is a major component of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) population dynamics, but little is known about the timing or causes of calf losses, or of characteristics that predispose calves to mortality. During 1984-87, we radiocollared 226 calves (≤3 days old) in the Denali Caribou Herd (DCH), an unhunted population utilized by a natural complement of predators, to determine the extent, timAuthorsLayne G. Adams, Francis J. Singer, Bruce W. DaleFunctional response of wolves preying on barren-ground caribou in a multiple-prey ecosystem
1. We investigated the functional response of wolves (Canis lupus) to varying abundance of ungulate prey to test the hypothesis that switching from alternate prey to preferred prey results in regulation of a caribou (Rangifer tarandus) population at low densities. 2. We determined prey selection, kill rates, and prey abundance for four wolf packs during three 30-day periods in March 1989, March 19AuthorsB.W. Dale, Layne G. Adams, R.T. Bowyer - News