Peary caribou, muskoxen and Banks Island forage: Assessing seasonal diet similarities
Abstract
Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) and muskoxen {Ovibos moschatus) on Banks Island had considerable similarity in their annual diets, with monthly similarities ranging from 17.8-73.3%. Diet similarity was more pronounced in areas of high muskox density {ca. 1.65/km2) than in areas of low muskox density {ca. 0.4/km2). Willow (Salix arctica) and sedge (Carex aquatilis and Eriophorum spp.) represented >80% of the monthly diet of muskoxen. The caribou diet was more diverse, and was dominated by sedge, willow, Dryas integrifolia, and Oxytropis maydelliana, Lichen use was rare, likely as a consequence of low availability on Banks Island. Lichen standing crop was estimated at 2.96 g/m2. The differences in muskox diet between high and low density areas could not be explained by differences in forage distribution or standing crop. We discuss diet similarities of caribou and muskoxen and potential consequences for the current Peary caribou population in relation to winter weather conditions and increasing muskox density.Authors retain copyright and grant Rangifer irrevocable and non-exclusive right of publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY). This means, among other things, that anyone is free to copy and distribute the content, as long as they give proper credit to the author(s) and the journal. For further information, see Creative Commons website for human readable or lawyer readable versions.