Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow, University of Alberta, covers the status of boreal caribou in Canada. Her presentation at the North American Caribou Workshop, Fort St. John, Sept. 2012, highlighted the glacial epoch, 50,000 to 80,000 years ago in creating two different populations, boreal and barrens grounds caribou. In Alberta and B.C, the intersection zone in the mountains results in genetic mixing. Boreal caribou contrast with barren grounds caribou in their behaviour as sedentary, solitary and boreal dwelling.
She also reviews the impacts of natural and human disturbances, and the resulting changes in alternate prey (white tailed deer, moose) and predators (wolves). Climate change since the last ice age leads to her commentary on boreal caribou as ghosts of past forests. But she points out that there are adaptation strategies available in accounting for climate change. There are things to do, so that boreal caribou and the challenges of their survival really are an opportunity as a catalyst for change.
Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow is a professor of northern environmental and conservation sciences in the Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta. She inititiated the Canadian BEACONs project, boreal ecosystems analysis for conservation networks.
