2015 s a us Cape A holl
Muskoxen
(
O ibos moscha us
)
Thule egion G eenland
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Ti le: 2015 s a us Cape A holl muskoxen (
O ibos moscha us
)
Thule egion G eenland
Au ho s: Ch is ine Cuyle 1, Kasim S. Vi k2, Thomas B. Clausen2 and
Flemming H. Jensen2
1G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces, P.O. Box 570,
3900–Nuuk, G eenland
2SPE Box 140, 3970–Pi u ik, G eenland
Se ies: Technical Repo no. 96, 2016
Da e o publica ion: 12 Feb ua y, 2016
Publishe : G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
Financial suppo : Pi u ik Ci izen Council (
Pi u ik Bo ge åd
)
Co e pho o: Kasim S. Vi k: Adul muskox bull, Augus 2015, Cape A holl.
ISBN: 87-91214-73-4
ISSN: 1397-6109
EAN: 9788791214738
Ci ed as: Cuyle , C., Vi k, K.J., Clausen, T.B. & Jensen, F.H. 2016. 2015
s a us Cape A holl muskoxen (
O ibos moscha us
) Thule egion
G eenland. G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces. Technical
Repo no. 96. 37 pp.
Con ac add ess: The epo is only a ailable in elec onic o ma . You can
download a PDF- ile o he epo a his homepage
h p://www.na u .gl/publika ione / ekniske appo e
I is possible o achie e a p in o he epo he e:
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
P.O. Box 570
DK-3900 Nuuk
G eenland
Phone: +299 36 12 00
Fax: +299 36 12
E-mail: in o@na u .gl
www.na u .gl
3
2015 S a us Cape A holl
Muskoxen (
O ibos moscha us
),
Thule egion G eenland
By
Ch is ine Cuyle 1, Kasim S. Vi k2, Thomas B. Clausen & Flemming H. Jensen2
1G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces, P.O. Box 570, 3900–Nuuk, G eenland
2 SPE Box 140, 3970–Pi u ik, G eenland
Technical Repo no. 96, 2016
G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces
4
[Emp y page]
5
Table o Con en s
Summa y ..................................................................................... 7
Resume (Danish) ........................................................................ 8
Eqikkaaneq (G eenlandic) ........................................................ 9
In oduc ion .............................................................................. 11
Me hods ..................................................................................... 14
Resul s ....................................................................................... 17
Discussion ................................................................................. 18
Acknowledgemen s .................................................................. 24
Re e ences .................................................................................. 24
6
Figu es
1.
Map o he Cape A holl a ea, an a ea o app oxima ely 880 km2, showing
Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base and place names.
Page 11
2.
Map o he g id cells used du ing he 2015 ae ial su ey o he Cape A holl
a ea. Each squa e measu es 3x3 km.
Page 14
3.
ATV econnaissance ou e om Dundas o he coas o Cape A holl. Rou e
was d i en one day be o e he ae ial su ey.
Page 15
4.
Map o he Cape A holl 2015 su ey’s 407 km con inuous su ey line.
Page 16
5.
Loca ion o muskoxen g oups obse ed, and numbe animals pe g oup,
du ing he 2015 ae ial su ey o Cape A holl a ea.
Page 18
6.
ATV’s econnaissance o muskoxen nea he abandoned Ma ine Base on
coas o Cape A holl.
Page 32
7.
Adul muskox bull on hill side nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a he coas
o Cape A holl.
Page 32
8.
A second adul muskox bull on hill side nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a
he coas o Cape A holl.
Page 33
9.
A hi d adul muskox bull almos a he sho e nea he abandoned Ma ine
Base a he coas o Cape A holl.
Page 33
10.
Family g oup o muskoxen, adul cow, on hill side nea he abandoned
Ma ine Base a he coas o Cape A holl.
Page 34
11.
A Dundas, Thomas Clausen p epa ing he Cessna 172 o su ey.
Page 34
12.
View om he Cessna 172 o a ypical alley wi h muskoxen do ed ac oss
he ege a ion co e ed b aided i e plain.
Page 35
13.
Inside he Cessna 172 using he g id map o keep ack o he ligh ou e
lown and loca ion o muskox g oups obse ed and hei numbe .
Page 35
14.
A po ion ( o al was 16) o he muskox g oup g azing in mid Sep embe nea
he Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base’s 12 h Space Wa ning Squad on (12 SWS ) ada
acili y, which is ca. 15-18 km eas o ai base.
Page 36
Tables
1.
Cape A holl muskoxen: his o ical local epo s indica ing popula ion g ow h
and changing dis ibu ion since hei 1986 ein oduc ion.
