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Cited by 35Wildlife Ecology and ConservationIndigenous Studies and EcologyAnimal Ecology and Behavior Studies

The History, Status and Management of Muskoxen on Banks Island

Open access
Gunn, Anne, Shank, Chris, McLean, Bruce·1991·ARCTIC
DOI 10.14430/arctic1538
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Abstract

Historical and archaeological records suggest that muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were once abundant on Banks Island. They declined around the turn of the 20th century and remained at very low population levels until the 1970s. The causes of the scarcity of muskoxen are unknown, but severe freezing rains and subsequent forage unavailability likely played a role. Aerial surveys documented an increase in the estimated population size from 3800 in 1972 to 34,225 in 1989. The rapid increase in muskox numbers has been a source of concern to the local users, who view the muskoxen as detrimental to the caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi), which have declined in number. Since the mid-1980s, productivity of 3-year-old muskox cows and calf survival have decreased and the prevalence of parasites has increased. Our data do not allow us to distinguish between whether those changes are density-dependent population responses or the effects of the severity of winter weather. Current management focuses on monitoring the trend of population size, the condition and reproduction of the muskoxen.Key words: muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus, Banks Island, numbers, harvest, weather, population regulation

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  • The Banks Island muskox population was the largest in Canada in the 1990s but has suffered a 70% decline since 2000.

    “The population on Banks Island was the largest in Canada in the 1990s but has suffered a 70% decline since 2000.”

    From Chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of muskox (Ovibos moschatus) from Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic, a resource for conservation genomics (2024) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Introduction describes the Banks Island population as almost a third of the world's muskoxen, and Population Numbers reports an estimate of 34,225 in 1989, supporting its prominence around the start of the 1990s. The paper was published in 1991 and provides no evidence for a 70% decline since 2000. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Six of the 55 muskox populations reported in 2020 are in decline, including the population on Banks Island.

    “of the 55 muskox populations reported in 202019, six are in decline, including the population on Banks Island”

    From Chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of muskox (Ovibos moschatus) from Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic, a resource for conservation genomics (2024) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Population Numbers section reports that Banks Island muskoxen increased through 1989; it does not address their status in 2020. Searches for the 55-population count and a current Banks Island decline found no relevant passage, so this copy cannot verify the claim. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. BARRY, R.G. 1982. Snow and ice indicators of possible climatic effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. In: Beatty, N.B., ed. Carbon dioxide effects research and assessment program. Proceedings of the DOE workshop on first detection of CO2 effects. Washington, D.C.: Office of Energy Research. 207-236.
  2. BLAKE, J.E., McLEAN, B.D., and GUNN, A. 1989. Yersiniosis in free- ranging muskoxen on Banks Island, NWT, Canada. In: Flood, P.E., ed. Proceedings of the Second International Muskox Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-4 October 1987. Ottawa: National Research Council of Canada.
  3. COCHRAN, W.G. 1977. Sampling techniques. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley
  4. GIBBONS, J.D. 1985. Nonparametric methods for quantitative analysis. Syracuse: American Sciences Press. 481 p.
  5. GUNN, A., SHANK, C.C., and CAUGHLEY, G. 1989b. Report of the workshop on management options for rapidly expanding muskox popu- lations using Banks Island as an example. In: Flood, P.F., ed. Proceedings of the Second International Muskox Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-4 October 1987. Ottawa: National Research Council of Canada.
  6. HENRY, G., and SVOBODA, J. 1989. Comparison of grazed and non-grazed high arctic sedge meadows. In: Flood, P.F., ed. Proceedings of the Second International Muskox Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-4 October 1987. Ottawa: National Research Council of Canada.
  7. ROWELL, J. 1989. Survey of reproductive tracts from female muskoxen harvested on Banks Island, NWT. In: Flood, P.F., ed. Proceedings of the Second International Muskox Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-4 October 1987. Ottawa: National Research Council of Canada.
  8. ZOLTAI, S.C., KARASIUK, D.J., and SCOTTER, G.W. 1980. A natural resource survey of the Thomsen River area, Banks Island, N.W.T. Unpubl. report prepared for Parks Canada. Available at Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6V 2x3. 59(3):1073-1076. Journal of Wildlife Management 341-15. 1095-103. 34175-179.

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Authors
Gunn, A., Shank, C., & McLean, B.
Affiliations
Government of Northwest Territories (CA)
Venue
ARCTIC
Publisher
The Arctic Institute of North America
Published
1991-01-01
Volume
44
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 0004-0843 (ISSN-L)
  • 1923-1245
DOI
10.14430/arctic1538
OpenAlex
W2004669494
Cited by
35
References
26
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
3.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
ARCTIC (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Indigenous Studies and Ecology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Keywords
Ovibos moschatus, Banks Island, demographic history, population decline (ecology), population recovery, reindeer, Rangifer tarandus pearyi, density dependence, winter weather effects, freezing rain, calf survival, parasite prevalence, wildlife management, harvest, population regulation

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