Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou, Boreal Population, in Canada [Proposed] - 2011: Appendix F-2
- Critical Habitat Identification: Northwest Territories South (Northwest Territories)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Calendar (British Columbia)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Bistcho (Alberta)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Yates (Alberta)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Caribou Mountains (Alberta)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Red Earth (Alberta)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Richardson (Alberta)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Davy-Athabasca (Saskatchewan)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Clearwater (Saskatchewan)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Highrock-Key (Saskatchewan)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Steephill-Foster (Saskatchewan)
- Critical Habitat Identification: Kesagami (Ontario)
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
24,398,791 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
Unknown |
|
Population trend |
unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
9,271,541 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the likelihood of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining / Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
24,398,791 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
9,271,541 ha (38%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
15,127,250 ha (62%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
731,964 ha (3%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Mature forests (jack pine, spruce, tamarack) of 100 years or older, and open coniferous habitat. Large areas of spruce peatland and muskeg with preference for bogs over fens and upland and lowland black spruce forests with abundant lichens and sedge and moss availability. |
Calving |
Open coniferous forests, tussock tundra, low shrub, riparian, recent burned areas, south and west aspects and Hills and higher locations. |
Post-calving |
Muskegs or areas with access to muskegs, open meadows on higher ground, close to water (lakes and rivers) and mixed bush areas. |
Rutting |
Open coniferous and mixedwood forests, low shrub, riparian, tussock tundra, recent burns and west aspect. Still use muskegs that harbor ground lichen and sedges, mixed bush areas, areas of higher ground. |
Winter |
Open coniferous forests (black spruce and pine) that provide adequate cover with abundant lichens, riparian areas. Caribou observed in muskeg areas in early winter. |
Travel |
Females show high fidelity to calving sites among years (i.e. within 14.5 km). |
Avoidance |
Avoid edge habitat. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving | Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting |
Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 29%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 10%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 38%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
Burned Areas = 7%
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
496,393 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
291 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
302,800 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
496,393 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
302,800 ha (61%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
193,593 ha (39%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
129,062 ha (26%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Mature forests (jack pine, spruce, tamarack) of 100 years or older, and open coniferous habitat. Large areas of spruce peatland and muskeg with preference for bogs over fens and upland and lowland black spruce forests with abundant lichens and sedge and moss availability. |
Calving |
Open coniferous forests, tussock tundra, low shrub, riparian, recent burned areas, south and west aspects and Hills and higher locations. |
Post-calving |
Muskegs or areas with access to muskegs, open meadows on higher ground, close to water (lakes and rivers) and mixed bush areas. |
Rutting |
Open coniferous and mixedwood forests, low shrub, riparian, tussock tundra, recent burns and west aspect. Still use muskegs that harbor ground lichen and sedges, mixed bush areas, areas of higher ground. |
Winter |
Open coniferous forests (black spruce and pine) that provide adequate cover with abundant lichens, riparian areas. Caribou observed in muskeg areas in early winter. |
Travel |
Females show high fidelity to calving sites among years (i.e. within 14.5 km). |
Avoidance |
Avoid edge habitat. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 8%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 58%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 61%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
1,436,555 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
195 |
|
Population trend |
Declining |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
1,019,954 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
1,436,555 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
1,019,954 ha (71%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
416,601 ha (29%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
517,160 ha (36%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Mature forests (jack pine, spruce, tamarack) of 100 years or older, and open coniferous habitat. Large areas of spruce peatland and muskeg with preference for bogs over fens and upland and lowland black spruce forests with abundant lichens and sedge and moss availability. |
Calving |
Open coniferous forests, tussock tundra, low shrub, riparian, recent burned areas, south and west aspects and Hills and higher locations. |
Post-calving |
Muskegs or areas with access to muskegs, open meadows on higher ground, close to water (lakes and rivers) and mixed bush areas. |
Rutting |
Open coniferous and mixedwood forests, low shrub, riparian, tussock tundra, recent burns and west aspect. Still use muskegs that harbor ground lichen and sedges, mixed bush areas, areas of higher ground. |
Winter |
Open coniferous forests (black spruce and pine) that provide adequate cover with abundant lichens, riparian areas. Caribou observed in muskeg areas in early winter. |
Travel |
Females show high fidelity to calving sites among years (i.e. within 14.5 km). |
Avoidance |
Avoid edge habitat. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 20%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 61%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 71%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
523,094 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
350 |
|
Population trend |
Stable |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
