Caribou and Climate Change Fact SheetSome scientists say that places farther away from the equator (such as northern Canada) will warm up the most. Many scientists predict that winter temperatures over the mainland of the Arctic tundra will increase between 3°C and 7°C in the winter and between 1°C and 5°C in the summer. That's a big change! They also predict that the amount of precipitation will increase up to 25 percent. The northern boreal forest is also expected to warm up. If the climate warms as scientists predict, it will affect the plants found in the Arctic tundra and northern boreal forest. Some of the plants at the edge of the boreal forest could move north by as much as 750 km over the next 100 years. The tundra wouldn't be tundra anymore. It would be a new kind of habitat. The amount of Arctic tundra would shrink. An increase in temperature will also affect when and how much snow will fall. These changes could affect the health and migration of barren-ground caribou. The effects of climate change on caribou and their habitats will be different at different times of the year. WinterScientists predict that there will be more snow in the caribou's winter home. Because of warmer temperatures, the snow will be harder. This would make it more difficult for caribou to find food. They would spend more time and energy looking for food (and less time eating), using up valuable fat stores that are needed for spring migration. To avoid all the extra snow in the forests, some caribou may stay on the tundra all winter. Although there is not as much snow there, the snow is often very hard and the caribou would use a lot of energy pawing for lichen. SpringTemperatures in April and May are expected to get warmer. Snow would start to melt earlier in the spring. Since changing temperatures and amounts of snow are cues for the caribou to begin migrating, the spring migration would start earlier. If the tundra shrinks there would be less room for calving grounds. Crowded calving grounds could be very stressful for mothers and their calves. SummerSummer temperatures are expected to rise, which may mean a lot more insects. Insects, such as mosquitoes, like warm weather, and a warmer, wetter climate may mean the "insect season" would start sooner and end later. Yikes! Caribou would eat less because they would spend more time trying to avoid insects. They would also use up more energy trying to get away. This could mean caribou would be a lot skinnier when they start their fall migration. Climate change might alter the kinds (and quality) of plants that grow on the tundra, and therefore, affect the quantity and quality of food available for the caribou. FallChanges in temperature and precipitation could be good for caribou in the fall. It is expected that there would be less snow in the fall. This means that caribou would not use up as much energy travelling through deep snow during the fall migration. Climate change could have good and bad effects on caribou at different times of the year. Overall though, it looks like climate change could result in fewer caribou in Canada. |