Quantifying changes in annual lichen volume for woodland caribou in Newfoundland using Landsat time series

Lichen volume, crucial for the survival of threatened Newfoundland woodland caribou, has been quantified for the first time using long-term satellite data. The study reveals that while lichen biomass is generally low across both Gros Morne National Park and Gaff Topsails, coniferous forests host the highest volumes. Notably, Gros Morne shows faster lichen recovery compared to the more disturbed Gaff Topsails, suggesting protective measures may aid caribou habitat restoration. The research used vegetation-specific models combining Landsat imagery (1984–2022) with field data from 66 plots, achieving high accuracy (R² = 0.77). These findings provide critical insights for guiding conservation strategies to support caribou recovery in Newfoundland.

Beaulieu, C., Coops, N. C., Morin-Bernard, A., Côté, S. D., & Achim, A. (2026). Quantifying changes in annual lichen volume for woodland caribou in Newfoundland using Landsat time series. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 152, 105444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105444