Page 12
2.
His o ical ha es quo as and seasons o Cape A holl muskoxen.
Page 13
3.
Cape A holl, 7 Sep embe 2015 muskoxen su ey, esul s om su ey lown
by ixed-wing Cessna 172.
Page 17
4.
Muskox su ey de ails o con inuous line ansec s lown 7 Sep embe 2015.
Page 26
Appendices
1.
Raw Da a
Page 26
2.
2015 local knowledge: Cape A holl muskoxen
Page 27
3.
The 1986 muskoxen ansloca ions o he Thule A ane suaq egion
Page 30
4.
Da a shee – Ikkinne paamik kisi sineq / ælling
Page 31
5.
Pho os
Page 32
7
Summa y
Muskoxen (O ibos moscha us) we e once indigenous o he Thule egion, bu
we e hun ed o ex inc ion in he 1800’s. In 1986, se en ju enile muskoxen
we e ansloca ed o Cape A holl, an a ea o app oxima ely 880 km2 a abou
76.5°N. Since hen, he s a us o he popula ion has only been known by local
epo s.
On 7 Sep embe 2015 he i s ixed-wing ae ial minimum coun o he e-
in oduced Cape A holl muskoxen popula ion was done. The esul ing
minimum coun obse ed 276 muskoxen, wi h an au umn cal pe cen age a
17.4%, and a densi y o 1.4 muskoxen pe km2 on habi a below 200m
ele a ion. Cu en au umn dis ibu ion demons a es ha muskoxen ha e
es ablished hemsel es h oughou he Cape A holl a ea eaching no h o
Wols enholme Fjo d (Uumaanap Kange lua). Howe e , mos we e obse ed in
he sou h wes po ion close o he si e o hei 1986 elease.
Good o aging ange, i.e., unde 200m ele a ion, is limi ed o 202 km2. Gi en
he ecommended s ocking densi y a hese ele a ions is 1-2 muskoxen pe
km2, we es ima e ha he numbe o muskoxen he Cape A holl ange can
sus ain is app oxima ely 300 animals. Pas ha es quo as and esul ing
ha es s ha e no p e en ed g ow h in muskoxen abundance. Today, Cape
A holl muskoxen exhibi inc eased dispe sal, and he e a e epo s ha
ege a ion in he p e e ed habi a o he Maniise ga (G een Valley) is
showing signs o o e use by muskoxen. Habi a conse a ion may be needed,
since a 76.5°N he g owing season o ege a ion is sho and egene a ion
slow ollowing g azing.
Today, he muskoxen a e nea hei es ima ed sus ainable limi o Cape
A holl. To p e en o e s ocking on his small sized ange, we ecommend he
ollowing: a quo a o 30 o 50 animals o e he nex h ee o i e yea s;
licenses wi h muskoxen sex and age speci ied ( ollowing pe cen ages in pas
ha es s); and p o ec ion o cows and cal es.
Ha ing a ela i ely small sus ainable popula ion in equilib ium wi h i s ange
o age is p e e able o s eadily g owing numbe s on an inc easingly deple ed
habi a . Fine uning o u u e quo as and ha es seasons necessi a es u he
minimum coun s (including he cal %) and ull ha es epo ing. Howe e ,
8
cu en ha es epo ing is incomple e and conduc ing u u e one-day ae ial
minimum coun s, ega dless o hei equency, hinges on he en husiasm and
inancial esou ces o he Pi u ik Ci izen Council. Despi e hese cons ain s,
we ad ise epea ing minimum coun s a leas e e y h ee o i e yea s o
illumina e he e ec s o managemen ac ions aken.
Resume (Danish)
Moskusokse (O ibos moscha us) a engang en del a den op indelige auna i
Thule- egionen, men uddøde på g und a jag i 1800- alle . I 1986 ble sy
unge moskusokse sa ud ed Kap A holl (76.5°N) i e om åde på ca. 880 km2.
Bes andens ils and ha siden da kun æ e kend a om åde s lokale.
Den ø s e minimum ælling a den e-in oduce ede moskusoksebes and ed
Kap A holl ble ud ø a ly d. 7. sep embe 2015. De ble i al obse e e
276 moskusokse med en kal eandel på 17,4 % og en æ hed på 1,4
moskusokse p . km2 i om åde , de ligge la e e end 200 m.o.h. Den ak uelle
e e å sudb edelse ise , a moskusokse ha e able e sig i Kap A holl-
om åde og ide e no d og øs o e il Wols enholme Fjo d (Uumaanap
kange lua). De les e dy ble dog obse e e i om åde s syd es lige del i
næ heden a udsæ ningsom åde .
