Primary Research Organization: fRI Reasearch
Start Date: September 2023
Anticipated End Date: September 2025
Project Summary and Scope of Work
Camera studies are being increasingly used in wildlife research, as they are a cost-effective, noninvasive sampling technique able to detect multiple species. However, in spite of the increasing applications of remote camera studies, camera data have not yet been extensively used to monitor wildlife reproductive success. Because ungulate young travel close to their mothers during the first year of life, it is relatively easy to determine reproductive status from remote camera data. Additional data obtained from camera trapping, including the number of young detected and the timing of detections (i.e., spring/summer versus fall/winter) can provide indices of reproduction success, reproductive rates and potentially a measure of recruitment.
This project will use previous and newly collected camera data to provide new information on how ungulate population demographics are changing in Alberta caribou ranges in the face of resource extraction and habitat restoration, while considering climate factors. The population dynamics and persistence (i.e., long term reproductive success) of ungulates like moose, deer, and elk, within caribou ranges have implications for caribou recovery, and information regarding variables that predict reproductive success of moose, deer and elk could help inform caribou recovery actions and best management practices moving forwards. In addition, data from this project could provide important information regarding the range and population dynamics of these important game species within these WMUs in Alberta. Combined, the knowledge from this project will provide important information on the impact of oil and gas activities on ungulate populations in Alberta.