Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus

Skarin, Anna; Danell, Öje; Bergström, Roger; Moen, Jon

doi:10.2981/0909-6396(2008)14[1:shpogr]2.0.co;2

Cited by 56 publications

(79 citation statements)

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“…Four of the reviewed studies (Skarin et al 2008;Bergmo 2011;Colman et al 2012Colman et al , 2013 were defined as studies performed at the intermediate scale. They all describe longterm habitat use and selection of vegetation or habitat quality within part of a seasonal grazing range.…”

Section: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The studies were conducted over 5 years and thus had a long-term perspective. Skarin et al (2008) studied reindeer habitat selection within home ranges (i.e. Johnsons second order of selection or Senfts landscape scale) defined from continuous reindeer GPS location data during two snow-free seasons (May-September).…”

Section: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Skarin et al (2004) used pellet-group counts and aerial surveys to register reindeer habitat use in relation to tourism, insect harassment and vegetation types in two summer ranges in the southern part of the Swedish mountains. Skarin et al (2010) used the same reindeer GPS data as Skarin et al (2008) above, but in this case to examine reindeer movement rate rather than habitat selection within home ranges. Skarin (2007) used pellet-group counts from the same summer grazing ranges as those studied in Skarin et al (2008Skarin et al ( , 2010.…”

Section: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

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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: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Local Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

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

Skarin

Åhman

2014

Polar Biol

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“…on lichen pastures around each sample location within a radius of 3.0 km were determined by ArcMap 10.0 using the reindeer pasture inventory data from the years 2005-2008(Kumpula et al, 2009Colpaert et al, 2012). In cases where pasture rotation or another fence prevented reindeer from grazing certain areas within a circle around a sample location, these areas were removed from the pasture analyses.…”

Section: Fecal Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In summer, semi-domesticated reindeer can use the pasture landscape for grazing freely; while in winter, grazing of reindeer is more controlled by reindeer herders. The summer habitat preference of reindeer depends mainly on factors connected to insect harassment, vegetation types, and plant growth (Skarin et al, 2008), although many kinds of human activities can also disturb foraging (Anttonen et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition of late summer diet by semi-domesticated reindeer in different grazing conditions in northernmost Finland

Bezard¹,

Brilland²,

Kumpula³

2015

Ran

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This study aims to investigate the diet composition of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in late summer in different kinds of grazing conditions in northernmost Finland. The composition of diet by reindeer was determined on the grounds of microhistological analysis of feces samples collected in early August in different seasonal grazing areas (winter or summer/year-round grazing areas) in three reindeer management districts. Although the proportion of different plant groups varied between the studied districts, the quantified group of ground lichens (which also contained small amounts of mushrooms) was the most abundant, varying from 33.0 to 46.4% in the analyzed samples. In general, there were significant differences in the proportions of lichen between districts, but not between grazing areas. The proportion of lichen in samples increased significantly when the amount of lichen pasture around a sample site increased. The proportion of dwarf shrubs and leaves in samples varied from 24.9 to 37.9% and differed significantly between districts, but not between grazing areas. In the same way, the proportion of graminoids varied between 20.9 and 36.2% and differed significantly between districts and also between grazing areas. Higher amounts of graminoids in feces were observed in summer/year-round grazing areas than in winter grazing areas. Finally, the proportion of bryophytes varied between 2.9 and 6.5% and was significantly different between districts, but not between grazing areas. An increase in old and mature coniferous forest around a sample site significantly increased the amounts of bryophytes in samples. The results indicate that reindeer adapt their summer diet composition according to the availability of food plants. The results also show that when reindeer are allowed to select their summer ranges freely, reindeer tend to use lichen pastures intensively also during summer, which causes a considerable reduction in lichens due to grazing and trampling. Therefore, a proper seasonal pasture rotation system to protect lichen pastures from grazing and trampling, from early spring to late autumn, is an essential part of sustainable pasture use in reindeer herding.

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Experimental warming alters migratory caribou forage quality

Zamin

Côté

Tremblay

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Global declines in caribou and reindeer (Rangifer) populations have drawn attention to the myriad of stressors that these Arctic and boreal forest herbivores currently face. Arctic warming has resulted in increased tundra shrub growth and therefore Rangifer forage quantity. However, its effects on forage quality have not yet been addressed although they may be critical to Rangifer body condition and fecundity. We investigated the impact of 8 yrs of summer warming on the quality of forage available to the Bathurst caribou herd using experimental greenhouses (n = 5) located in mesic birch hummock tundra in the central Canadian Low Arctic. Leaf forage quality and digestibility characteristics associated with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), phenolics, and fiber were measured on the deciduous shrub Betula glandulosa (an important Rangifer diet component) at six time points through the growing season, and on five other very common vascular plant and lichen species in late summer. Experimental warming reduced B. glandulosa leaf nitrogen concentrations by~10% in both late June and mid-July, but not afterwards. It also reduced late summer forage quality of the graminoid Eriophorum vaginatum by increasing phenolic concentrations 38%. Warming had mixed effects on forage quality of the lichen Cetraria cucullata in that it increased nutrient concentrations and tended to decrease fiber contents, but it also increased phenolics. Altogether, these warming-induced changes in forage quality over the growing season, and response differences among species, highlight the importance of Rangifer adaptability in diet selection. Furthermore, the early season reduction in B. glandulosa nitrogen content is a particular concern given the importance of this time for calf growth. Overall, our demonstration of the potential for significant warming impacts on forage quality at critical times for these animals underscores the importance of effective Rangifer range conservation to ensure sufficient appropriate habitat to support adaptability in forage selection in a rapidly changing environment.

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Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus

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 56 publications

References 48 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

Composition of late summer diet by semi-domesticated reindeer in different grazing conditions in northernmost Finland

Experimental warming alters migratory caribou forage quality

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