Population dynamics of reindeer

Baskin, Leonid

doi:10.7557/2.10.3.847

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In spite of this, reindeer and caribou are often quite specific in their selection of winter grounds (Henshaw, 1968;Bergerud, 1974;Baskin, 1990). In recent years, remote sensing has been used to map summer forage, snow cover, distribution of lichen heath communities, and grazing pressure (Tømmervik et al, 1990;Hall et al, 1991;Pearce, 1991).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

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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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrain Selection by Reindeer in Late Winter in Central Norway

Nellemann¹

1996

ARCTIC

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“…Rut herds usually consist of between 2 and 20 individuals; after the rut the bulls again leave the herds and spend a solitary winter. In present-day Finland the largest aggregations are found in January and February, when herds of up to 200 cows and juveniles can be encountered (Baskin 1990;Heikura et al 1983;Heikura et al 1985;Helle 1979;Helle 1981;Montonen 1974).…”

Section: The Question Of the Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Mountain reindeer spend the summer season in treeless regions, either far north or high in the Consequently, mountain reindeer generally undertake much longer migrations than forest reindeer (e.g. Baskin 1990;Heikura et al 1985). The group sizes and aggregation patterns of the two subspecies are also different.…”

Section: The Question Of the Subspeciesmentioning

confidence: 98%

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On the early history of the wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) in Finland

Rankama¹,

Ukkonen²

2001

Boreas

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On the early history of the wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) in Finland TUIJA RANKAMA AND PIRKKO UKKONEN Rankama, T. & Ukkonen, P. 2001 (June): On the early history of the wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) in Finland. Boreas, Vol. 30, pp. 131-147. Oslo. ISSN 0300-9483 .This paper discusses the early migration of the wild reindeer into Finland. Reindeer bones found in dated archaeologica l contexts suggest that the two subspecies , the mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) and the forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus Lönnb.), were part of our fauna as early as c. 9000 BP and 7000 BP, respectively . The mountain reindeer may be descende d from the European Pleistocene reindeer , and may have migrated into northern Finland via the west coast of Norway. The forest reindeer invaded Finland directly from the east, from its glacial refugia in Siberia. During the Holocene, the distributio n ranges of these two subspecies uctuated in accordanc e with climatic and vegetationa l changes in northern Finland.

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“…Skogland (1985) observed that recruitment fell sharply at densities over 2.5 per km 2 owing to a decline in calf productivity of the subadult females, but that calf productivity of females 3-years old and older also fell slightly even at densities of 2 per km 2 . When caribou reach densities exceeding 2 per km 2 , movement increases and distribution can be unpredictable (Skoog, 1968;Baskin, 1990). Although possibilities are limited, dispersal or movement have been observed in West Greenland populations (Cuyler et al, 2003).…”

Section: And Aftermentioning

confidence: 99%

West Greenland caribou explosion: What happened? What about the future?

Cuyler

2007

Ran

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In West Greenland, the 1993 caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) population size estimate was 7000 to 9000 animals. Eight years later in 2001, the estimate was ca. 140 000. Relatively rapid rise and fall cycles of abundance in West Greenland caribou have been noted since the 1700s. Caribou have no natural predators in West Greenland. Combined with their high fertility and recruitment, this suggests that overabundance might be their greatest threat to stability. The 2005 population surveys indicate poor recruitment in two major populations and decreasing abundance in one. Given stocking densities are three to six-times the value considered sustainable, we expect strong competition between individuals for available food resources. Although the management goal is sustainable harvest of natural resources, if populations continue at their current size or increase further, there is a clear risk of range overgrazing and trampling. Unsustainable range use may result in density-dependent forage limitation with subsequent relatively rapid population decline over a series of years, e.g. a decade. As in the past, populations are expected to recover, and if true to the past, recovery will take the better part of a century. Furthermore, the role of catastrophic weather events may be of major importance. Abrupt collapse could be precipitated by a disastrous single year event, e.g. thaw-freeze icing or deep snow, because possibilities for dispersal to new ranges are limited. Regardless of management initiatives taken now, population declines or crashes may be inevitable for some West Greenland herds in the foreseeable future, but accurate predictions about herd trends are impossible. To understand the potential impact of future developments, Greenland caribou and their range must be studied within the wider context of climate change.

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Population dynamics of reindeer

Cited by 8 publications

References 9 publications

Terrain Selection by Reindeer in Late Winter in Central Norway

Terrain Selection by Reindeer in Late Winter in Central Norway

On the early history of the wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) in Finland

West Greenland caribou explosion: What happened? What about the future?

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