Om åde , de ligge la e e end 200 m.o.h., gi e gode g æsningsa eale , men
udgø kun 202 km2 a Kap A holl-bes andens udb edelsesom åde. Da den
anbe alede æ hed a moskusokse på disse a eale e 1-2 indi ide /km2, kan
Kap A holl-om åde o moden lig bæ e ca. 300 dy . Tidlige e k o e og angs
ha ikke hind e bes anden a okse, og i dag ha moskusokse ne ed Kap
A holl sp ed sig så mege , a de e egn på o e g æsning ed dy enes
o e ukne a eale i Maniise ga (G ønnedal). De e nød endig a besky e
g æsningsa eale , o di æks sæsonen ed 76.5°N e ko , og egene e ing a
a g æsse ege a ion e langsom.
I dag e moskusoksebes anden ed Kap A holl næ de es ime ede
bæ edyg ige an al, og o a o hind e nedslidning a ege a ionen på de lille
g æsningsa eal anbe ale i ølgende: En angs k o e på 30-50 moskusokse
o e de næs e 3-5 å ; license med speci ice e køn og alde på moskusokse (i
lyse a angs o deling i idlige e e e å sjag e ); besky else a køe og kal e.
9
De e a o e ække a ha e en ela i lille, s abil bes and, de e i balance
med ege a ionsg undlage , em o en bes and i æks på e me e og me e
ødelag ege a ionsg undlag. Fin uning a em idige angs k o e og
jag sæsone k æ e le e minimum ællinge (inklusi e kal e-andel) og
ulds ændig angs appo e ing. Den nu æ ende angs appo e ing e
u ulds ændig, og em idige minimum ællinge a ly a hænge a både
engagemen hos og be illing a Pi u ik Bo ge åd. T ods disse
beg ænsninge anbe ale i, a minimum ællinge gen ages minds h e
edje elle em e å o a belyse konsek ense ne a den o al ning, de
bli e ed age .
Eqikkaaneq (G eenlandic)
Umimmaa (O ibos moscha us) Sio nagu A ane sua mi uumasoqa igii
ako nanni uummasuusimagalua u 1800-kku inge lane anni
pinia neqa ne a pissu aalluni nungu i aasimappu . Umimmaa piaqqa
a ineq-ma luk Kap A holl-imu (A anna pasissuseq 76.5°N) 880 km2-inik
anne ussusilimmu l986-mi nuunneqa pu .Tama uma kingo na qanoq
inge lasimane su aamaallaa amaani najugaqa uni ilisimaneqa poq.
Umimmaa Kap A holl-imu eqqu eqqinneqa simasu akusa
unnga igalugi ame lassusiliine mi kisi sineq siulleq 2015-imi sep embe ip
7-anni pi oq. Tassani umimmaa 276-i akuneqa pu , aakkunannga 17,4 %-
i pia aallu ik, agguaqa igiissillugulu k ad a kilome e imi a aa simi nunami
200 me e ini pukkinne usumi umimmaa 1,4-nik ame lassuseqa lu ik.
Ukiakku aamaaline ani pissu si aku ippaa umimmaa Kap A holl-ip
eqqaanii a annamu kangimullu Uummannap Kange lua (Wols enholme
Fjo d) ikillugu siamma simasu . Ame lane paalli nunap ama uma kuja aa-
kangiani umimmale sueqqaa iusumi nassaassaasimappu .
Nuna 200 me e ini pukkinne usoq i iga o igissuu oq, kisiannili amanna
umimmaa Kap A holl-imu nuunneqa simasu siamma igisimasaanni 202
k ad a kilome e iinna nik anne ussuseqa poq. Siunne suu igineqa oq
malillugu umimmaa amaani a aaseq ma lulluunnii k ad a kilome e imi
a aa simi uumania ussaamma a Kap A holl-ip eqqaani umimmaa 300-
missaanii u amaani uumasinnaassappu . Sio na igu killile suisa neq
16
wo obse e s, one on ei he side o he ai plane. All pa icipan s we e local o
he Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base. Su ey al i ude a ied and was abou 400m
±100. C uising ligh speed was 175 km pe hou . S ip wid h a ied, al hough
i may ha e been app oxima ely 500 m o ei he side o he back and o h
(‘spaghe i-line’) ansec s. Since densi y dis ibu ion o he muskoxen was
unknown he su ey was lown wi hou di iding Cape A holl in o a eas o
high and low muskoxen occu ence. One day p io o he ae ial su ey,
econnaissance by ATV along he ack ou e o he abandoned Ma ine Base
loca ed on he coas o Cape A holl was ied o e alua e use ulness o ATV’s
o coun s o muskoxen in he a ea. I was de e mined ha no enough e ain
could be obse ed by ATV o his o be a use ul me hod.
