Fauna characteristic of boreal forests in the area include the vulnerable boreal woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ), cougar ( Puma concolor ), least weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), short-eared owl ( Asio flammeus ), golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ), and the threatened wolverine ( Gulo gulo ) and beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ).
42.
"Rangifer tarandus " hunting by humans has a very long history, and they " may well be the species of single greatest importance in the entire anthropological literature on hunting . " " In North America and Eurasia the species has long been an important resource in many areas'the'most important resource for peoples inhabiting the northern boreal forest and tundra regions.
43.
Some of the " Rangifer tarandus " subspecies may be further divided by ecotype depending on several behavioural factors predominant habitat use ( northern, tundra, mountain, forest, boreal forest, forest-dwelling, woodland, woodland ( mountain ), woodland ( boreal ), woodland ( migratory ), spacing ( dispersed or aggregated ), and migration ( sedentary or migratory ).
44.
While the Woodland Caribou, " Rangifer tarandus caribou " ( boreal population ) boreal woodland caribou or " boreal caribou ", which is mainly sedentary, was assessed in May 2002 as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada ( COSEWIC ), not all herds and populations are endangered, for example, the Gros Morne National Park sedentary population in insular Newfoundland.
45.
Some of the species " Rangifer tarandus " and subspecies may be further divided by ecotype depending on several behavioural factors-predominant habitat use ( northern, tundra, mountain, forest, boreal forest, forest-dwelling, woodland, woodland ( mountain ), woodland ( boreal ), woodland ( migratory ), spacing ( dispersed or aggregated ) and migration ( sedentary or migratory ).
46.
Current classifications of Rangifer tarandus, either with prevailing taxonomy on subspecies, designations based on ecotypes, and natural population groupings, fail to capture " the variability of caribou across their range in Canada " needed for effective species conservation and management . " Across the range of a species, individuals may display considerable morphological, genetic, and behavioural variability reflective of both plasticity and adaptation to local environments ."
47.
In total, some 2, 079 bones, tusks, antlers and teeth of Mammuthus primigenius ( mammoth ), Coelodonta antiquitatis ( woolly rhinoceros ), Rangifer tarandus ( reindeer ), Equus ferus ( horse ), Bison priscus ( bison ), Canis lupus ( wolf ), Vulpes vulpes or Alopex lagopus ( red or Arctic fox ) and Ursus arctos ( brown bear ) were individually recorded and a further 25, 000 bone, tooth and tusk fragments recovered.
48.
Current classifications of " Rangifer tarandus ", either with prevailing taxonomy on subspecies, designations based on ecotypes, and natural population groupings, fail to capture " the variability of caribou across their range in Canada " needed for effective species conservation and management . " Across the range of a species, individuals may display considerable morphological, genetic, and behavioural variability reflective of both plasticity and adaptation to local environments . " COSEWIC developed Designated Unit ( DU ) attribution to add to classifications already in use.
49.
Several mammal species originated in the Palearctic, and spread to the Nearctic during the Ice Age, including the brown bear ( " Ursus arctos ", known in North America as the grizzly ), red deer ( " Cervus elaphus " ) in Europe and the closely related elk ( " Cervus canadensis " ) in far eastern Siberia, American bison ( " Bison bison " ), and reindeer ( " Rangifer tarandus ", known in North America as the caribou ).
50.
Other populations are listed as vulnerable and rare including the Republic of Karelia : Wild forest reindeer, Rangifer tarandus fennicus; Tjumen area : Mountain reindeer, Rangifer tarandus; Kemerovo area : " R . t . angustifrons "; Irkutsk area : Siberian forest reindeer " R . t . valentinae ", wild forest reindeer subspecies Sayano-Altai stock; Khakassia stock; Tyva Republic : Siberian forest reindeer, " R . t . angustifrons "; Magadan area : Ohota forest reindeer, " R . t . phylarchus ".
