At the 14th North American Caribou Workshop held in September 2012, Jonah Keim presented results of research looking into the impact of nutrition on caribou in the Alberta oil sands region. Fecal samples and vegetation surveys were used. Lichen was the primary food source, but there was limited access to lichen across the study area. Reduced use of lichen in the diet was correlated to reduced reproductive condition for female caribou.
Jonah Keim is Senior Scientist with Matrix Solutions Inc.
