Transects for pellet counts in tundra ecosystems around Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island

• Main Authors: McLennan, Donald, Anablak, Cathy, Pedersen, Aili, Wagner, Johann, Wingnek, Leonard
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2015
• Subjects: Arctic; Biomass; Cambridge Bay; Ecosystem; Herbivory; Tundra; Vegetation; Victoria Island; Polar Knowledge Canada/Canadian High Arctic Research Station; Canada; Nunavut; caribou; muskox; victoria island
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.21963/12533; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=12533

Observing the presence of herbivore animal droppings can give an idea of their presence as well as impact on the landscape. During the summer of 2015 animal droppings were counted in various landscapes along 30-metre lines. The transects were 30 m in length and 1 m wide. Pellets, identified to species level (caribou, muskox, ptarmigan), or to broader categories (goose/duck) were counted and recorded every metre (that is, on 1 x 1 m plots) along the transect. Along with pellet counts, also date and time, as well as geographical coordinates of start and end of the transects were recorded. Data are available in csv and excel formats. : Purpose: Herbivory is a main driver of tundra plant communities, both directly by plant biomass consumption, and indirectly by trampling and nutrient deposition. Thus, herbivores can modulate the responses of tundra plants to warming. In order to assess herbivore pressure on several ecosystem types around Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut, transects for pellet counts have been performed during the summer of 2015. : Summary: Not Applicable