Caribou Lab assignment: total 20 marks (including 10 pts for lab activity) Due Date: April 23, Tuesday, 6.00 PM; submit in BB Task: As a member of an expert group, please write a letter to the Environment Minister, Alberta, Canada, stating any ideas/concerns over the management of the Alberta Caribou Population 10 points for the letter: Format/Length: 2-3 pages (double spaced) (minimum1200 words), Independent work Introduction: Start with the background of the problem (oil sands, habitat destruction, and Caribou population decline), and acknowledge that the oil sand industry plays an important role in the province's economic output. It will stay. [2.5 points] Main body: Then, talk about the proposed conservation measure (culling of wolves). Do you agree or not? If not, please state why the proposed measure will not work. Use your knowledge about the system (Alberta oil sands, habitat type) and synthesis of underlying ecological information/ principles/concepts (Wolf & Caribou interaction biology, competition, predation, landscape processes, food web interactions) that were gained during the group activity (or class lectures) to make your case. Maybe the wolf is not the major cause of the decline? Habitat destruction or fragmentation (seismic lines)? Other deer species or predators? [5 points] Final paragraph: Suggest any other alternative conservation measures to protect caribou (captive breeding, fencing, seismic line reforestation, or blocking the activity itself) [2.5 points] Sign off with your name/designation. Caribou Lab assignment-spring2024.docx