Does climate change influence the availability and quality of reindeer forage plants?

Turunen, Minna; Soppela, Päivi; Kinnunen, Hannu; Sutinen, Marja‐Liisa; Martz, Françoise

doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0609-2

Cited by 62 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 161 publications

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“…The combination of low air temperatures and precipitation can have a very negative effect on winter-feeding conditions; on the other hand, high moisture rate is essential in autumn for the growth of mushrooms, part of the reindeer diet [13]. Finally, snow cover properties are a key element for reindeer seasonal migrations [26], for the accessibility to ground lichen [22,23,[27][28][29] and for the calving period [13].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed Regional Climate Variability during the Last 50 Years in Reindeer Herding Cooperatives of Finnish Fell Lapland

Lépy

Pasanen

2017

Climate

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Abstract:In Finnish Lapland, reindeer herders' activity is strongly dependent on the surrounding natural environment, which is directly exposed to environmental changes and climatic variations. By assessing whether there is any evidence of change in climate in Fell Lapland over the last 50 years, this paper attempts to link global climatic trends with local conditions and respond to the need of information at the local level. It aims at assessing the changes in temperature, precipitation and snow cover at a regional and local scale, as well as determining the climatic trends for the period 1960-2011. Statistical methods were used to conduct analyses of the regional homogeneity, the annual and seasonal variability, and the cold intensity. The results show that the regional climate is not homogeneous and differences exist between locations. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that, in general, a warming trend is discernible for the period 1960-2011, frost and thaw cycles slightly increase, and variations in mean temperatures are more important in the winter. Precipitation is more variable according to the site but, in general, precipitation is increasing with time, especially in the winter, and the snow cover does not seem to contain any discernible trend.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed Regional Climate Variability during the Last 50 Years in Reindeer Herding Cooperatives of Finnish Fell Lapland

Lépy

Pasanen

2017

Climate

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“…In general, shortened duration of annual snow cover probably facilitate reindeer grazing, particularly if nutritious green vegetation is available earlier in the summer. In the long run, a warmer climate with higher forest productivity is likely to reduce lichen availability through competitive interactions (Moen 2008;Turunen et al 2009). …”

Section: The Potential Effects Of the Changing Cold Season On Ecosystmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed cold season changes in a Fennoscandian fell area over the past three decades

Kivinen

Rasmus

2014

AMBIO

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We studied trends and variability in snow and climate characteristics in 1978-2012 in the Värriötunturit fell area, northern Finland. Cold season changes were examined using long-term observational data on snow depths, meteorological data, large-scale climate indices, and reindeer herders' experiences with difficult snow conditions. Snow depths declined, and temperatures increased significantly over the study period, with the largest changes observed in October-December and in April. Snow depths decreased particularly in forests at lower altitudes but not in treeless areas at higher altitudes. Interannual variability (but not the trends) in snow depths could be partially linked to large-scale climate indices. A majority of difficult reindeer grazing conditions were related to deep snow in the winter or spring. Our observations suggest that shortened duration of snow cover may facilitate reindeer grazing, whereas potentially more frequent formation of ice layers and mold growth on pastures in the future is disadvantageous for reindeer husbandry.

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“…3). For example, changes in snow cover determine the resource base for Arctic herbivores: over the period 1970-2006, reindeer calf production in Finland increased by almost one calf per 100 females for each day of earlier snow melt (Turunen et al 2009). Similarly, the warmer springs and earlier and longer growing seasons of 1996-2005 observed in northeast Greenland have increased the musk ox population there, but the effects were delayed by 1 year (On-line Supplementary Material C; Forchhammer et al 2008).…”

Section: Callaghan and Tweedie 2011)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kumpula and Colpaert (2003) reinforced the importance of these conditions by maintaining that a hard snow or ice layer (bottom crust) that hampers foraging throughout winter is probably more important than actual snow accumulation in open, high pasture areas. In contrast, mould formation that is harmful to animals and can kill calves occurs especially after mild, rainy autumns, when the soil does not have time to freeze before the snow falls (Turunen et al 2009). …”

Section: Socio-economic Processes and The Role Of Snow Covermentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Effects of Changes in Arctic Snow Cover

Callaghan

Johansson

Brown

et al. 2011

AMBIO

181

107

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Snow cover plays a major role in the climate, hydrological and ecological systems of the Arctic and other regions through its influence on the surface energy balance (e.g. reflectivity), water balance (e.g. water storage and release), thermal regimes (e.g. insulation), vegetation and trace gas fluxes. Feedbacks to the climate system have global consequences. The livelihoods and well-being of Arctic residents and many services for the wider population depend on snow conditions so changes have important consequences. Already, changing snow conditions, particularly reduced summer soil moisture, winter thaw events and rain-on-snow conditions have negatively affected commercial forestry, reindeer herding, some wild animal populations and vegetation. Reductions in snow cover are also adversely impacting indigenous peoples' access to traditional foods with negative impacts on human health and well-being. However, there are likely to be some benefits from a changing Arctic snow regime such as more even run-off from melting snow that favours hydropower operations.

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Does climate change influence the availability and quality of reindeer forage plants?

Cited by 62 publications

References 161 publications

Observed Regional Climate Variability during the Last 50 Years in Reindeer Herding Cooperatives of Finnish Fell Lapland

Observed Regional Climate Variability during the Last 50 Years in Reindeer Herding Cooperatives of Finnish Fell Lapland

Observed cold season changes in a Fennoscandian fell area over the past three decades

Multiple Effects of Changes in Arctic Snow Cover

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