Studies of morphological parameters affecting ungulate locomotion in snow

Telfer, Edmund S.; Kelsall, John P.

doi:10.1139/z79-283

Cited by 42 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It will force reindeer to increase cratering activity (Pruitt, 1966;Bergerud, 1974;LaPerriere and Lent, 1977;Skogland, 1978). It also increases energy expenditure (Thing, 1977;Telfer and Kelsall, 1979;Fancy andWhite, 1985, 1987), thus reducing body fat and mineral and protein reserves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Nellemann¹,

Jordhøy²,

Støen³

et al. 2000

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Potential avoidance by wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) of high-altitude tourist resorts during winter was investigated in and near Rondane National Park in Norway. Distribution of reindeer was mapped using systematic snowmobile surveys during 1991-96 and compared with results from investigations of snow and vegetation characteristics. Maternal reindeer avoided a 10 km zone around the resort. Cows and calves increased in density from 0.6 ± 0.6 reindeer km -2 at 5-10 km from the resort to 7.6 ± 2.2 reindeer km -2 at 15-25 km from the resort. Bulls and yearlings were more tolerant, constituting nearly 92% of all observed animals 5-10 km from the resort. Nearly all animals avoided the zone within 5 km of the resort. There were no significant differences in distribution of lichen heath, hardness of snow, integrated ram hardness index (IRH) values, or snow depths on ridges with increasing distance from the resort. Available biomass of lichens was ca. 1200 g m -2 0-5 km from the resort and decreased to a low of ca. 250 g m -2 at 15-25 km distance, a pattern that probably reflects overgrazing as a result of avoiding the tourist resort. Such avoidance implies reduced forage intake during winter, substantial reduction in available habitat, and lower productivity of the herd. The results suggest that avoidance by wild animals of sources of anthropogenic disturbance may involve long-term impacts, such as reductions in carrying capacity, that are more serious than those expected from direct physiological stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Nellemann¹,

Jordhøy²,

Støen³

et al. 2000

ARCTIC

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“…Many small rocks and microtopographic diversity create small snow traps, thus protecting lichen cover from frost and wind, and favouring its growth (Benedict, 1991;Sonesson et al, 1994). In addition, shallow snow on narrow ridges reduces energy expenditures associated with cratering and locomotion (Thing, 1977;Telfer and Kelsall, 1979;White, 1985, 1987). Avoidance of ridges with a high density of larger boulders is not clearly understood, although these ridges also had relatively low lichen biomass.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrain Selection by Reindeer in Late Winter in Central Norway