Figu e 4. Map o he Cape A holl 2015 su ey’s 407 km con inuous su ey line. The su ey i s lew
sou hwes and hen an mul iple ‘pa allel’ lines, s a ing and inishing a he Dundas ai s ip.
The ae ial su ey was a minimum coun su ey, meaning he expec ed esul
would be he minimum numbe o animals in he Cape A holl a ea. Minimum
coun s a e also known as ‘ o al’ coun s, and ep esen a minimum es ima e o
he ac ual p e alence o he su eyed animals. Al hough an ae ial minimum
coun inc eases a ea co e age and educes ‘dead g ound’ caused by
opog aphy, he e will always be o e looked animals ha a e no included in
he coun . Double coun ing (coun ing he same g oup o indi idual wice)
was a oided by su eying he en i e Cape A holl a ea in one day.
17
Muskoxen obse a ions we e gi en consecu i e ID numbe s. When a g oup
o muskoxen was encoun e ed, he ollowing we e eco ded; g id cell posi ion
(le e + numbe (Fig. 2)), o al numbe muskoxen in g oup (including cal es),
and he numbe o cal es (age < 1 yea ). Cal es we e iden i ied by hei small
body size.
Resul s
The one-day econnaissance made i ob ious ha e ain and opog aphy
ende ATV’s useless as a ehicle o minimum coun s in au umn. Only an
ae ial su ey would pe mi access o all o he a ea. Howe e , ATV use
esul ed in se e al pho os o muskoxen obse ed in he icini y o he
abandoned Ma ine Base on he coas o Cape A holl (Appendix 3). The ATV
econnaissance also obse ed some animals limping o mo ing s angely and
slowly.
The 2015 ae ial su ey ook abou 2½ hou s on one day, he 7 h o Sep embe ,
when ca. 407 km o con inuous su ey line we e lown (Fig. 3, Table 1).
Su ey al i ude was app oxima ely 1000 o 1500 ee (ca. 300-500 m).
Main ained c uising speed a e aged abou 175 km pe hou .
Table 3. Cape A holl, 7 Sep embe 2015 muskoxen su ey, esul s om su ey lown by ixed-wing
Cessna 172.
Pa ame e
Cape A holl Muskoxen Su ey
Con inuous su ey line dis ance (km)
407
Su ey line wid h (km)
1 (2x 500m)
Cape A holl a ea (km2)
880
Su ey a ea (km2)
407
Co e age %
46 %
Al i ude (m)
300-500
Ai Speed (km pe h )
175
Numbe o muskox g oups obse ed
29
A e age g oup size
9.5 ± 7.0 SD
Median g oup size
8
Max g oup size
30
Min g oup size
1
To al muskox obse ed
276
Cal es among o al
48
Minimum cal %
17.4
G oup size a e aged 10 indi iduals, wi h he la ges g oup being 30 animals
he smalles being soli a y animals (Table 3). The la e ins ance occu ed ou
18
imes. In gene al, g oups comp ised bo h adul s and cal es (Table 4). O he
29 g oups obse ed, only six lacked a cal o cal es. Cal es we e ound in
g oups ac oss he en i e su ey a ea.
Figu e 5. Loca ions o muskoxen g oups obse ed, and numbe animals pe g oup, du ing he 2015
ae ial su ey o Cape A holl a ea.
Muskoxen dis ibu ion was une en ac oss he Cape A holl a ea (Fig. 4). O
he 29 g oups obse ed, 23 we e obse ed wi hin a 20 km adius o hei
o iginal elease si e a Cape A holl. Those 23 g oups cons i u ed 85% o he
o al numbe seen. The emaining 15% had expanded no h on o anges eas
o he Pi u ik Thule Ai Base, o a maximum dis ance o 40 km om he
o iginal elease si e.
