Lichen Boosts Caribou Survival, Deep Snow Blocks Access
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- Chloe Beaupré led a study with advisor Dr. Elie Gurarie that examined winter forage, snow depth, and caribou survival, published in the journal Polar Biology.
- Western Arctic Herd caribou were tracked via GPS telemetry from 1,067 individuals across winters between 2009 and 2024.
- Lichen abundance raised winter survival odds up to ninefold for caribou in areas with plentiful lichen versus sparse lichen.
- Snow depth over about 50 cm made even high‑lichen areas inaccessible, nullifying the survival benefit of abundant lichen.
- National Park Service collaborated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Maryland on the research.
Why it matters: Caribou herders and Arctic biodiversity face loss if deep snow renders lichen inaccessible, while wildlife agencies gain a clear metric—lichen cover and snow depth—to prioritize conservation actions, inform management plans, and safeguard subsistence hunting for local communities as Arctic conditions evolve.
