The intrinsic rate of increase of reindeer and caribou populations in arctic environments

Authors

  • D. C. Heard Department of Renewable Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, \ellowlcnife, Northwest Territories, Canada X1A 2L9

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.851

Keywords:

increase of populations, rate of increase, reindeer, caribou, Arctic

Abstract

The intrinsic rate of increase of an animal population, rm, is specific to the environment in which it is measured. Previous estimates of maximum growth rates for reindeer and caribou Rangifer tarandus populations were based on introductions to islands with cool oceanic climates. The mean intrinsic rate of increase of 6 populations was 0.26 ranging from 0.21 on St Paul Island in the Bering Sea to 0.29 in the Barff herd on South Georgia. I calculated rm for two Rangifer populations introduced to arctic environments to determine the effect of environmental severity on the intrinsic rate of increase. Reindeer on the Belcher islands increased at rm= 0.28 and caribou on Southampton Island increased at rm = 0.23 (mean = 0.26). The lower primary productivity and longer duration of snow cover in arctic environments did not affect the intrinsic rate of increase.

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Published

1990-09-01

How to Cite

Heard, D. C. (1990). The intrinsic rate of increase of reindeer and caribou populations in arctic environments. Rangifer, 10(3), 169–173. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.851

Issue

Vol 10 (1990): Special Issue No. 3

Section

Articles

License

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