319,087 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the likelihood of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
523,094 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
319,087 ha (61%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
204,007 ha (39%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
136,004 ha (26%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Mature forests (jack pine, spruce, tamarack) of 100 years or older, and open coniferous habitat. Large areas of spruce peatland and muskeg with preference for bogs over fens and upland and lowland black spruce forests with abundant lichens and sedge and moss availability. |
Calving |
Open coniferous forests, tussock tundra, low shrub, riparian, recent burned areas, south and west aspects and Hills and higher locations. |
Post-calving |
Muskegs or areas with access to muskegs, open meadows on higher ground, close to water (lakes and rivers) and mixed bush areas. |
Rutting |
Open coniferous and mixedwood forests, low shrub, riparian, tussock tundra, recent burns and west aspect. Still use muskegs that harbor ground lichen and sedges, mixed bush areas, areas of higher ground. |
Winter |
Open coniferous forests (black spruce and pine) that provide adequate cover with abundant lichens, riparian areas. Caribou observed in muskeg areas in early winter. |
Travel |
Females show high fidelity to calving sites among years (i.e. within 14.5 km). |
Avoidance |
Avoid edge habitat. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 43%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 21%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 61%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
2,069,000 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
315-394 |
|
Population trend |
Declining |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
1,179,330 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Critical Habitat |
A) Range Size |
2,069,000 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
1,179,330 ha (57%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
889,670 ha (43%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
455,180 (22%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Mature forests (jack pine, spruce, tamarack) of 100 years or older, and open coniferous habitat. Large areas of spruce peatland and muskeg with preference for bogs over fens and upland and lowland black spruce forests with abundant lichens and sedge and moss availability. |
Calving |
Open coniferous forests, tussock tundra, low shrub, riparian, recent burned areas, south and west aspects and Hills and higher locations. |
Post-calving |
Muskegs or areas with access to muskegs, open meadows on higher ground, close to water (lakes and rivers) and mixed bush areas. |
Rutting |
Open coniferous and mixedwood forests, low shrub, riparian, tussock tundra, recent burns and west aspect. Still use muskegs that harbor ground lichen and sedges, mixed bush areas, areas of higher ground. |
Winter |
Open coniferous forests (black spruce and pine) that provide adequate cover with abundant lichens, riparian areas. Caribou observed in muskeg areas in early winter. |
Travel |
Females show high fidelity to calving sites among years (i.e. within 14.5 km). |
Avoidance |
Avoid edge habitat. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving |
Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting | Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
D) Additional Information:
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 44%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 23%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 57%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
2,473,729 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
172-206 |
|
Population trend |
Declining |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
1,533,712 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the likelihood of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
2,473,729 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
1,533,712 ha (62%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
940,017 ha (38%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
667,907 (27%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving |
Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting |
Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 30%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 44%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 62%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
707,350 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
150 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
580,027 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
707,350 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
580,027 ha (82%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
127,323 ha (18%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
332,455 ha (47%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving |
Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting |
Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Conifer/tamarack-dominated peatland complexes, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs and upland moderate to dense mature conifer forests (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack) with abundant lichens. |
Calving |
Peatlands, stands dominated by black spruce, mature forest stands and treed muskeg all used for calving. |
Post-calving |
Wooded lakeshores, islands, sparsely treed rock, upland conifer-spruce and treed muskeg are used in summer. |
Rutting |
Dense and sparse conifer and mixed forests. |
Winter |
Mature upland spruce, pine stands and treed muskeg. |
Travel |
Some males move > 100 km during the rutting season. |
Avoidance |
Avoid shrub-rich habitats and hardwood-dominated stands. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 67%
Buffered4Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 22%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 82%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
3,186,758 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
310 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
1,943,922 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
3,186,758 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
1,943,922 ha (61%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
1,242,836 ha (39%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
828,557 ha (26%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Conifer/tamarack-dominated peatland complexes, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs and upland moderate to dense mature conifer forests (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack) with abundant lichens. |
Calving |
Peatlands, stands dominated by black spruce, mature forest stands and treed muskeg all used for calving. |
