Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat

The development of habitat restoration techniques for restoring critical woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter habitat will play an important role in meeting the management thresholds in woodland caribou recovery plans. The goal is to restore disturbed environments within critical wint...

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Main Authors: Sean B. Rapai, Duncan McColl, Richard Troy McMullin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Institute of Forestry 2017-10-01
Series:The Forestry Chronicle
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/10.5558/tfc2017-029
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author Sean B. Rapai
Duncan McColl
Richard Troy McMullin
author_facet Sean B. Rapai
Duncan McColl
Richard Troy McMullin
author_sort Sean B. Rapai
collection DOAJ
description The development of habitat restoration techniques for restoring critical woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter habitat will play an important role in meeting the management thresholds in woodland caribou recovery plans. The goal is to restore disturbed environments within critical winter habitat for the declining woodland caribou. Woodland caribou are diet specialists, utilizing lichen-rich habitat for forage during winter months. Cladonia sub-genus Cladina is the most frequently eaten species during this time. Herein, we provide: 1) A review of previously used methods for transplanting Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and their feasibility in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat; 2) A stepby- step protocol on how to carry out a terrestrial lichen transplant program (using Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and C. uncialis); and, 3) An evaluation of our protocol through the establishment of a case study in northern British Columbia. Our results indicate that transplanting C. sub-genus Cladina fragments is the most efficient technique for transplanting terrestrial lichen communities, but transplanting lichen ‘patches’ or ‘mats’ may also be effective.
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spelling doaj-art-a4db4a48c63a43da830edcf28f839b582025-08-20T03:39:29ZengCanadian Institute of ForestryThe Forestry Chronicle0015-75461499-93152017-10-01930320421210.5558/tfc2017-029Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitatSean B. Rapai0Duncan McColl1Richard Troy McMullin2Chu Cho Environmental, 1940 3rd Avenue, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. V2M 1G7British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. 2000 South Ospika Boulevard, Prince George, British Columbia Canada. V2N 4W5Canadian Museum of Nature, PO Box 3443 Stn “D”, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. K1P 6P4The development of habitat restoration techniques for restoring critical woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter habitat will play an important role in meeting the management thresholds in woodland caribou recovery plans. The goal is to restore disturbed environments within critical winter habitat for the declining woodland caribou. Woodland caribou are diet specialists, utilizing lichen-rich habitat for forage during winter months. Cladonia sub-genus Cladina is the most frequently eaten species during this time. Herein, we provide: 1) A review of previously used methods for transplanting Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and their feasibility in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat; 2) A stepby- step protocol on how to carry out a terrestrial lichen transplant program (using Cladonia sub-genus Cladina and C. uncialis); and, 3) An evaluation of our protocol through the establishment of a case study in northern British Columbia. Our results indicate that transplanting C. sub-genus Cladina fragments is the most efficient technique for transplanting terrestrial lichen communities, but transplanting lichen ‘patches’ or ‘mats’ may also be effective.https://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/10.5558/tfc2017-029CladoniaCladinareindeer lichenrestorationwinter habitatCladonia
spellingShingle Sean B. Rapai
Duncan McColl
Richard Troy McMullin
Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
The Forestry Chronicle
Cladonia
Cladina
reindeer lichen
restoration
winter habitat
Cladonia
title Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
title_full Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
title_fullStr Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
title_full_unstemmed Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
title_short Examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
title_sort examining the role of terrestrial lichen transplants in restoring woodland caribou winter habitat
topic Cladonia
Cladina
reindeer lichen
restoration
winter habitat
Cladonia
url https://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/10.5558/tfc2017-029
work_keys_str_mv AT seanbrapai examiningtheroleofterrestriallichentransplantsinrestoringwoodlandcaribouwinterhabitat
AT duncanmccoll examiningtheroleofterrestriallichentransplantsinrestoringwoodlandcaribouwinterhabitat
AT richardtroymcmullin examiningtheroleofterrestriallichentransplantsinrestoringwoodlandcaribouwinterhabitat