Author:
Aguilar Xavier Fernandez,Leclerc Lisa-Marie,Mavrot Fabien,Roberto-Charron Amélie,Tomaselli Matilde,Mastromonaco Gabriela,Gunn Anne,Pruvot Mathieu,Rothenburger Jamie L.,Thanthrige-Don Niroshan,Jahromi Elham Zeini,Kutz Susan, , ,
Abstract
AbstractAssessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines.
Funder
Morris Animal Foundation fellowship
Nunavut General Monitoring Program
Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
Polar Knowledge Canada
Shikar Foundation and Canada North Outfitting
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Irving Maritime Shipbuilding
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Cited by
5 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献