Post-calving |
Wooded lakeshores, islands, sparsely treed rock, upland conifer-spruce and treed muskeg are used in summer. |
Rutting |
Dense and sparse conifer and mixed forests. |
Winter |
Mature upland spruce, pine stands and treed muskeg. |
Travel |
Some males move > 100 km during the rutting season. |
Avoidance |
Avoid shrub-rich habitats and hardwood-dominated stands. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Upland tundra dominated by ericaceous shrubs (Ericaceae spp.), lichen, grasses and sedges. |
Calving |
String bogs, treed bogs, small open wetlands (< 1 km²), large muskeg, marshes along water bodies. Barren grounds. |
Post-calving |
Forested wetlands. Hilly areas, coastal sites, along shorelines of water bodies (rivers, lakes, creeks), marshes with lichen availability. |
Rutting |
Open wetlands, swamps. Mature forests, mountainous terrain with forests of black spruce, tamarack and pine trees with abundant lichen. |
Winter |
Forested areas are used in years of low snow accumulation otherwise winter habitat selection reflects general avoidance of deep snow, including use of tundra habitat at higher elevations in mountainous regions and bogs along lakes or oceans. |
Travel |
Connectivity between selected habitat types important given reported patterns of movement among caribou. |
Avoidance |
Avoidance of roads and areas recently burned. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 60%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 2%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 61%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
4,718,489 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
425 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
3,302,942 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
4,718,489 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
3,302,942 ha (70%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
1,415,547 ha (30%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
1,651,471 ha (35%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Conifer/tamarack-dominated peatland complexes, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs and upland moderate to dense mature conifer forests (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack) with abundant lichens. |
Calving |
Peatlands, stands dominated by black spruce, mature forest stands and treed muskeg all used for calving. |
Post-calving |
Wooded lakeshores, islands, sparsely treed rock, upland conifer-spruce and treed muskeg are used in summer. |
Rutting |
Dense and sparse conifer and mixed forests. |
Winter |
Mature upland spruce, pine stands and treed muskeg. |
Travel |
Some males move > 100 km during the rutting season. |
Avoidance |
Avoid shrub-rich habitats and hardwood-dominated stands. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving |
Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting |
Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 69%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 3%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 70%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
4,393,300 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
1060 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
2,811,712 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
4,393,300 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
2,811,712 ha (64%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
1,581,588 ha (36%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
1,274,057 ha (29%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Conifer/tamarack-dominated peatland complexes, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs and upland moderate to dense mature conifer forests (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack) with abundant lichens. |
Calving |
Peatlands, stands dominated by black spruce, mature forest stands and treed muskeg all used for calving. |
Post-calving |
Wooded lakeshores, islands, sparsely treed rock, upland conifer-spruce and treed muskeg are used in summer. |
Rutting |
Dense and sparse conifer and mixed forests. |
Winter |
Mature upland spruce, pine stands and treed muskeg. |
Travel |
Some males move > 100 km during the rutting season. |
Avoidance |
Avoid shrub-rich habitats and hardwood-dominated stands. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 62%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 4%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 64%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
4,221,619 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
1075 |
|
Population trend |
Unknown |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
2,110,810 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
4,221,619 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
2,110,810 ha (50%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
2,110,809 ha (50%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
633,243 ha (15%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Conifer/tamarack-dominated peatland complexes, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs and upland moderate to dense mature conifer forests (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack) with abundant lichens. |
Calving |
Peatlands, stands dominated by black spruce, mature forest stands and treed muskeg all used for calving. |
Post-calving |
Wooded lakeshores, islands, sparsely treed rock, upland conifer-spruce and treed muskeg are used in summer. |
Rutting |
Dense and sparse conifer and mixed forests. |
Winter |
Mature upland spruce, pine stands and treed muskeg. |
Travel |
Some males move > 100 km during the rutting season. |
Avoidance |
Avoid shrub-rich habitats and hardwood-dominated stands. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage (> 50 yrs old) conifer forest (jack pine, black spruce, tamarack), treed peatlands, muskegs or bogs, use dry islands in the middle of muskegs, with abundant lichens. Hilly or higher ground and small lakes. |
Calving |
Bogs and mature forests selected for calving as well as islands and small lakes. |
Post-calving |
Forest stands older than 50 yrs. |
Rutting |
Mature forests. |
Winter |
Treed peatlands, treed bog and treed fen and open fen complexes with > 50% peatland coverage with high abundance of lichens. |
Avoidance |
Avoid upland and fen habitats, aspen dominated stands, immature stands and large rivers all year round. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 49%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 2%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 50%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
The identification of critical habitat for boreal caribou is described by three factors for each local population: i) Location of habitat; ii) Amount of habitat; and iii) Type of habitat.