Discussion
O e g own hoo es
Hoo hype plasia was i s desc ibed by Bu nham (1996) and Cuyle &
Mølgaa d (2002) as endemic among he wild Cape A holl muskoxen
popula ion in he 1990’s. The o me p oposed ha he o e g own hoo es
de eloped due o he lush summe pas u es, e.g., hose unde he Maniise ga
bi d cli s, which esul ed in a seden a y li es yle, while he pas u e’s spongy
na u e p o ided insu icien hoo wea . Howe e , Cuyle & Mølgaa d’s (2002)
ana omical obse a ions esembled ue hoo hype plasia as exhibi ed in
19
mou lon sheep (O is o ien alis) (Volme 2003), whe e he hoo es on all ou
legs a e simul aneously a ec ed, including he dew claws, which a e ne e
a ec ed by wea and ab asion. A ec ed animals sampled (n=14) exhibi ed
exempla y body a ese es, la ge body size, almos no oo h wea despi e
ad anced age and no ou wa d signs o disease (Cuyle & Mølgaa d 2002), and
pa hological examina ion o hei hoo es uled ou he la e (Volme
unpublished). Gene ic de ec s we e also suspec ed. In es iga ions compa ing
he amino-acids in he hoo ke a in o o e g own hype plasic and heal hy
no mal hoo es e ealed signi ican di e ences (p = 0.003) (Volme , Hech &
Cuyle unpublished). Fu he in es iga ion will be needed o cla i y he
connec ions and mechanisms o he obse ed hype plasia in muskoxen a
Cape A holl.
The al i ude and speed o he 2015 ae ial su ey did no pe mi close
obse a ion o he muskoxen, and no ins ances o o e g own hoo es we e
seen. Fu he , his s udy’s ATV econnaissance obse ed no ob ious ins ances
o hoo hype plasia, al hough a ew animals had di icul y walking and may
ha e been a lic ed. In con as , 15 o 20 yea s ago o e g own hoo es we e
endemic. To asce ain whe he he si ua ion is di e en oday will equi e
u he ield obse a ions wi h he sole pu pose o inding hype plasia.
Abundance & dis ibu ion
This popula ion began wi h 7 animals. The closes neighbou ing popula ion is
a o he no h in Ingle ield Land, and gi en na u al ba ie s, emig a ion and
immig a ion a e assumed o ha e been ze o. On Sep embe 2015 he e we e a
minimum o 276 muskoxen. This popula ion has also begun sp eading
no hwa d ac oss Cap A holl o e he las decade. Since 2005 single animals
began appea ing in he icini y o he Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base, 2014 saw
small g oups, and hen 2015 saw he i s la ge mixed g oups (Tho bjø n
Jø gensen pe s. comm.; Fig. 14). In con as o he pas , when muskoxen we e
ypically only seen om he poin o Cape A holl and down o he Pi u ik
Glacie , now muskoxen can be obse ed along he en i e coas line s a ing
al eady om he Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base. Local epo s o inc easing
abundance and expansion o he Cape A holl muskoxen popula ion we e
con i med by his su ey.
20
Habi a & ecommended muskoxen densi y
Habi a conse a ion may be he wise pa h. The en i e Cape A holl a ea is
small, abou 880 km2. Speci ically a his high no he n la i ude, howe e , no
all o he 880 km2 is sui able muskoxen o aging habi a . G eenland s udies
ha e shown ha muskoxen body size and ep oduc ion hinge on hei ange’s
nu i ional condi ion and hei densi y upon i (Olesen e al. 1994, Lybe h e
al. 2007). Wes G eenland muskoxen a e known o p e e low ele a ion
habi a (Olesen 1993). F om he Canadian a c ic, s udies indica e ha he bes
muskoxen habi a is below an ele a ion o 200m (Thomas e al. 1981). Fu he
ha his habi a can suppo jus 1-2 muskoxen pe km2 on a yea ound basis,
and mos impo an ly, only i he win e s a e no oo se e e (Thomas e al.
1981). A p esen , his is he bes es ima e o a muskoxen s ocking densi y in
he high a c ic.
Ele a ions below 200m a Cape A holl in ol e jus 202 km2 o habi a , and he
quali y, quan i y and a ailabili y o he o age ege a ion a e unknown. Using
he s ocking densi y o 1-2 muskoxen pe km2 (no wi hs anding ex eme
wea he e en s), he cu en s udy’s densi y o 1.4 muskoxen may be
sus ainable i he habi a is good. This would sugges ha a popula ion size in
he icini y o 300 animals, o less, may be su icien o allow o age
egene a ion. The annual bi d guano ( e ilize ) deposi ed unde he bi d cli s
in he Maniise ga Valley likely p omo es condi ions a ou able o ege a ion
egene a ion ollowing g azing. This may accoun o he la ge numbe o
muskoxen obse a ions he e and in simila nea by alleys. Condi ions will
no be as p oduc i e in a eas wi h ew o no bi d cli s.
