Foraging Patterns and Their Multiplier Effects on Productivity of Northern Ungulates

White, Robert G.

doi:10.2307/3544310

Cited by 358 publications

(290 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Even if reindeer have access to seemingly (to the human eye) high quality pasture, there are large variations in nutritional quality between different plants and plant parts. White (1983) has elegantly illustrated the multiplier effect of the animals' ability to select highly digestible forage. Using an example associated with reindeer grazing, the author demonstrates how a small increase in plant digestibility (14 %), more than doubles the projected body weight gain.…”

Section: Effects Of Nutrition and Seasonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do human activity and infrastructure disturb domesticated reindeer? The need for the reindeer’s perspective

Skarin

Åhman

2014

Polar Biol

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In recent decades, human-Rangifer (reindeer and caribou) interactions have increasingly been studied from a scientific perspective. Many of the studies have examined Norwegian wild reindeer or caribou in North America. It is often questioned whether results from these studies can be applied to reindeer in managed herds, as these animals have been exposed to domestication and are also more used to humans. In order to examine the domesticated reindeer's reactions to various disturbance sources, we reviewed 18 studies of the effects of human activity and infrastructure on 12 populations of domesticated reindeer and compared these to studies on wild reindeer and caribou; based on this, we discuss the effects of domestication and tameness on reindeer responses to anthropogenic disturbance. We also consider the relevance of spatial and temporal scales and data collection methods when evaluating the results of these studies. The reviewed studies showed that domesticated reindeer exhibit avoidance behaviours up to 12 km away from infrastructure and sites of human activity and that the area they avoid may shift between seasons and years. Despite a long domestication process, reindeer within Sami reindeer-herding systems exhibit similar patterns of large-scale avoidance of anthropogenic disturbance as wild Rangifer, although the strength of their response may sometimes differ. This is not surprising since current Sami reindeer husbandry represents an extensive form of pastoralism, and the reindeer are not particularly tame. To obtain a true picture of how reindeer use their ranges, it is of fundamental importance to study the response pattern at a spatial and temporal scale that is relevant to the reindeer, whether domesticated or wild.

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Section: Effects Of Nutrition and Seasonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do human activity and infrastructure disturb domesticated reindeer? The need for the reindeer’s perspective

Skarin

Åhman

2014

Polar Biol

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“…However, animals which appear to be habituated to regular disturbance within their home territory could still be altering their behaviour in some way, and it has been argued that even quite small reductions in food quality or intake can have implications for productivity and survival in the long-term through a multiplier effect (White 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of red deer (Cervus elaphus) to regular disturbance by hill walkers

et al. 2011

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Disturbance to wildlife from human recreational activities is increasing as remote areas become accessible to greater numbers of people. We used Global Positioning System tracking collars to monitor the movements of red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags (n=8) in a herd whose feeding grounds lie close to a popular walking track in the Highlands of Scotland. The track is used by around 20,000 walkers per year and is busiest in summer and at weekends. In a 2-year study, the locations of collared deer were recorded at 2-h intervals on typically busy days (Sundays: mean number of walkers=204) and quiet days (Wednesdays: mean number of walkers=49) during May and June. The deer were consistently further from the track on Sundays than Wednesdays (371 vs 286 m) and moved greater distances between fixes (365 vs 308 m). The amount of time spent (percentage of total fixes) in the small area of grassland closest to the track was lower on Sundays than Wednesdays (6% vs 13%). Although 97% of walkers use the track during the day (between 0800 and 2000 h), there was no evidence of compensatory use of grassland at night, when the deer moved to higher ground dominated by heather moorland. The results demonstrate that animals which appear to be habituated to regular disturbance within their home territory may nevertheless alter their behaviour and potentially diet composition, as a result of that disturbance.

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“…Movements to new habitats alter the abundance of the local population, and well as potentially lowering foraging success. For example, small changes in habitat quality can have large effects on caribou productivity (White 1983). Movement can alter the probability of encountering predators and the likelihood of separation of calves from mothers.…”

Section: Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Risk Assessment Framework for Low-Altitude Overflights by Fixed-Wing and Rotary-Wing Military Aircraft

Efroymson¹

2001

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Foraging Patterns and Their Multiplier Effects on Productivity of Northern Ungulates

Cited by 358 publications

References 32 publications

Do human activity and infrastructure disturb domesticated reindeer? The need for the reindeer’s perspective

Do human activity and infrastructure disturb domesticated reindeer? The need for the reindeer’s perspective

Responses of red deer (Cervus elaphus) to regular disturbance by hill walkers

Ecological Risk Assessment Framework for Low-Altitude Overflights by Fixed-Wing and Rotary-Wing Military Aircraft

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