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Caribou and Grizzly Bear Response to Pine Forests Killed by Mountain Pine Beetle

In west-central Alberta, pine forests comprise much of caribou and grizzly bear habitat. This project will determine the response of these threatened species to MPB-related disturbance of these areas.

We will evaluate how MPB infestations change habitat value of lodgepole pine forests in caribou and grizzly bear habitat. Based on the models we develop, we will make a GIS tool to allow managers to predict changes to user-defined MPB scenarios.

A related project previously examined the impact of MPB attack and management actions on caribou and grizzly bear food supply: Potential Impacts of Mountain Pine Beetle and Management Actions on Grizzly Bear and Caribou Populations in West-Central Alberta

Related Programs:

Caribou Program
Grizzly Bear Program
Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program
Read more about the project
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  • Fall 2018

    Project Begins

    Progress update: The team starts collecting data and creating GIS layers

  • Winter 2018

    Model Building Underway

    Progress update: The team is extracting data layers and building models

  • Spring 2019

    Caribou Models Complete

    Progress update: Vegetation and caribou location data combined to determine impact of MPB

  • Summer 2019

    Analysis Complete

    Progress update: Report for partners drafted

  • Winter 2019

    Caribou Models Complete

    Progress update: Vegetation and caribou location data combined to determine impact of MPB

Controlling Mountain Pine Beetle While Maintaining Caribou Forage

Results from a Caribou Program study.

Biologist collecting data on vegetation at a single-tree cut and burn site

Caribou in the Cross-fire?

2-page summary of a Caribou Program paper.

Caldonia lichen

Caribou in the cross-fire? Considering terrestrial lichen forage in the face of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) expansion

Paper from the Caribou, Grizzly Bear, and Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Programs.

Foothills landscape with mountain pine beetle attack.

Caribou and Grizzly Bears Response to Pine Forests Killed by Mountain Pine Beetle | QuickNote #2

2-page summary of the first year of a project from the Caribou, Grizzly Bear, and Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program.

"Pine-ing" for cover: caribou & grizzly bear response to mountain pine beetle infestation in west-central Alberta | Poster

Poster presentation from the Caribou Program for ACTWS 2019.

Laura Finnegan

Program Lead

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