Wild Reindeer Food Habits and Range Use at Hardangervidda

Gaare, E.; Skogland, Terje

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-66276-8_26

Cited by 83 publications

(60 citation statements)

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“…This is a dramatic management perspective in Norway, where density of reindeer is regulated by hunting primarily in relation to condition of winter ranges. Possible effects are thus overgrazing of limited lichen resources with slow regeneration rates (Scotter, 1966;Gaare and Skogland, 1975;Thompson and McCourt, 1980;Helle, 1984;Thomas and Herviux, 1986;Nieminen and Heiskari, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Nellemann¹,

Jordhøy²,

Støen³

et al. 2000

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Potential avoidance by wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) of high-altitude tourist resorts during winter was investigated in and near Rondane National Park in Norway. Distribution of reindeer was mapped using systematic snowmobile surveys during 1991-96 and compared with results from investigations of snow and vegetation characteristics. Maternal reindeer avoided a 10 km zone around the resort. Cows and calves increased in density from 0.6 ± 0.6 reindeer km -2 at 5-10 km from the resort to 7.6 ± 2.2 reindeer km -2 at 15-25 km from the resort. Bulls and yearlings were more tolerant, constituting nearly 92% of all observed animals 5-10 km from the resort. Nearly all animals avoided the zone within 5 km of the resort. There were no significant differences in distribution of lichen heath, hardness of snow, integrated ram hardness index (IRH) values, or snow depths on ridges with increasing distance from the resort. Available biomass of lichens was ca. 1200 g m -2 0-5 km from the resort and decreased to a low of ca. 250 g m -2 at 15-25 km distance, a pattern that probably reflects overgrazing as a result of avoiding the tourist resort. Such avoidance implies reduced forage intake during winter, substantial reduction in available habitat, and lower productivity of the herd. The results suggest that avoidance by wild animals of sources of anthropogenic disturbance may involve long-term impacts, such as reductions in carrying capacity, that are more serious than those expected from direct physiological stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Nellemann¹,

Jordhøy²,

Støen³

et al. 2000

ARCTIC

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“…Among Hardangervidda females lichens made up 35% of the diet, and in Forelhogna 62% Skogland 1975, Gaare andHansson 1975). As population densities doubled lichen content was halved and substituted by alternative plants such as dead grasses, mosses and litter of low quality (Skogland 1984a).…”

Section: Dietsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of food and maternal conditions in fetal growth and size in wild reindeer

