This study was designed to determine the effects of different management methods on caribou populations. This study could have important implications for caribou management as the central mountain population of caribou is currently listed as endangered. Eight herds of central mountain caribou were studied over a three month period. Two herds received supplemental feeding, two herds received predator control, two herds received both, and the last two herd were left unmanaged. The caribou were weighed before and after the duration of the project in order to determine the effects of the management on body weight. Number of calves was also recorded before and after in order to determine population growth, number of births, and calf survival. We conducted a two-factor analysis of variance with effect size statistics to determine the effect of the management treatments on the population. Both predator control and supplemental feeding resulted in a significant difference in population. Effect size statistics were also conducted and we determined that combining the two management methods will improve population growth by at least 9.1% with 95% certainty. Although supplemental feeding resulted in the largest increase in body weight, predator control was more effective for overall population growth. Overall, a combination of these management methods was the most effective for increasing both body weight and population size.
*Note- this 'study' was created using simulated data for a university project