Katerina presented the results of her MSc thesis on the influence of changing permafrost conditions on caribou lichen biomass in the NWT at the North America Caribou Workshop 2026.
Up to 80% of the boreal biome is found within permafrost regions and with high latitude warming widespread thaw is occurring. Much of this landscape is covered by caribou lichen, which often grows on unproductive soils and is an important food source for caribou. Katerinas project worked to understand how changing permafrost landscapes may impact caribou lichen across the NWT. She found that continuous, shallow, and aggrading permafrost were all associated with greater caribou lichen biomass. These permafrost conditions limit plant growth, allowing caribou lichen to proliferate with reduced competition. More intact permafrost supported greater caribou lichen biomass, meaning that as climate warming drives continued permafrost thaw, caribou lichen habitat quality may be reduced in some regions.
Link to workshop website →
Katerina Coveny Presents at NACW 2026