Al e na ely, i is possible ha he cu en habi a is deple ed ela i e o i s
unused condi ion p io o he elease o muskoxen in 1986. Pe haps 300
muskoxen would now be oo many o Cape A holl. Recen local obse a ions
o he Maniise ga (G een Valley) desc ibe willows and und a o n up
(‘ploughed’) in swa hes alongside i e s, and he g ass in he ‘g een’ a eas
appea ing lawn mowed and o e g azed (Tho bjø n Jø gensen, Max F anklin
and Ku Bu nham pe s. comm.; Appendix 5). This isola ed high a c ic ange,
o only 202 km2 o age, may be o e s ocked, which would be un o una e,
since abundan a ailable nu i ious ege a ion is he p ima y ounda ion o a
iable muskoxen popula ion on Cape A holl.
21
Hun e ha es & na u al mo ali y
Hun e ha es ing began in 2001, and al hough hun e epo s o each animal
a e manda o y, ac ual epo s ecei ed o any one hun ing season has a ied
om ze o o almos comple e. The G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al Resou ces is
awa e o un epo ed ha es and he shoo ing o en i e amily g oups. In he
2014-2015 hun ing season he quo a was 15 muskoxen, bu only 8 we e
epo ed killed. Full hun e epo ing is impo an i ha es quo as a e
inc eased.
Na u al mo ali y, as opposed o hun e ha es , may esul om among
o he hings, s a a ion, acciden s, disease, inju y, p eda o s, and in he
absence o he la e , old age ela ed ac o s ha eed back in o he i s ou .
Mo ali y owing o p eda ion by la ge p eda o s (including pola bea s) is
suspec ed in he Cape A holl a ea, bu unknown in scope. P eda ion may be
low because o he in equen p eda o p esence, owing in pa o hei being
sho be o e e e making i as a sou h as Cape A holl. Fo example a lone
wol ( he i s in decades and mos likely o igina ing om Canada’s Ellesme e
Island) was sho Janua y 2016 a he small se lemen o Sio apaluk, which is
abou 160 km and wo jo ds o he no h o Cape A holl. S ochas ic e en s
and densi y dependen e ec s no wi hs anding, while assuming an a e age
age a dea h as 15 yea s o a na u al mo ali y o 6-7%, and using he cu en
o al coun o 276 muskoxen, hen he na u al adul mo ali y o Cape A holl
muskoxen may be in he icini y o 16 o 19 animals annually.
T ends in cal p oduc ion
In he 1990’s, acco ding o local epo s, cal es made up 25-35% o all animals
obse ed (Table 1) in summe . We assume hese ea lie obse a ions a e
eliable, since anyone can pick ou cal es, owing o hei conside ably smalle
size ela i e o o he muskoxen. This s udy’s obse ed au umn 2015 cal
pe cen age, howe e , was a modes 17.4%. Cape A holl’s ea ly alues appea
simila o he Kange lussuaq muskoxen cal p oduc ion (24%) obse ed
du ing hei ini ial pe iod o he d g ow h (Clausen 1993), while oday’s esul
is simila o ecen declined cal p oduc ion a Kange lussuaq, (Cuyle
unpublished). Pe haps Cape A holl muskoxen a e also expe iencing a
declining end in cal p oduc ion. I ue, u u e cal p oduc ion a es may
no much exceed his s udy’s obse ed au umn 2015 cal pe cen age.
22
A 17.4%, cal p oduc ion can be conside ed su icien . Dis ega ding possible
se e e wea he e en s o he 2015-2016 win e (e.g., abno mally deep snow,
ain-on-snow, icing, haw- e eeze), and gi en a maximum na u al win e
mo ali y o 19 animals, coupled wi h a maximum ha es o alling 15 sho
dead (i.e., igno ing possible un epo ed poaching), he expec ed p e-cal ing
popula ion would hen be abou 242 muskoxen and esul in a sp ing 2016
cal p oduc ion o abou 51 cal es.
Managemen implica ions
To da e he e ha e been no s udies o muskoxen g azing impac s on
ege a ion a Cape A holl, o elsewhe e in G eenland. Meanwhile,
o e g azing a some loca ions has become no iceable o he casual obse e
(Appendix 5). The e may be eason o be conce ned abou habi a
conse a ion. We ha e only a gene al ecommended s ocking densi y based
on s udies in Canada ha a e o e 35-yea s old. How well ha s ocking
densi y desc ibes when hese he bi o es a e in equilib ium wi h hei ange’s
capaci y o eju ena e a Cape A holl is unknown. Wi h app oxima ely 50
new cal es expec ed in he sp ing o 2016, aising he hun ing quo a could
ha es his p oduc ion and be a s ep owa ds cu bing he d g ow h and
main aining he ecommended s ocking capaci y. I is impo an o main ain a
ha es able Cape A holl muskoxen popula ion and conse e he habi a hey
a e dependen upon. We ecommend ha he 2016 hun ing quo a be, as a
minimum, doubled o become 30 muskoxen. In ligh o he ac ha epo ed
ha es s ha e o en allen sho o ac ual quo as and may e lec low
ha es ing, we sugges he quo a ac ually be inc eased up o 40-50 muskoxen.
