Reindeer and caribou Rangifer tarandus in the wild and under pastoralism

Abstract Reindeer and caribou, respectively Old World and New World forms of Rangifer tarandus , live in large groups in the boreal forest and on the Arctic tundra. Many stocks of reindeer are herded by pastoralists. This article reviews the ecology, breeding biology and herding behaviour of both fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Author: Paine, Robert
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1988
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ecology
Geography, Planning and Development
Arctic
Polar Record
Rangifer tarandus
Tundra
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400022324
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400022324
Description
Summary:Abstract Reindeer and caribou, respectively Old World and New World forms of Rangifer tarandus , live in large groups in the boreal forest and on the Arctic tundra. Many stocks of reindeer are herded by pastoralists. This article reviews the ecology, breeding biology and herding behaviour of both forms, as revealed by recent field studies. It identifies breeding synchrony, dominance and leadership as important aspects of their social organization, mediated by a system of signals that keep the herds together, and discusses the significance of pastoral practices that maintain herd organization and make reindeer herding possible.

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