Lichens of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, with Emphasis on the Impact of Caribou Grazing

Moser, Thomas J.; Nash, Thomas H.; Thomson, John W.

doi:10.2307/3242215

Cited by 40 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Grazing is an important ecosystem driver (Hobbs, 1996;Augustine & McNaughton, 1998;Mysterud, 2006;Wisdom et al, 2006). Our results are in agreement with the assertion that grazing by caribou can be an important factor in the depletion of lichen of large areas of continental ranges (Moser et al, 1979;Messier et al, 1988, Arseneault et al, 1997 and the rapid transition from lichen-dominated to graminoid-dominated tundra communities (van der Wal, 2006). All indications show that the Arctic is already warming (Hansen et al, 1999;Barber et al, 2000;Oechel et al, 2000;Serreze et al, 2000;Goetz et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Utilization and the amount of decline in lichen cover were significantly associated with initial lichen cover, implying that caribou selected for areas with high lichen abundance. Although the decline in lichen cover cannot be directly correlated with the eruption of the WAH and increased grazing pressure, it does provide a compelling, simple, and logical inference (see also Moser et al, 1979;Arseneault et al, 1997;van der Wal, 2006). This is further supported by the fact that transect # 24 (the northeastern most transect, Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change

Joly

Jandt

Meyers

et al. 2007

Ran

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The population of the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at 490 000 caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in 2003, is at its highest level in 30 years. Twenty permanent range transects were established in the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd in 1981 to assess the impacts of grazing. These transects were revisited in 1995 and 1996 (1995/96 Shrub cover increased during the study whereas forb cover declined. The decline in lichen abundance on the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd over 24 years is an index of caribou habitat condition. The observed changes in vegetation cover can be attributed to caribou grazing, fire, and possibly global climate change. Continued declines in lichen cover could lead to population declines within the herd, range shifts, or both.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change

Joly

Jandt

Meyers

et al. 2007

Ran

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“…Talbot et al (2001), however, described lichen diversity of two isolated Bering Sea islands about 400 km from the Alaska mainland. Most lichen work in the arctic tundra has focused on north-central Alaska (e.g., Moser et al 1979;Swanson et al 1985;Auerbach et al 1997). The continental climate and resulting flora in northcentral Alaska can differ significantly in temperature and precipitation from the more oceanic flora found in northwestern Alaska.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succession and community gradients of arctic macrolichens and their relation to substrate, topography, and rockiness

Holt¹

2007

North Amer. Fungi

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We describe lichen community structure and its relation to environment in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in northwestern Alaska. We used a stratified random sample to estimate macrolichen abundance and several environmental variables from 78 0.38-ha plots within lichendominated areas of the Preserve. We found a total of 140 macrolichen taxa. Two primary gradients in lichen species composition were related to habitat rockiness and a substrate-topographic gradient. The strongest gradient, rockiness, correlates with lichen succession. Rocky habitats have less competition from vascular plants and may be more resistant to soil disturbance. The substrate-topography gradient is largely driven by the presence of Sphagnum moss contrasting with calcareous parent rock material. To uncover additional underlying patterns in lichen community composition, we deleted rocky and calcareous plots and strictly saxicolous species from the analyses. Although we found similar patterns from the original analysis in this subset, diversity and community composition also varied with differing microtopography. These gradients of lichen community composition can also be divided into three major groups; rocky non-calcareous sites, calcareous areas, and the remaining plots form the alluvial lowland communities. We used two-way cluster analysis which combines independent clustering of sample units and species into a single diagram. This technique linked individual species and species assemblages with these major trends.

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“…In terms of arctic vegetation specifically, lichen abundance is predicted to decline while vascular shrubs and graminoids (grasses and sedges) may increase (Chapin et al 1995;Cornelissen et al 2001;Walker et al 2006). Though Caribou grazing and trampling have been implicated as major factors in reduced lichen abundance (Moser et al 1979;Messier et al 1988;Arseneault et al 1997;Joly et al 2007b), climate change may further exacerbate declines. Lichens are thought to be a critical component of the winter diet of large, migratory herds in northern North America (White et al 1981;Klein 1991).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Diets of Overwintering Caribou, <em>Rangifer tarandus</em>, Track Decadal Changes in Arctic Tundra Vegetation

2007

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We compared winter diets of Western Arctic Herd Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) from 1995/1996 and 2005 using microhistological fecal analysis on samples collected at paired permanent vegetation transects. Changes in the diets of Caribou followed the same trends as vegetative changes documented in long-term studies in northwestern Alaska. Lichens were significantly less prevalent on the landscape and in the winter diets of Caribou between 1995/1996 and 2005, while graminoids (grasses and sedges) were significantly more prevalent. Dramatic changes are forecasted for Arctic ecosystems under global warming scenarios which may continue the trend of declining lichens in northwestern Alaska and in the diet of Western Arctic Herd Caribou. The question of whether or not the altered diet will affect the population dynamics of this herd remains unresolved.

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Lichens of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, with Emphasis on the Impact of Caribou Grazing

Cited by 40 publications

References 17 publications

Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change

Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change

Succession and community gradients of arctic macrolichens and their relation to substrate, topography, and rockiness

Diets of Overwintering Caribou, <em>Rangifer tarandus</em>, Track Decadal Changes in Arctic Tundra Vegetation

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