A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community
A prediction from the herbivore optimization hypothesis is that grazing by herbivores at moderate intensities will increase net above-ground primary productivity more than at lower or higher intensities. I tested this hypothesis in an area of high muskox {Ovibos moschatus) density on north-central B...
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Language: | English |
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
1996
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 https://doaj.org/article/07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 2023-05-15T15:08:23+02:00 A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community David L. Smith 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 https://doaj.org/article/07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 EN eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.16.2.1199 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 Rangifer, Vol 16, Iss 2 (1996) grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis Animal culture SF1-1100 article 1996 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 2022-12-31T04:03:58Z A prediction from the herbivore optimization hypothesis is that grazing by herbivores at moderate intensities will increase net above-ground primary productivity more than at lower or higher intensities. I tested this hypothesis in an area of high muskox {Ovibos moschatus) density on north-central Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada (73°50'N, 119°53'W). Plots (1 m2) in graminoid meadows dominated by cottongrass (Eriophorum triste) were either clipped, exposed to muskoxen, protected for part of one growing season, or permanently protected. This resulted in the removal of 22-44%, 10-39%, 0-39% or 0%, respectively, of shoot tissue during each growing season. Contrary to the predictions of the herbivore optimization hypothesis, productivity did not increase across this range of tissue removal. Productivity of plants clipped at 1.5 cm above ground once or twice per growing season, declined by 60+/-5% in 64% of the tests. The productivity of plants grazed by muskoxen declined by 56+/-7% in 25% of the tests. No significant change in productivity was observed in 36% and 75% of the tests in clipped and grazed treatments, respecrively. Clipping and grazing reduced below-ground standing crop except where removals were small. Grazing and clipping did not stimulate productivity of north-central Banks Island graminoid meadows. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Banks Island Eriophorum muskox Northwest Territories ovibos moschatus Rangifer Cottongrass Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Northwest Territories Canada Rangifer 16 2 69 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis Animal culture SF1-1100 David L. Smith A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
topic_facet |
grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
A prediction from the herbivore optimization hypothesis is that grazing by herbivores at moderate intensities will increase net above-ground primary productivity more than at lower or higher intensities. I tested this hypothesis in an area of high muskox {Ovibos moschatus) density on north-central Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada (73°50'N, 119°53'W). Plots (1 m2) in graminoid meadows dominated by cottongrass (Eriophorum triste) were either clipped, exposed to muskoxen, protected for part of one growing season, or permanently protected. This resulted in the removal of 22-44%, 10-39%, 0-39% or 0%, respectively, of shoot tissue during each growing season. Contrary to the predictions of the herbivore optimization hypothesis, productivity did not increase across this range of tissue removal. Productivity of plants clipped at 1.5 cm above ground once or twice per growing season, declined by 60+/-5% in 64% of the tests. The productivity of plants grazed by muskoxen declined by 56+/-7% in 25% of the tests. No significant change in productivity was observed in 36% and 75% of the tests in clipped and grazed treatments, respecrively. Clipping and grazing reduced below-ground standing crop except where removals were small. Grazing and clipping did not stimulate productivity of north-central Banks Island graminoid meadows. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
David L. Smith |
author_facet |
David L. Smith |
author_sort |
David L. Smith |
title |
A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
title_short |
A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
title_full |
A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
title_fullStr |
A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
title_full_unstemmed |
A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
title_sort |
test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community |
publisher |
Septentrio Academic Publishing |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 https://doaj.org/article/07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 |
geographic |
Arctic Northwest Territories Canada |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Northwest Territories Canada |
genre |
Arctic Banks Island Eriophorum muskox Northwest Territories ovibos moschatus Rangifer Cottongrass |
genre_facet |
Arctic Banks Island Eriophorum muskox Northwest Territories ovibos moschatus Rangifer Cottongrass |
op_source |
Rangifer, Vol 16, Iss 2 (1996) |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.16.2.1199 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/07f737d6d39c4028b8edb0e00db1c8d6 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 |
container_title |
Rangifer |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
69 |
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1766339760793583616 |