Nellemann¹

1996

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Characteristics of topography, snow, lichen cover, and lichen distribution were compared with habitat use by Snøhetta reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) in central Norway to investigate the role of terrain structure for habitat use within different lichen heath communities. In late winter, density of groups of feeding craters was correlated to indices of terrain ruggedness (TRI) measured at a mesoscale (10 -20 m relief), but not to terrain ruggedness measured at a macroscale (30 -110 m relief). The use of lichen heaths in rugged terrain (TRI > 2.0) was higher than that expected from availability. In rugged terrain, 60 -80% of the lichen heaths had less than 40 cm of snow, compared to only 10 -30% of the lichen heaths in less rugged areas (TRI < 2.0). Rugged terrain types accounted for only 23% of the lichen heath in the study area, and less than 9% of the total area. Available habitat was thus considerably less than that suggested by overall availability of alpine lichen heath. In late winter, ramhardness of snow exceeded 40 kg, and reindeer cratered mainly where snow was less than 20 cm deep. Reindeer selected narrow (15 -25 m broad) and sparsely vegetated ridges with high microtopographic diversity beyond that suggested from availability. Other ridge types with lichen heath were used less than expected from availability. Terrain ruggedness indices may have the potential for estimating the proportion of lichen heath communities that are available in late winter when snow conditions limit availability of forage.Key words: forage, reindeer, snow, terrain, winter RÉSUMÉ. On a comparé des caractéristiques relatives à la topographie, à la neige, à la couverture de lichen ainsi qu'à sa répartition avec l'utilisation de l'habitat par le renne Snøhetta (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) dans le centre de la Norvège pour savoir quel rôle joue la structure du terrain dans l'utilisation de l'habitat au sein de diverses communautés de bruyère lichénique. À la fin de l'hiver, la densité des regroupements de fosses de broutage a été corrélée avec les indices d'accidents de terrain (IAT) mesurés à échelle moyenne (de 10 à 20 m de dénivellation), mais pas avec les accidents de terrain mesurés à macroéchelle (de 30 à 110 m de dénivellation). L'utilisation de la bruyère lichénique en terrain accidenté (IAT > 2,0) était plus élevée que la disponibilité ne le laissait prévoir. En terrain accidenté, de 60 à 80 p. cent de la bruyère lichénique avait moins de 40 cm de neige, par rapport à 10 à 30 p. cent seulement de la bruyère lichénique dans des zones moins accidentées (IAT < 2,0). Les types de terrain accidenté comptaient pour seulement 23 p. cent de la bruyère lichénique dans la zone d'étude et pour moins de 9 p. cent de la superficie totale. L'habitat disponible était donc infiniment moindre que ne le laissait croire la disponibilité d'ensemble de la bruyère lichénique alpine. À la fin de l'hiver, la dureté de la neige mesurée au pénétromètre dynamique était supérieure à 40 kg, et les rennes creusaient surtout là où...

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“…6). Increased snow depth with concurrent reduction in ambient temperature results in a concomitant increase in the energetic costs associated with thermoregulation and locomotion in cervids (Telfer andKelsall 1979, Parker et al 1984). Furthermore, depth of snow experienced by large herbivores has direct effects on availability of forage (Fancy and White 1985), thereby affecting nutritional condition and probability of winter survival (Garroway and Broders 2005).…”

Section: Autumn Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timing of seasonal migration in mule deer: effects of climate, plant phenology, and life-history characteristics

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Phenological events of plants and animals are sensitive to climatic processes. Migration is a life-history event exhibited by most large herbivores living in seasonal environments, and is thought to occur in response to dynamics of forage and weather. Decisions regarding when to migrate, however, may be affected by differences in life-history characteristics of individuals. Long-term and intensive study of a population of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, allowed us to document patterns of migration during 11 years that encompassed a wide array of environmental conditions. We used two new techniques to properly account for interval-censored data and disentangle effects of broad-scale climate, local weather patterns, and plant phenology on seasonal patterns of migration, while incorporating effects of individual life-history characteristics. Timing of autumn migration varied substantially among individual deer, but was associated with the severity of winter weather, and in particular, snow depth and cold temperatures. Migratory responses to winter weather, however, were affected by age, nutritional condition, and summer residency of individual females. Old females and those in good nutritional condition risked encountering severe weather by delaying autumn migration, and were thus risk-prone with respect to the potential loss of foraging opportunities in deep snow compared with young females and those in poor nutritional condition. Females that summered on the west side of the crest of the Sierra Nevada delayed autumn migration relative to east-side females, which supports the influence of the local environment on timing of migration. In contrast, timing of spring migration was unrelated to individual life-history characteristics, was nearly twice as synchronous as autumn migration, differed among years, was related to the southern oscillation index, and was influenced by absolute snow depth and advancing phenology of plants. Plasticity in timing of migration in response to climatic conditions and plant phenology may be an adaptive behavioral strategy, which should reduce the detrimental effects of trophic mismatches between resources and other life-history events of large herbivores. Failure to consider effects of nutrition and other life-history traits may cloud interpretation of phenological patterns of mammals and conceal relationships associated with climate change.

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Studies of morphological parameters affecting ungulate locomotion in snow

Cited by 42 publications

References 7 publications

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Terrain Selection by Reindeer in Late Winter in Central Norway

Timing of seasonal migration in mule deer: effects of climate, plant phenology, and life-history characteristics

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