Institute of Arctic Biology &Department of Biology and WildlifeUniversity of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, 99775

ohcouriot@alaska.edu

Northern Movement and Animal Dynamics (NOMAD)

Research

NOMAD's research investigates how animal species respond to environmental changes and the resulting impacts on individuals and populations. Our main goal is to examine the effects of climate and human-induced environmental changes on wildlife populations across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America. By integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge with telemetry and remote sensing data, we analyze how key life history events—such as reproduction, birth, migration, and death—are influenced by shifting environmental conditions.

Barren-ground caribou

One of the research interests of the lab is to examine the effects of climate change in the North American Arctic on a keystone species, the barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus & granti). Collaborations with local federal and state agencies, governments, and Indigenous Communities have allowed the leveraging of decades of caribou movement tracking data from several herds across North America to investigate how changes in their environment affect their movement and distribution. A key aspect of our research is to develop tools to process and analyze movement data, further exploring the individual behavioral mechanisms by which caribou navigate their environment and the consequences on populations. This research directly contributes to informing conservation and management decisions, ensuring the sustainable coexistence of humans and wildlife in the changing Arctic ecosystem.

Movement tracks of Barren-ground caribou from 9 emblematic herds in North America. From left to right: Western Arctic Caribou Herd, Porcupine Caribou Herd, Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula Herd, Cape Bathurst Herd, Bluenose-West Herd, Bluenose-East Herd, Bathurst Herd, Beverly Herd, Qamanirjuaq Herd.

Group of Barren-ground caribou in the Northwest Territories, Canada (photography: O. Couriot)

Boreal caribou

Boreal caribou calving sites in the Wek’èezhìı region of the Northwest Territories. Calving sites have been identified using movement data from 128 caribou cows equipped with GPS collars.

Collaboration with the Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada, has led to investigating the calving date and time of Boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Wek’èezhìı region of the Northwest Territories. The goal is to provide answers to questions such as "Do Boreal caribou show fidelity to calving sites?" or "Do Boreal caribou show a preference in habitat type for calving?"

Our partners at the Government of the Northwest Territories are developing a range plan identifying specific areas where Basic, Enhanced or Intensive management actions are required. An important part of this range plan focuses on protecting repeatedly used boreal caribou calving areas and minimizing sensory disturbance during the calving season. To do so, it is necessary to identify areas that are used for calving within the region, assess fidelity to those areas, as well as the period when calving occurs.

Seeking collaborations

NOMAD's research wouldn't be possible without the support and the trust of our research partners. We actively seek meaningful collaborations to advance the conservation and management of animal species in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. We are committed to developing user-friendly quantitative tools to analyze animal movement and address research questions of local relevance. If you are involved in wildlife monitoring in Alaska or Canada, we would be delighted to explore opportunities for collaboration on research projects.

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