Caribou foraging on the Arctic Coastal Plain near the Dalton Highway, North Slope of Alaska.
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Caribou in the Arctic
Research conducted by the USGS Alaska Science Center on terrestrial mammals is focused on informing Department of Interior management decisions across Alaska. Our work provides timely and highly relevant scientific information for management issues such as the response of caribou to a warming climate and human development, future possible changes in distribution and abundance, and the effects of changing habitats used for forage.
Population dynamics
Why do caribou populations fluctuate? Why do their migration patterns change year after year? How healthy is the herd? Working in collaboration with multiple partners in Alaska, the USGS is addressing these common questions for caribou populations in Alaska. Read more here: Improving calf survival of the Chisana Caribou Herd
Response of caribou to industrial infrastructure
Are Arctic caribou habituated to energy development on the North Slope? Do caribou use habitats near and within the oilfields in northern Alaska? Read more here:
Forage and weather
Will caribou be impacted by changes in weather, insects and plant forages? Are their habitats changing?
Read more here: Resilience of caribou to climatic shifts in the Arctic
Videos
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Caribou foraging on the Arctic Coastal Plain near the Dalton Highway, North Slope of Alaska.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
This photograph shows three caribou escape the mosquitos on the mudflats of Kasegaluk Lagoon on the Chukchi Sea coast of Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
This photograph shows three caribou escape the mosquitos on the mudflats of Kasegaluk Lagoon on the Chukchi Sea coast of Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
Caribou crossing the Selawik River, Alaska
Caribou crossing the Selawik River, Alaska
Three caribou standing in the tundra. These caribou are part of the Porcupine caribou herd.
Three caribou standing in the tundra. These caribou are part of the Porcupine caribou herd.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Identification of landscape features influencing gene flow: How useful are habitat selection models?
Range expansion of moose in arctic Alaska linked to warming and increased shrub habitat
Changing Arctic ecosystems: resilience of caribou to climatic shifts in the Arctic
Environmental and physiological influences to isotopic ratios of N and protein status in a montane ungulate in winter
Climate-driven effects of fire on winter habitat for caribou in the Alaskan-Yukon Arctic
Lack of sex-biased dispersal promotes fine-scale genetic structure in alpine ungulates
Range overlap and individual movements during breeding season influence genetic relationships of caribou herds in south-central Alaska
Population-level resource selection by sympatric brown and American black bears in Alaska
Are inland wolf-ungulate systems influenced by marine subsidies of Pacific salmon?
Stochastic and compensatory effects limit persistence of variation in body mass of young caribou
Ranking Alaska moose nutrition: Signals to begin liberal antlerless harvests
Evaluation of aerial survey methods for Dall's sheep
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems
Caribou in the Arctic
Research conducted by the USGS Alaska Science Center on terrestrial mammals is focused on informing Department of Interior management decisions across Alaska. Our work provides timely and highly relevant scientific information for management issues such as the response of caribou to a warming climate and human development, future possible changes in distribution and abundance, and the effects of changing habitats used for forage.
Population dynamics
Why do caribou populations fluctuate? Why do their migration patterns change year after year? How healthy is the herd? Working in collaboration with multiple partners in Alaska, the USGS is addressing these common questions for caribou populations in Alaska. Read more here: Improving calf survival of the Chisana Caribou Herd
Response of caribou to industrial infrastructure
Are Arctic caribou habituated to energy development on the North Slope? Do caribou use habitats near and within the oilfields in northern Alaska? Read more here:
Forage and weather
Will caribou be impacted by changes in weather, insects and plant forages? Are their habitats changing?
Read more here: Resilience of caribou to climatic shifts in the Arctic
Videos
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Caribou foraging on the Arctic Coastal Plain near the Dalton Highway, North Slope of Alaska.
Caribou foraging on the Arctic Coastal Plain near the Dalton Highway, North Slope of Alaska.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
Caribou from the Central Arctic herd along the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska.
Sagavanirktok River, AK.
This photograph shows three caribou escape the mosquitos on the mudflats of Kasegaluk Lagoon on the Chukchi Sea coast of Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
This photograph shows three caribou escape the mosquitos on the mudflats of Kasegaluk Lagoon on the Chukchi Sea coast of Alaska. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast is chronic, widespread and potentially accelerating, posing threats to infrastructure important for defense and energy purposes, natural shoreline habitats and nearby Native communities.
Caribou crossing the Selawik River, Alaska
Caribou crossing the Selawik River, Alaska
Three caribou standing in the tundra. These caribou are part of the Porcupine caribou herd.
Three caribou standing in the tundra. These caribou are part of the Porcupine caribou herd.
Below are publications associated with this project.