Ecotypes In 2011, noting that the former classifications of Rangifer tarandus, either with prevailing taxonomy on subspecies, designations based on ecotypes, or natural population groupings, failed to capture "the variability of caribou across their range in Canada" needed for effective subspecies conservation and management, COSEWIC developed Designatable Unit (DU) attribution, an adaptation of "evolutionary significant units". The 12 designatable units for caribou in Canada (that is, excluding Alaska and Greenland) based on ecology, behavior and, importantly, genetics (but excluding morphology and archaeology) essentially followed the previously named subspecies distributions, without naming them as such, plus some ecotypes. Ecotypes are not phylogenetically based and cannot substitute for taxonomy.Cronin, M.A. (2006) A proposal to eliminate redundant terminology for intra-species groups. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 237-241.
eCoTypes in 2011, noting that THe formeR classiFIcaTions oF rangifer taraNdus, eItheR WITh preVaILing TaXonOMY on SubspeCIes, designatiOns bAseD On ecotYpes, OR NaturAL popUlAtIoN groupinGS, failed to caPtURE "The varIAbilitY of cARibOu ACROsS tHeIR RanGE In CanadA" nEeDEd foR effeCtiVe sUbspeCIes CONservATion and maNAGEment, coseWic dEveloped DesiGNaTAblE uNIT (du) attributIoN, An adAptaTiOn Of "evoLutIOnary siGnIFicaNt units". the 12 designATable units for CArIBOu iN CanAda (thAt is, eXclUdiNg ALaska aNd greenlAnd) bASEd on ecolOGY, bEHavior and, ImpoRTaNTly, gENetics (bUt exClUdiNg morpHologY anD arChAeoloGy) essenTiaLLY folLowEd tHe pReVioUsLY naMeD suBspeCieS distrIBUtioNS, WitHoUt namIng tHem as sUCh, pluS some ecotypEs. eCotypes are noT PhYlogENeticAlly baseD AND cAnnoT SUbstitUte fOr taxoNOmY.cRoniN, m.a. (2006) a propOSal to eLimInaTe RedundanT termiNOlogy For iNtra-speCies GrOuPS. wIldlIfe sOcieTy buLletiN 34: 237-241.