Impacts écologiques et évolutifs de la chasse sur les ongulés nordiques - Ecological and evolutionary impacts of hunting on northern ungulates

在加拿大北部，非居民的运动狩猎为许多社区创造了可观的收入。大多数非居民的运动猎人都在寻找“战利品”动物，通常是年富力强的雄性动物，它们长着大角或鹿角。尽管这种收获对人口的影响通常被认为是微乎其微的，但人们越来越担心它的进化后果。因为狩猎战利品可能会带走通常会有很高繁殖成功率的高质量雄性，这可能是对大型角或鹿角的选择性压力。狩猎战利品还可能会降低被猎物种群的遗传多样性，因为它们会在繁殖之前将高质量的雄性猎物带走。我对公元前北部斯通的绵羊和魁北克/拉布拉多北部迁徙驯鹿的研究将评估战利品狩猎对有蹄类动物形态和发育的可能影响。我和我的学生将分析过去30年来收获的斯通公羊每年的角生长数据，并收集新的数据，以确定气候、植被生产力和猎人偏好对特定年龄角发育的影响。我们将比较驯鹿鹿角的大小和猎人类型(本地收割者与非居民战利品猎人)、身体状况、种群密度、气候和生产力。我们的结果将确保北部非居民的运动狩猎在生态和进化上保持可持续，同时继续为加拿大北部人提供收入。

In northern Canada, sport hunting by non-residents generates substantial revenues for many communities. Most non-resident sport hunters seek 'trophy' animals, typically males in their prime, with large horns or antlers. Although the demographic impacts of this harvest are generally thought to be minimal, increasing concern is being raised over its evolutionary consequences. Because trophy hunting likely removes high-quality males that would normally have high reproductive success, it may be a selective pressure against large horns or antlers. By removing high-quality males before they can reproduce, trophy hunting may also decrease the genetic diversity of hunted populations. My research on Stone's sheep in northern BC and on migratory caribou in northern Québec/Labrador will assess the possible impacts of trophy hunting on the morphology and development of ungulates. My students and I will analyze data on yearly horn growth of Stone's rams harvested over the past 30 years and collect new data to determine the impacts of climate, vegetation productivity and hunter preference on age-specific horn development. We will compare the size of caribou antlers to hunter type (native harvesters VS nonresident trophy hunters), body condition, population density, climate and productivity. Our results will ensure that sport hunting by nonresidents in the North will remain ecologically and evolutionary sustainable while continuing to provide revenues for northern Canadians.