Skogland

1984

Ran

107

118

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Effekter av ernaering og simlas kondisjon på vekst og størrelse av foster hos villrein.TERJE SKOGLAND, DVF, Viltforskningen, Tungasletta 2, N-7000 Trondheim, Norway. Abstract: Fetal growth rates and birth weights were studied in four wild reindeer areas in Southern Norway (Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutshø, Forelhogna), representing high and low density populations, with a 5-fold difference in mean lichen winter-food availability. Fetal growth was depressed by 42% in the high-densitv Hardangervidda population, and mean birth weights were 3.7 vs. 6.2 kg, with a 10 days difference in mean birth dates. Fetal size was better correlated with maternal weight, than age. Maternal weights increased until 5 yrs. of age and then decreased in the high-density Hardangervidda population (but not so in the low density Knutshø-Forclhogna populations). 55% of the offspring died before weaning in the Hardangervidda herd, but no significant calf losses were found amont the large-sized does in the food-abundant areas. Sammendrag: Fostervekst og fødselsvekter ble undersøkt i fire villreinområder i Sør-Norge (Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutshø og Forelhogna) som representerer høg-og lågtetthetsstammer, med en 5-foldig forskjell i gjennomsnittlig lavbeite-tilgang om vinteren. Fosterveksten ble nedsatt med 42% i høgtetthetsstammen på Hardangervidda og fødselsvektene var i gjennomsnitt 3,7 kg, mot 6,2 kg i det beste området, og med en 10 dagers forsinkelse i midlere fødselsdato. Fosterets størrelse var korrelert med morens vekt, som igjen var avhengig av hennes alder. Hos de minste simlene i det dårligste området økte vektene til 5-års alder, for deretter å avta for hvert gjenlevende år. Hos simlene i det beste området økte vektene til 10-års alder, og var da dobbelt så tunge som fra det dårligste området. 55% av avkommet døde før de var avvent med diing hos Hardangervidda-simlene, mens det ikke var noen statistisk målbar dødelighet hos kalvene i Knutshø-Forelhogna. Ybteenveto: Etelå-Norjan neljallå peura-alueella, jotka ovat Hardangervidda, Hallingskarvet, Knutsho ja Forelhogna, tutkittiin porosikion kasvua ja syntymåpainoja. Alueet edustavat ylintå ja alinta tiheyskantaa ja loytyy 5-kertainen eroavaisuus keskimåarin jåkålålaiduntaan talvisaikaan. Sikion kasvu aleni 42% ylemmåsså tiheyskannassa Hardangervidda-alueella ja syntymåpainot olivat keskimåarin 3,7 kg mutta 6,2 kg parhaimmalla alueella, ja 10 påivån myohastyminen keskimååråisesta syntymåpåivayksestå. Sikion suuruus oli vastaavuussuhteessa emon painoon, joka oli taas riippuvainen sen iåstå. Huonoimmalla alueella pieninpien naaraiden painot lisåantyivåt 5-ikåvuoteen asti, vahetåkseen sen jålkeen jokaista jåljellåolevaa elovuotta kohden. Parhaimmalla alueella naaraiden painot lisåantyivåt 10-ikåvuoteen asti, ja oli silloin kaksi kertaa niin raskaita kuin huonoimman alueen naarasporot. 55% jålkelåisistå kuoli ennenkuin ne olivat vierottuneet Hardangervidda-naarasporoista. Sitåvastoin ei ollut mitåån tilastollisesti mitattavissa olevaa Knutsho -Forelhogna-alueiden vasaku...

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“…Linnaeus (1735) called the lichens they ate during the winter Lichen rangiferinus, a group now separated in several species belonging to many genera. (Ekern & Kildemo, 1978;Brattbakk, 1985), but commonly lichens dominate on winter range (Gaare, 1968;Gaare & Skogland, 1975;Eriksson et al, 1981;Chernov, 1985). Therefore, throughout their distribution, Rangifer populations benefit from the species unique ability to digest lichens well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hypothesis to explain lichen-Rangifer dynamic relationships

Gaare

1997

Ran

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A small group of fruticous lichen species, viz. Cetraria nivalis, Cladonia mitis, C. stellaris, and Stereocaulon pascbale forms extensive mats in the most winter habitats of Rangifer tarandus populations in Norway. The plant communities accessible for grazing are often found on easily drained, moraine ridges. These lichen species are perennial, lying on the ground while growing slowly at the top. As they decompose they add humus to the top of the soil profile.The lichen mats catch all water from small showers, thus preventing vascular plants from obtaining a more regular water supply. Grazing removs whole plants and gradually makes larger and larger holes in the lichen mats. Wind and water erode the humus, with only coarse gravel remaining. This diminishes the soil water storage capacity. Without grazing, lichens will gradually build a humus layer, which would improve the soil water storage capacity. In time vascular plants then would take the place of the lichens. I propose the hypothesis that by (over-)grazing Rangifer improve their winter pastures by making conditions more favourable for lichens than for vascular plants.The fact that lichens are more scarce on habitats with more and regular precipitation, 1) in more oceanic climates, 2) on soils with more silt, and 3) on bird perches with thick peat due to regular fertilising, support this hypothesis.

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Wild Reindeer Food Habits and Range Use at Hardangervidda

Cited by 83 publications

References 1 publication

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

Cumulative Impacts of Tourist Resorts on Wild Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) during Winter

The effects of food and maternal conditions in fetal growth and size in wild reindeer

A hypothesis to explain lichen-Rangifer dynamic relationships

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