Spatial distribution of Svalbard rock ptarmigan based on a predictive multi-scale habitat model

Pedersen, Åshild Ønvik; Fuglei, Eva; Hörnell‐Willebrand, Maria; Biuw, Martin; Jepsen, Jane Uhd

doi:10.2981/wlb.00239

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 62 publications

(135 reference statements)

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“…Svalbard reindeer carrying capacity is expected to increase as the climate warms and the vegetation is gradually greening (Albon et al ). The climate gradient towards the East, currently characterized by a relatively cold climate and short growing seasons (Nordli et al , Macias‐Fauria et al , Pedersen et al ), likely explains the associated negative gradient in reindeer density. Even with similar NDVI values at the peak of the growing season, the carrying capacity may be lower towards the East because of a longer snow‐cover season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the east coast, however, the retreat of the sea ice in spring has on average been 2 weeks earlier per decade since 1979 (Laidre et al ) and this has led to reduced cooling from local breeze and enhanced greening (Macias‐Fauria et al ). Hence, one could expect eastern regions of Svalbard, to soon approach the growing conditions of today's warmer western regions (Pedersen et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A century of conservation: The ongoing recovery of Svalbard reindeer

et al. 2019

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Several caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) populations have experienced recent population declines, often attributed to anthropogenic stressors such as harvesting, landscape fragmentation, and climate change. Svalbard reindeer (R. t. platyrhynchus), the wild reindeer subspecies endemic to the high‐Arctic Svalbard archipelago, was protected in 1925, after most subpopulations had been eradicated by harvest. Although direct pressure from harvest has ceased, indirect anthropogenic stressors from environmental changes have increased in this climate change hot spot. An assessment of the current distribution and abundance is therefore urgently needed. We combined distance sampling (300 km transects, n = 489 reindeer groups) and total counts (1,350 km2, n = 1,349 groups) to estimate the Svalbard reindeer distribution and abundance across its entire range, which we compared with historical data from the literature and radiocarbon‐dated bones. Reindeer have now recolonized nearly all non‐glaciated land (i.e., areas occupied prior to human presence), and their spatial variation in abundance reflects vegetation productivity. Independent of vegetation productivity, however, recently recolonized areas have lower reindeer densities than areas not subject to past extirpation. This suggests that recovery from past overharvesting is still in progress. These incompletely recovered areas are potential targets for increased monitoring frequency and maintaining strict conservation to follow the Svalbard management goal (i.e., virtually untouched wilderness areas). Because of such ongoing recolonization, possibly combined with vegetation greening effects of recent warming, our status estimate of Svalbard reindeer abundance (22,435 [95% CI = 21,452–23,425]) is more than twice a previous estimate based on opportunistic counts. Thus, although our study demonstrates the successful outcome of strict harvesting control implemented a century ago, current and future population trajectories are likely shaped by climate change. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Wildlife Management Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A century of conservation: The ongoing recovery of Svalbard reindeer

et al. 2019

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“…From the DEM, we also calculated three indices relevant to reindeer habitat selection: 1) terrain wetness, which represents an inverse measure of available dry habitat, was calculated following the 'the topographical wetness index' by Beven and Kirkby (1979). 2) The amount of incoming solar radiation, which affects snowmelt and plants' growing conditions (Pedersen et al 2017), was calculated following the 'the heatload index' by Parker (1988). 3) Terrain ruggedness, which is a measure of topographical heterogeneity, was calculated following the 'vector ruggedness measure' by Sappington et al (2007).…”

Section: Terrain Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Don't go chasing the ghosts of the past: habitat selection and site fidelity during calving in an Arctic ungulate

et al. 2021

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“…As the world's northernmost resident bird that frequently relies on terrestrial locomotion over snow to feed, the Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea) provides an ideal model for examining foot loading in the context of uctuating snow properties. The Svalbard rock ptarmigan is a ground-dwelling, resident (non-migratory) bird endemic to the high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, their range restriction thus limiting them to immediate resources and environmental conditions and contributing in part to their susceptibility to climate change (Pedersen 2017). In response to substantial seasonal variation in environmental conditions (where winters deliver sub-zero average temperatures and a snowy, icy landscape contrasted against a bare, rocky summer landscape), Svalbard rock ptarmigan display signi cant seasonal variation in physiology, morphology and behaviour (i.e., Mortensen et al 1985;Mortensen and Blix 1986;Pedersen 2005;Stokkan 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive functional morphology in the high-Arctic Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea): Snowshoes minimise foot sinking depth during locomotion on snow

Ewart,

Sellers,

Folkow

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea) are endemic to the high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway, where climatic conditions can be extreme and the ground is snow-covered for much of the year. In preparation for Arctic winters, these birds double their body mass through large deposits of body fat that act as an emergency energy reserve. Despite this, Svalbard rock ptarmigan have a lower cost of locomotion in winter relative to their lighter summer mass. Additionally, they regrow thick feathers on the foot prior to winter, to which their genus Lagopus (translating literally to hare-foot) is reference. To investigate whether feathered feet may aid winter locomotion, we tested the effect of foot feathering on foot sink depth in snow across a range of snow stiffnesses. We used a force rig which pressed feathered feet into snow across varying degrees of snow hardness, to assess the relationship between foot sink depth and the stiffness of snow in the winter feet of Svalbard rock ptarmigan and its two southern-more relatives, willow (Lagopus lagopus) and mainland rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). Comparing foot surface area of feathered and unfeathered (taken via high-definition images), our findings indicate that the greater foot feathering of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan reduced foot sink depth in snow relative to the other ptarmigans. Specifically, the foot load of feathered Svalbard rock ptarmigan feet was significantly lower than that of the other (sub)species, indicating that the rich regrowth of feathers is a primary driver of the reduced foot load in the Svalbard rock ptarmigan. Given foot load is a strong predictor of the metabolic cost of locomotion in snow, the feathered winter feet are suggested to be a biomechanical energy-saving adaptation of the Svalbard ptarmigan, alongside their thermal insulating properties.

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Spatial distribution of Svalbard rock ptarmigan based on a predictive multi-scale habitat model

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

A century of conservation: The ongoing recovery of Svalbard reindeer

A century of conservation: The ongoing recovery of Svalbard reindeer

Don't go chasing the ghosts of the past: habitat selection and site fidelity during calving in an Arctic ungulate

Adaptive functional morphology in the high-Arctic Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea): Snowshoes minimise foot sinking depth during locomotion on snow

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