Group size of gregarious ungulates typically are fluid and may be density dependent. Local people in Yukon, Canada, were concerned that increasing abundance of reintroduced bison (Bison bison) would result in larger groups, leading to increased human-bison conflicts (e.g., property damage, environmental impacts, and aggressive behaviour). Yet, the influence of abundance on group sizes was unknown. To investigate this concern, I used 15 years of group size data (n = 1447 groups) to test the hypotheses that group sizes a) increased with abundance, and b) varied seasonally. To determine the effect of abundance, I assessed summer and late-winter group sizes for three 5-year periods corresponding to a period when the population tripled in size. Neither summer nor late-winter group sizes differed significantly in response to a three-fold change in population density, contrary to my hypothesis and that of local people. Mean and typical group sizes varied seasonally, with those in summer being greatest and those in fall and late winter the smallest. This study provided new information on grouping dynamics of forest-dwelling bison within and between years and demonstrated that group size did not vary in response to a three-fold increase in density, but that there were strong seasonal effects. As such, growing populations of reintroduced bison will likely not result in larger group sizes at the densities observed in this study. The potential for human-bison conflicts may be greatest during summer when bison aggregate. Overall, these data suggest that concerns regarding larger groups due to reintroduced populations growing may not be warranted. Importantly, however, the number of groups on the landscape will increase with population size, and conflicts with local people will likely continue regardless of group size. Acknowledging and addressing the concerns of local people is likely key for increasing their social carrying capacity for reintroduced bison, and successfully restoring them into regional socio-ecological systems.

群居的有蹄类动物的群体大小通常是流体，可能与密度有关。加拿大育空地区的当地人担心，重新引入的野牛（野牛 野牛）数量会增加，导致更大的群体，导致人与野牛的冲突增加（例如财产损失，环境影响和侵略性行为）。但是，丰度对小组人数的影响尚不清楚。为了研究这个问题，我用15年组大小的数据（ñ = 1447个组）以检验以下假设：组大小a）随着数量的增加而增加，而b）随季节而变化。为了确定丰度的影响，我评估了三个五年期的夏季和冬季后期组的大小，这三个时期对应于人口规模增加两倍的时期。相对于我的假设和当地人的假设，夏季和冬季晚期的群体规模均未因人口密度的三倍变化而显着不同。平均和典型的群体规模随季节变化，夏季最大，秋天和冬季晚些时候最小。这项研究提供了有关年内和年间森林栖野牛分组动态的新信息，并表明随着密度增加三倍，种群规模没有变化，但是存在强烈的季节性影响。因此，在本研究中观察到的密度下，不断增加的重新引入野牛的种群可能不会导致更大的种群规模。在野牛聚集的夏季，人与野牛冲突的可能性最大。总体而言，这些数据表明，由于重新引入的人口增长而引起的对更大群体的担忧可能没有必要。但是，重要的是，景观中的群体数量会随着人口规模的增加而增加，无论群体规模如何，与当地人的冲突都可能会继续。承认并解决当地人的担忧可能是提高他们重新引入野牛的社会承受能力，并成功地将其恢复到区域社会生态系统的关键。在野牛聚集的夏季，人与野牛冲突的可能性最大。总体而言，这些数据表明，由于重新引入的人口增长而引起的对更大群体的担忧可能没有必要。但是，重要的是，景观中的群体数量会随着人口规模的增加而增加，无论群体规模如何，与当地人的冲突都可能会继续。承认并解决当地人的担忧可能是提高他们重新引入野牛的社会承受能力，并成功地将其恢复到区域社会生态系统的关键。在野牛聚集的夏季，人与野牛冲突的可能性最大。总体而言，这些数据表明，由于重新引入的人口增长而引起的对更大群体的担忧可能没有必要。但是，重要的是，景观中的群体数量会随着人口规模的增加而增加，无论群体规模如何，与当地人的冲突都可能会继续。承认并解决当地人的担忧可能是提高他们重新引入野牛的社会承受能力，并成功地将其恢复到区域社会生态系统的关键。景观中的群体数量将随着人口规模的增加而增加，无论群体规模如何，与当地人的冲突都可能继续。承认并解决当地人的担忧可能是提高他们重新引入野牛的社会承受能力，并成功地将其恢复到区域社会生态系统的关键。随着人口规模的增加，景观中的群体数量将会增加，无论群体数量如何，与当地人的冲突都可能会继续。承认并解决当地人的担忧可能是提高他们重新引入野牛的社会承受能力，并成功地将其恢复到区域社会生态系统的关键。