Historical Landscape Use of Migratory Caribou: New Insights From Old Antlers

Accumulations of shed caribou antlers (Rangifer tarandus) are valuable resources for expanding the temporal scope with which we evaluate seasonal landscape use herds. Female their within days giving birth, thus marking calving ground locations. Antler geochemistry ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) reflects isotopic signature regions used during antler growth, thereby providing data on a second component use. Here, from Coastal Plain Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The Central and Eastern grounds Porcupine Caribou Herd, while Western supports by Herd. We found that Sr were isotopically indistinguishable, was significantly smaller. For each region, compared “recent” antlers, overlap bulk standardized state federal monitoring (early 1980s younger), “historical” in years predating these records (from 1300s to 1970s). Herd females comparisons through time indicate summer ranges have been consistent since at least 1960s. However, changes between historical recent shift after late 1970s. timing this is coincident multiple factors including increased infrastructural development range related hydrocarbon extraction. isotope extend modern datasets decades centuries provide baseline evaluating potential anthropogenic other influences migration