Caribou Vital Sign Annual Report for the Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring Program,September 2014-August 2015.

摘要

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are an integral part of the ecological and cultural fabric of northwest Alaska. Western Arctic Herd (WAH) caribou roam over this entire region, including all 5 Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (ARCN) National Park Units. Conservation of healthy caribou populations are specifically mentioned within the enabling legislation (Alaska National Interested Lands Conservation Act or ANILCA) of 3 of these Parks and is of critical concern to subsistence hunters within this region. Caribou are, by far, the most abundant large mammal in northwest Alaska and are famous for their long-distance migrations and large population oscillations. For these reasons, ARCN chose WAH caribou as a Vital Sign for long-term monitoring. This report documents the monitoring results of this Vital Sign during its 6th year (September 2014 – August 2015) of implementation. Results from the previous years of monitoring are also included for ease of comparison.