Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID-19 mediated pause in winter recreation

Gill, Ryan; Serouya, Robert; Calvert, Anna M.; Ford, Adam; Steenweg, Robin; Noonan, Michael

doi:https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/2995

Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID-19 mediated pause in winter recreation

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Language of the publication

English

Date

2024-08-30

Type

Submitted manuscript

Author(s)

Gill, Ryan
Serouya, Robert
Calvert, Anna M.
Ford, Adam
Steenweg, Robin
Noonan, Michael

Publisher

Zoological Society of London

Alternative title

Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID-19 mediated pause in winter recreation – response to Wilson (2024)

Abstract

In Gill et al (2023), we present evidence that the COVID-19 induced reduction in heli-skiing affected space use by southern mountain caribou (SMC). Wilson (2024) re-analysed the data presented in Gill et al. (2023) and concluded that there was no evidence of a spatial effect of heli-ski tenure on home-range size, and that home-range size was correlated with the duration of time on late-winter range. From this re-analysis, Wilson questions the evidence for the claim that the COVID-19 induced reduction in heli-skiing released SMC from a landscape of fear. We value this constructive criticism, but we argue that there are three main shortcomings to Wilson's (2024) work that challenge the validity of this rebuttal.

Description

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Gill, R., Serrouya, R., Calvert, A.M., Ford, A., Steenweg, R. and Noonan, M.J. (2024), Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID-19 mediated pause in winter recreation – response to Wilson (2024). Anim Conserv, 27: 412-414. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12981, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12981. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.