The Rangifer Tarandus, better known as caribou or reindeer, is an herbivorous species living in the tundra. Tundras have a vastly cold climate, with limited vegetation. Caribou are similar to deer; however they are much bigger with a shoulder standing height of 2.8-4.9 feet, and females weigh 175 to 225 pounds, while males weigh about 350 to 400 pounds (Caribou). Reindeer were first found in Norway and were only known as Reindeer, once people started realizing how beneficial the Reindeer were they were brought to Alaska, and soon became known as Caribou, to help humans and were used for transportation through the snow, as well as were killed for food.
As previously stated, caribou live in the tundra biome. Furthermore, they can be found living …show more content…
The only defenses that caribou would have against their predators are their strong legs and their antlers, as well as their ability to run fast. The caribou travel in large herds and usually mate within the same herds. Male caribou live shorter lives than females, the females live an average of ten years. Most caribou born do not make it passed one year of living, because the youth are small and are easy targets for predators (FAQ). Not to mention the fact that the wolves population greatly increases during the winter months. Such animals are accommodated through adaptations to handle long winters; caribou breed through the winter and their young are quickly nurtured to grow during the summer months. In 2013, the population estimate was 197,000 caribou (Land:Caribou). The birth and death rate of caribou yearly is fairly equal, and depends strongly upon the weather. Harsh weather conditions can kill many of the plants that the caribou eat, or they can be covered in snow and be hard to …show more content…
Caribou prefer cold and dry climates, however with the polar ice caps melting, and global warming taking effect on the world, the caribou are struggling to find somewhere to live. Roads and other human developments are also minimizing caribou habitats. The caribou does not play an extremely important role in its environment due to there being so many similar animals, but it does play a role. If caribou were to go extinct there would be more vegetation readily available for other herbivores but not all animals would be capable of getting to it. The caribou use their snowshoe-like feet to push snow away to get to vegetation, and clear the way for other animals to get to the animals living under the snow and ice. Also, humans too would be impacted. Many humans hunt caribou for food and shelter, the caribou is a big animal and in fact has a lot of meat for humans to consume. Therefore, the humans that depend on caribou for housing, food and warmth would end up having to prey amongst other, possibly more dangerous,
As previously stated, caribou live in the tundra biome. Furthermore, they can be found living …show more content…
The only defenses that caribou would have against their predators are their strong legs and their antlers, as well as their ability to run fast. The caribou travel in large herds and usually mate within the same herds. Male caribou live shorter lives than females, the females live an average of ten years. Most caribou born do not make it passed one year of living, because the youth are small and are easy targets for predators (FAQ). Not to mention the fact that the wolves population greatly increases during the winter months. Such animals are accommodated through adaptations to handle long winters; caribou breed through the winter and their young are quickly nurtured to grow during the summer months. In 2013, the population estimate was 197,000 caribou (Land:Caribou). The birth and death rate of caribou yearly is fairly equal, and depends strongly upon the weather. Harsh weather conditions can kill many of the plants that the caribou eat, or they can be covered in snow and be hard to …show more content…
Caribou prefer cold and dry climates, however with the polar ice caps melting, and global warming taking effect on the world, the caribou are struggling to find somewhere to live. Roads and other human developments are also minimizing caribou habitats. The caribou does not play an extremely important role in its environment due to there being so many similar animals, but it does play a role. If caribou were to go extinct there would be more vegetation readily available for other herbivores but not all animals would be capable of getting to it. The caribou use their snowshoe-like feet to push snow away to get to vegetation, and clear the way for other animals to get to the animals living under the snow and ice. Also, humans too would be impacted. Many humans hunt caribou for food and shelter, the caribou is a big animal and in fact has a lot of meat for humans to consume. Therefore, the humans that depend on caribou for housing, food and warmth would end up having to prey amongst other, possibly more dangerous,