A life table for female barren-ground caribou in north-central Canada

Authors

  • Donald C. Thomas Canadian Wildlife Service, 4999-98 Avenue, Room 210, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3, Canada
  • Samuel J. Barry Canadian Wildlife Service, 4999-98 Avenue, Room 210, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.854

Keywords:

caribou, barren-ground caribou, Canada, Beverly herd, mortality rate, Rangifer, survivorship

Abstract

A survivorship curve and cohort-specific life table were developed for female barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) sampled from the Beverly herd from 1980 through 1987. Significant (P~< 0.05)differences among yearly samples in the age distributions of females>2.5 years old were attributed to sampling error and real cohort size fluctuations caused by variations in productivity. Pooled data overcame much of that variation and the resultant quadratic-fit curve and life table are believed to yield about average survival/mortality statistics over the 8-year sampling period. Mortality rates increased progressively from 10.6% between age 2 and 3 years to 22.4% between age 10 and 11 years and accelerated thereafter.

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Published

1990-09-01

How to Cite

Thomas, D. C., & Barry, S. J. (1990). A life table for female barren-ground caribou in north-central Canada. Rangifer, 10(3), 177–184. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.854

Issue

Vol 10 (1990): Special Issue No. 3

Section

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