Gray Wolf Denning Phenology and Reproductive Success in Arctic North America

NASA's ABoVE dataset provides annual gray wolf denning spatial information, timing, and reproductive success across eight populations in western Canada and Alaska from 2000 to 2017. Data from 388 GPS-collared wolves were used to estimate 227 den initiation dates and pup survival, linked to seasonal climate metrics and NDVI-derived phenological indicators. This 18-year study captures interannual variability in wolf reproductive ecology within the Arctic-boreal region.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between den initiation date (measured in calendar days from Jan 1) and seasonal temperature/precipitation metrics.
• Modeling wolf reproductive success (pup survival through August) against snow water equivalent and growing season length (LOS).
• Investigating spatial patterns of denning sites across wolf pack home ranges in relation to vegetation indices like time-integrated NDVI (tiNDVI).
• Assessing interannual and inter-population variability in wolf parturition phenology over an 18-year period.

Strengths

• Dataset is derived from direct field observation of 388 individual wolves fitted with GPS collars, providing high-resolution movement data.
• Covers an 18-year temporal range (2000-2017) across eight distinct populations, allowing for longitudinal and comparative analysis.
• Integrates biological metrics (den dates, pup survival) with multiple environmental drivers: climate aggregates, snow water equivalent, and NDVI phenology (SOS, LOS, tiNDVI).

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column names, and dataset size are not provided on any platform, limiting preliminary assessment of data structure.
• Conflicting metadata: the 'last updated' date differs significantly between Data.gov (2026) and NASA Earthdata (2017), creating uncertainty about data currency.
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Wolves were captured from eight populations following standard animal care protocols and released with GPS collars; den initiation and pup survival were documented, and environmental metrics were derived from remote sensing and climate models.

Time Range

2000-2017

Freshness

2026-03-13 17:27:09.336331

Geography

Areas of western Canada and Alaska within the NASA ABoVE Core Domain.