Behavioural Ecology in Conservation Planning: Individual and Sex-Specific Insights from Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Western Canada

Conservation planning often relies on delineating intraspecific units to capture ecological and evolutionary diversity. To do this, traditional frameworks often emphasize genetic or taxonomic criteria as a first line of evidence for evolutionary significance. While useful, this approach assumes discrete boundaries within species, potentially overlooking the continuous nature of adaptive variation. Individual behavioural diversity, shaped by genetic, environmental, and social processes offers an alternative lens for understanding population structure that reflects functional ecological strategies. This thesis explores how individual-level behavioural variation can inform conservation of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), a threatened species with complex population structure and widespread declines across western Canada. Leveraging a long-term (2000 – 2025) broad-scale GPS telemetry dataset from over 1000 individuals across multiple pre-defined population units and recognized conservation units in British Columbia, I evaluated how variation in movement and habitat selection patterns may reveal ecologically meaningful differences. Analysis of 24 different movement behaviours for female caribou, including migration tendency, home range shape and size, and calving strategies, identified six broad behavioural clusters. Resource selection functions were then evaluated across female caribou, revealing three primary clusters, with additional fine-scale differentiation in habitat selection patterns which only partially aligned with existing conservation units. Finally, a multi-population analysis of both sexes demonstrated consistent sex differences in migration timing, home range size, and habitat selection, with males and females exhibiting distinct spatial strategies that could influence connectivity and habitat requirements. Together, these findings demonstrate that caribou exhibit a wide range of diversity in behavioural strategies that do not always conform to existing taxonomic or genetic boundaries. By incorporating behavioural ecology into conservation planning, we gain a more holistic understanding of intraspecific diversity. Rather than emphasizing rigid units, this thesis argues for conservation approaches that recognize behavioural gradients and variability as central to preserving adaptive potential for species facing rapid environmental change.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor

Science

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hughes, Margaret Moira

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Musiani, Marco
• Poissant, Jocelyn

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ruckstuhl, Kathreen
• Cavedon, Maria

• Woodland Caribou
• Conservation Units
• Intraspecific Variation
• Behavioural Diversity
• Movement Ecology
• Habitat Selection
• Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs)
• GPS Telemetry
• Behavioural Clustering
• Conservation
• Species at Risk

Statement dc:rights

• Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/50786

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/123312