Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) were observed foraging at different densities on two adjacent Alaskan ranges, within which particular feeding sites contained predictably high, medium, or low densities of caribou. The two Black Hills sites produced greater, denser biomass after clipping, whereas those on the Caribou River sites did not, independent of previous levels of use by caribou. Authors conclude, therefore, that the Black Hills sites were inherently more productive and able to respond to grazing, and that this may have originally attracted greater numbers of caribou to that range. The Black Hills sites bordered a watercourse, while the Caribou River sites were in flat meadows with little drainage or sub-surface water flow, which are important influences on productivity of arctic sedges. Caribou in this study displayed the most intense use of those feeding sites with greatest densities of biomass, nitrogen, and minerals and this indicates that social ungulates may prefer sites with the highest returns of energy and nutrients.
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