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The Decline Of Lake Superior's Woodland Caribou: A Historical Gis Analysis, Jordan W. Kelley
The Decline Of Lake Superior's Woodland Caribou: A Historical Gis Analysis, Jordan W. Kelley
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
Lake Superior’s woodland caribou have been declining since the early 1800s. This thesis asks: why? We hypothesize that as settlers expanded into the region, industrial development in woodland caribou habitat reduced woodland caribou persistence. Using an Historical Geospatial Information System (HGIS) analysis, we find that historical mining and railroad infrastructure are associated with woodland caribou extirpation, while wetlands and protected areas are associated with caribou persistence. We also conducted a stakeholder synthesis of the region to help understand diverse perspectives within and between advocacy coalitions that take different positions on the most effective caribou restoration policies. Beliefs on recovery options …