This numbe would app oach annual cal ec ui men , which is he “in e es -
on-you -capi al”, and hus be e ensu e hal ing u he popula ion g ow.
Se ing a hun ing quo a highe han he desi ed numbe o ha es ing, is one
echnique o achie e ha goal, speci ically in loca ions like Cape A holl whe e
wea he condi ions can p e en hun e access o he a ea o much o he
hun ing season.
Gi en he p ojec ed cal ing p oduc ion o 2016 and conse a i e es ima e o
mo ali y, a ha es o 30-50 animals annually o he nex 5 yea s migh be
suppo able. Howe e , i new in o ma ion eme ges o indica e he
de elopmen o ei he a much la ge o smalle popula ion, hen u he
quo a adjus men would be equi ed.
23
I he e is o be an inc eased quo a on his ela i ely small popula ion, hen
possible hun e ha es bias is bes a oided. Cal p oduc ion and gene ic
a iabili y (such as i is) a e p io i ies. Remo ing oo many o one sex o age
class could ha e nega i e impac s on he u u e abundance and gene ic
a iabili y o his popula ion. He e is an oppo uni y o le pas ha es s
guide us. F om 2001 o 2014, a o al o 71 muskoxen, which included all age
classes, we e epo ed ha es ed on Cape A holl (Cuyle unpublished). This
o al ha es included 56% adul s, 48% sub-adul s and 4% cal es (age < 1-
yea ). The ha es ed sex a io was app oxima ely 50:50 o bo h adul s and
cal age classes. Among sub-adul s, howe e , i was he ju enile males ha
we e mos o en selec ed by hun e s ela i e o ju enile emales, 74% and 26%
espec i ely wi hin hei age class.
Shoo ing o en i e amily g oups is no ecommended. We ecommend ha
each hun ing licence s ipula e a speci ic age-class and sex o be aken. Gi en
his su ey’s esul s, i is appa en ha pas ha es selec ion has p o ided
oom o popula ion g ow h. Un il u he da a is ob ainable, he alloca ion o
age/sex on licences could ini ially pa e n i sel on he pe cen ages o
ha es ed age and sex in he abo e pa ag aph; wi h he excep ion ha
p o ec ion om hun ing is ex ended o cows wi h a cal -a -heel (age < 1-yea )
and cal es.
Moni o ing imp o emen s
The Sep embe 2015 coun p o ides only a ‘snap-sho ’ o he minimum
abundance, dis ibu ion and au umn cal ec ui men o he Cape A holl
muskoxen popula ion. Al hough a he d size es ima e canno be made di ec ly
om his one coun owing o he unknown and a iable s ip wid h, his
could be changed by ei he a ime-se ies o coun s o imp o ed me hods. A
ime-se ies o minimum coun s would cons i u e a eliable index o ends,
e.g., inc easing, dec easing o s able he d size, while he numbe o cal es
ela i e o he o al numbe obse ed would indica e expec ed u u e ends
in abundance. Al e na ely, i me hods we e imp o ed so ha he s ip wid h
was measu ed and kep cons an o he en i e su ey, hen he coun s could
p o ide a simple s ip wid h popula ion es ima e o he en i e a ea. Fu he
changes o me hods could include eplacing he p esen eas -wes o ien a ion
o ansec s wi h a no h-sou h axis. The eas -wes axis is app op ia e o he
shape o he a ea su eyed. Howe e , gi en ou new knowledge ha Cape
A holl muskoxen dis ibu ion ollows a no h-sou h g adien , which may
24
e lec an impo an habi a g adien , u u e su eys may use a no h-sou h
ansec axis.
Moni o ing equency
Fine uning o u u e quo as and ha es seasons will necessi a e u he
minimum coun s (including he cal %) and ull ha es epo ing. Howe e ,
cu en ha es epo ing is incomple e and conduc ing u u e one-day ae ial
minimum coun s, ega dless o hei equency, hinges on he en husiasm and
inancial esou ces o he Pi u ik Ci izen Council. In a pe ec wo ld, su eys
would be epea ed in he same season e e y yea o a leas e e y second o
hi d yea . Realis ically howe e , as a minimum, a one-day su ey e e y h ee
o i e yea s is ad ised.
