Long- and short-term effects of reindeer grazing on tundra wetland vegetation |
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Authors: | Heidi Kitti Bruce C Forbes Jari Oksanen |
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Institution: | (1) Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, PO Box 122, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland;(2) University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland |
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Abstract: | We studied long-term (50 years) and short-term (4 years) effects of summer grazing of reindeer on subarctic tundra wetland
vegetation. The long-term effects of summer grazing were studied by comparing vegetation on Finnish and Norwegian sides of
the fence line separating reindeer grazing regimes. The Finnish side was intensively grazed and trampled throughout the year,
whereas the Norwegian side was grazed in winter. Experimental fences were erected to examine short-term effects of grazing
exclusion. Both in the long- and short-term, summer grazing decreased the height of Salix lapponum whereas the short-term effects on willow cover were less clear than the long-term effects. In contrast, Carex spp. benefited from grazing. Long-term grazing had little effect on total bryophyte cover. Grazing had negligible effects on the
nutrient content of leaves of S. lapponum and Eriophorum angustifolium. We conclude that tundra wetlands can withstand moderately high grazing pressure sustained over several decades. |
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Keywords: | Rangifer tarandus Herbivory Subarctic Fennoscandia Salix lapponum Eriophorum angustifolium |
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