A) Location: Where critical habitat is found.
Figure 1: Keymap of the general location of the local population (in red).
Figure 2: The geographic boundary within which critical habitat is located (in grey).
B) Amount: Quantity of critical habitat.
Range Attributes |
Range Size |
4,766,463 ha |
---|---|---|
Population size |
492 |
|
Population trend |
Declining |
|
Total Habitat Disturbance |
1,811,256 ha |
|
Range Assessment |
Assessment of the current condition of the range to support a self-sustaining local population |
Not Self-Sustaining |
Determination of Amount of Habitat |
A) Range Size |
4,766,463 ha (100%) |
B) Total Habitat Disturbance1 |
1,811,256 ha (38%) |
|
C) Undisturbed Habitat, Initial Critical Habitat2 |
2,955,207 ha (62%) |
|
Minimum Amount of Functional Habitat to be Restored3 |
142,994 ha (3%) |
|
1 Total Habitat Disturbance reflects loss of functional habitat. It will be more than the associated disturbance footprint (e.g. 100 ha footprint could lead to 400 ha loss of functional habitat). |
C) Type: Biophysical attributes.
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Late seral-stage black spruce-dominated lowlands and jack pine dominated uplands. |
Calving |
Open canopies of mature black spruce and mesic peatland with ericaceous species for calving are selected for calving in the Claybelt region. |
Winter |
Large areas of contiguous forests dominated by black spruce. |
Avoidance |
Avoid recently downed woody debris, dense shrubs and larch during the calving season. |
Type of selection | Description |
---|---|
Broad scale |
Habitats selected generally to reduce predation risk. |
Calving |
Mature conifer stand with and without lichens and muskegs. Preference for higher altitudes compared to habitat use during other periods. |
Post-calving |
Fens, bogs and lakes. |
Rutting |
Wetlands and conifer stands with lichen. Mature and regenerating conifer stands are also used, albeit to a lesser degree. Caribou use hills in the lowlands, treed islands in muskegs with several different tree species. |
Winter |
Dense and mature conifer forests with lichens and wetlands. |
Travel |
Movements greatest in fall/winter when caribou transition from calving to winter habitat. |
Avoidance |
Avoid herbaceous areas and areas burned within 40 yrs. |
D) Additional Information:
MODIS 2005 Landcover (250m Pixels) (Generated by CCRS)
Legend reclassified by EC
With NTDB 1:250,000 Hydrology Layer
*Based on fire data provided by jurisdictions
Disturbance Type and Amount:
Burned Areas = 3%
Buffered4 Anthropogenic (no reservoirs) = 36%
Total Habitat Disturbance = 38%5
4 Buffered means a 500m buffer is applied to linear and polygonal disturbances.
5 Total Habitat Disturbance is non-overlapping which means anthropogenic disturbances and burned areas that overlap are not counted twice in the total.
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