Acknowledgemen s
This su ey would ne e ha e happened wi hou he engagemen o he
Pi u ik Ci izen Council. We since ely hank he pilo S een S ensson and
Pi u ik Flying Club o p o iding hei Cessna 172. This p ojec was inanced
by he Pi u ik Ci izen Council, Pi u ik Ai Base, G eenland. G a e ul hanks
o ideological suppo om he No dic Resou ce Managemen p ojec 2015.
We hank Wendy Loya and La s Wi ing o e iew o he manusc ip , and
Gogie McCullough o p oo eading.
Re e ences
Boe mann, D., Fo chhamme , M. Olesen, C.R., Aas up, P. and Thing, H. 1992. The
G eenland muskox popula ion s a us 1990. Rangi e . 12(1): 5-12.
Bu nham W. 1996. P og ess Repo 1996: Thule G eenland P ojec . The Pe eg ine Fund, 566 W.
Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709, USA. 10 pp.
Bu nham W. 1997. P og ess Repo 1997: High A c ic Ins i u e Pi u ik, G eenland. The
Pe eg ine Fund, 566 W. Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709, USA.
Cuyle L.C. & Mølgaa d H.S. 2002. O e g own hoo es om muskoxen (O ibos moscha us)
o Kangaa suk (Cape A holl) No hwes G eenland. G eenland Ins i u e o Na u al
Resou ces. Technical epo No. 41. 30 pp.
25
Lybe h B., Landa A., Nagy J., Loison A., Olesen C. R., Gunn A. & Fo chhamme M. C. 2007.
Muskoxen in he high A c ic- empo al and spa ial di e ences in body size. Jou nal o
Zoology. 272: 227-234.
Olesen C.R. 1993. Rapid popula ion inc ease in an in oduced muskox popula ion, Wes
G eenland. Rangi e . 13(1): 27-32.
Olesen C.R., Thing H. & Aas up. 1994. G ow h o wild muskoxen unde wo nu i ional
egimes in G eenland. Rangi e . 14(1): 3-10.
Thomas D.C., Mille F.L., Russel R.H. and Pa ke G.R. 1981. The Bailey Poin egion and
o he muskox e ugia in he Canadian A c ic: a sho e iew. A c ic. 34(1): 34-36.
Vibe C. 1967. A c ic animals in ela ion o clima ic luc ua ions. Meddelelse om G ønland.
Kommissionen o Videnskabelige Unde søgelse i G ønland, Vol. 170 (5): Pages 153-162.
Vibe C. 1971. Moskusoksen. - In: A. Nø e ang, T.J. Meye and S. Ch is ensen (eds.),
Danma ks na u , G ønland og Fæ oe ne. Poli ikens Fo lag. Pages 401-404. (in Danish)
Vibe C. 1981. Landpa edy : moskusoksen. - In: A. Nø e ang and J. Lundø (eds.), G ønlands
na u . Poli ikens Fo lag. Pages 479-482. (in Danish)
Vibe C. 1986. Tilbage il de gamle g æsgange. Augu . Pages 6-7. (in Danish)
Volma K & He zog A. 2003. Diagnos ik, Di e en ialdiagnos ik und
Sanie ungsmöglichkei en on Klauene k ankungen beim Mu elwild – eine Übe sich .
Bei . Jagd- und Wild o schung 28: 337-344.
32
Appendix 5
Pho os
Figu e 6. ATV’s econnaissance o muskoxen nea he abandoned Ma ine Base on coas o Cape
A holl. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
Figu e 7. Adul muskox bull on hill side nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a he coas o Cape A holl.
Pho o Kasim Vi k.
33
Figu e 8. A second adul muskox bull on hill side nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a he coas o Cape
A holl. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
Figu e 9. A hi d adul muskox bull almos a he sho e nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a he coas o
Cape A holl. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
34
Figu e 10. Family g oup o muskoxen, adul cow, on hill side nea he abandoned Ma ine Base a he
coas o Cape A holl. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
Figu e 11. A Dundas, Thomas Clausen p epa ing he Cessna 172 o su ey. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
35
Figu e 12. View om he Cessna 172 o a ypical alley wi h muskoxen do ed ac oss he ege a ion
co e ed b aided i e plain. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
Figu e 13. Inside he Cessna 172 using he g id map o keep ack o he ligh ou e lown and loca ion
o muskox g oups obse ed and hei numbe . Pho o Kasim Vi k.
36
Figu e 14. A po ion ( o al was 16) o he muskox g oup g azing in mid Sep embe 2015 nea he
Pi u ik (Thule) Ai Base’s 12 h Space Wa ning Squad on (12 SWS) ada acili y, which is ca. 15-18
km eas o he ai base. Pho o Kasim Vi k.
37
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