Seasonal and Interannual Dietary Variation During Winter in Female Svalbard Reindeer (<i>Rangifer Tarandus Platyrhynchus</i>)

Bjørkvoll, Eirin Marie; Pedersen, Bård; Hytteborn, Håkan; Jónsdóttir, Ingibjörg S.; Langvatn, Rolf

doi:10.1657/1523-0430-41.1.88

Cited by 39 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…If there are no available mushrooms (which form an important part of the reindeer diet in late summer and early autumn), reindeer are probably also more eager to eat lichens. Depending on plant availability and quality, reindeer utilize a wide variety of plants in summer (Bjorkvoll et al, 2009). Usually, reindeer feed selectively on several dozens of vascular plants in summer (Nieminen et al, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This grazing pattern enables semi-domesticated reindeer to obtain forage most suitable for each season, with high contents of carbohydrates in winter and proteins in summer (Albon et al, 1992;Bjorkvoll et al, 2009). 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.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The diet composition of semi-domesticated reindeer varies seasonally and is dependent on the quality and availability of different food plants on pastures (Bjorkvoll et al, 2009). In summer, reindeer food contains a large variety of herbs, grasses, sedges, horsetail, dwarf shrubs (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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“…They feed on most available plant species and have been shown to adjust their feeding preferences opportunistically to changing conditions (Staaland et al 1993;Bjune 2000;Bjørkvoll et al 2009;Hansen & Aanes 2012). Their main winter diet consists of graminoids, polar willow (Salix polaris) and mosses, complemented by other common plant groups (Bjørkvoll et al 2009). Unlike for most other subspecies of R. tarandus, mosses can be an important dietary component in winter in spite of their low digestibility (Staaland et al 1983;Bjørkvoll et al 2009).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their main winter diet consists of graminoids, polar willow (Salix polaris) and mosses, complemented by other common plant groups (Bjørkvoll et al 2009). Unlike for most other subspecies of R. tarandus, mosses can be an important dietary component in winter in spite of their low digestibility (Staaland et al 1983;Bjørkvoll et al 2009). It is assumed that this high intake of mosses in Svalbard is due to a low availability of lichens -the preferred food source of reindeer and caribou in winter elsewhere (Skogland 1984;Van der Wal et al 2000).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cratering behaviour and faecal C:N ratio in relation to seasonal snowpack characteristics in a High-Arctic ungulate

Beumer¹,

Varpe

Hansen

2017

Polar Research

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Fecal hormones as a non‐invasive population monitoring method for reindeer

et al. 2011

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Proper management of threatened species requires knowledge of population sizes and structures, however current techniques to gather this information are generally impractical and costly and can be stressful on the animals. Non-invasive methods that can produce high quality and accurate results are better alternatives. In winter 2010, we collected blood and fecal samples from 2 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) populations (Kaamanen, Finland and Svalbard, Norway) to investigate the feasibility of using fecal progesterone metabolites to help estimate the reproductive status, the sex, and the age structures of the populations. We first examined the relationship between plasma progesterone and fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations. We further assessed whether fecal progesterone metabolite levels would clearly differ among calf, yearling, and adult and between pregnant and non-pregnant females. We quantified fecal progesterone metabolites (using enzyme immunoassay) and plasma progesterone (using radio immunoassay) of females and males of different ages from the 2 herds. We found in both populations that fecal progesterone metabolite levels reflected plasma progesterone concentrations. However, the range of fecal progesterone metabolite concentration was much wider in Finland than in Svalbard, possibly due to differences in diet or body condition. We determined a threshold value of 1.31 ng/ml plasma progesterone and 2025.93 ng/g dried fecal progesterone metabolites to identify pregnant reindeer from non-pregnant animals with 100% accuracy. We found a significant difference in fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations only between calves and yearlings/adults in Finland. We could not differentiate among males, non-pregnant adults, or calves of either sex; therefore identification of sex may have to rely on the use of DNA techniques. Our results suggest that hormone concentration, in combination with fecal DNA and pellet morphometry techniques, may provide important population parameters and is a valuable tool for the monitoring of reindeer and may have an application for threatened populations of woodland caribou throughout the winter and early spring.

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Seasonal and Interannual Dietary Variation During Winter in Female Svalbard Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus Platyrhynchus)

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 39 publications

References 44 publications

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

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

Cratering behaviour and faecal C:N ratio in relation to seasonal snowpack characteristics in a High-Arctic ungulate

Fecal hormones as a non‐invasive population monitoring method for reindeer

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