Distribution Areas of 13 Forest Caribou Populations in Quebec

2021-2022 data delineates the distribution areas of 13 local populations and two knowledge acquisition sectors for woodland caribou in Quebec. The dataset contains polygons with population names, telemetry data periods, and last update dates, integrating information from Quebec's Natural Heritage Data Center on species precariousness.

Use Cases

• Map population polygons to analyze spatial overlap with habitat disturbance factors like forestry or climate change.
• Use the telemetry data period field to study changes in distribution area boundaries over time for demographic modeling.
• Link CDPNQ occurrence numbers and precariousness rank (rank S) to assess conservation status across the 13 populations.
• Compare the defined territories of local populations against socio-economic context data to evaluate threat heterogeneity.

Strengths

• Covers 13 distinct local caribou populations, providing a management-scale view.
• Includes temporal metadata: the period covered by telemetry data and the date boundaries were last updated.
• Integrates official species precariousness data from the Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center (CDPNQ).

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 13 populations, which may not capture all genetic or behavioral subgroups.
• For two sectors (Baie-James and Matamec), monitoring scale is noted as insufficient for clear delimitation.
• Data is specific to Quebec's forest ecotype, limiting direct applicability to other caribou subspecies or regions.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), Government of Quebec.

Collection Method

Delimitation based on telemetry data and monitoring activities improved in 2017-2018.

Time Range

Telemetry data periods vary per population; delimitation work conducted in 2021-2022.

Freshness

Last updated in March 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

Quebec, Canada, focusing on forest caribou habitats.