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North American caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herds commonly exhibit little nuclear genetic differentiation among adjacent herds, although available evidence supports strong demographic separation, even for herds with seasonal range overlap. During 1997–2003, we studied the Mentasta and Nelchina caribou herds in south-central Alaska using radiotelemetry to determine individual movements and range overlap during the breeding season, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers to assess levels of genetic differentiation. Although the herds were considered discrete because females calved in separate regions, individual movements and breeding-range overlap in some years provided opportunity for male-mediated gene...
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A program to control wolves (Canis lupus) in interior Alaska in 1993 and 1994 did not result in expected increases in calf survival in the Delta caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd (DCH). Therefore, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game conducted a study to determine causes of calf mortality during 1995-1997 and monitored recruitment, mortality, and population size annually in the DCH for 6 years after wolf control ended. Despite removal of 60-62% of the autumn 1993 wolf population, wolves still killed 25% of 166 radiocollared calves between birth in mid- to late May and 30 September during 1995-1997. Although autumn calf:cow ratios in the DCH increased after wolf control, similar increases in calf:cow ratios occurred...
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