Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change
The population of the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at 490 000 caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in 2003, is at its highest level in 30 years. Twenty permanent range transects were established in the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd in 1981 to assess the impacts of grazing. These transects...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:675a1c3a5c5b4848ab66a7b12690adde 2023-05-15T14:50:22+02:00 Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change Kyle Joly Randi R. Jandt Cynthia R. Meyers Martha J. Cole 2007-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7557/2.27.4.345 https://doaj.org/article/675a1c3a5c5b4848ab66a7b12690adde EN eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/345 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.27.4.345 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/675a1c3a5c5b4848ab66a7b12690adde Rangifer, Vol 27, Iss 4 (2007) Alaska assessment grazing habitat lichens monitoring Animal culture SF1-1100 article 2007 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7557/2.27.4.345 2022-12-31T11:00:23Z The population of the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at 490 000 caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in 2003, is at its highest level in 30 years. Twenty permanent range transects were established in the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd in 1981 to assess the impacts of grazing. These transects were revisited in 1995 and 1996 (1995/96). Only 18 of the transects were re-located, so an additional 7 transects were established in 1996. In 2005, all 25 remaining transects were revisited. Lichen coverage dropped by a relative 45.1% between 1981 and 1995/96 and by an additional relative 25.6% between 1995/96 and 2005. There was a significant decline in primary forage lichens between 1995/96 and 2005. Caribou use was greater in areas with high lichen abundance. Graminoid cover increased by a relative 118.4% from 1981 to 1995/96 and again by a relative 26.1% from 1995/96 to 2005. Shrub cover increased during the study whereas forb cover declined. The decline in lichen abundance on the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd over 24 years is an index of caribou habitat condition. The observed changes in vegetation cover can be attributed to caribou grazing, fire, and possibly global climate change. Continued declines in lichen cover could lead to population declines within the herd, range shifts, or both. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic caribou Climate change Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Rangifer 27 4 199 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Alaska assessment grazing habitat lichens monitoring Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
Alaska assessment grazing habitat lichens monitoring Animal culture SF1-1100 Kyle Joly Randi R. Jandt Cynthia R. Meyers Martha J. Cole Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
topic_facet |
Alaska assessment grazing habitat lichens monitoring Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
The population of the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at 490 000 caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in 2003, is at its highest level in 30 years. Twenty permanent range transects were established in the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd in 1981 to assess the impacts of grazing. These transects were revisited in 1995 and 1996 (1995/96). Only 18 of the transects were re-located, so an additional 7 transects were established in 1996. In 2005, all 25 remaining transects were revisited. Lichen coverage dropped by a relative 45.1% between 1981 and 1995/96 and by an additional relative 25.6% between 1995/96 and 2005. There was a significant decline in primary forage lichens between 1995/96 and 2005. Caribou use was greater in areas with high lichen abundance. Graminoid cover increased by a relative 118.4% from 1981 to 1995/96 and again by a relative 26.1% from 1995/96 to 2005. Shrub cover increased during the study whereas forb cover declined. The decline in lichen abundance on the winter range of the Western Arctic Herd over 24 years is an index of caribou habitat condition. The observed changes in vegetation cover can be attributed to caribou grazing, fire, and possibly global climate change. Continued declines in lichen cover could lead to population declines within the herd, range shifts, or both. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kyle Joly Randi R. Jandt Cynthia R. Meyers Martha J. Cole |
author_facet |
Kyle Joly Randi R. Jandt Cynthia R. Meyers Martha J. Cole |
author_sort |
Kyle Joly |
title |
Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
title_short |
Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
title_full |
Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
title_fullStr |
Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
title_full_unstemmed |
Changes in vegetative cover on Western Arctic Herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
title_sort |
changes in vegetative cover on western arctic herd winter range from 1981 to 2005: potential effects of grazing and climate change |
publisher |
Septentrio Academic Publishing |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.27.4.345 https://doaj.org/article/675a1c3a5c5b4848ab66a7b12690adde |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic caribou Climate change Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic caribou Climate change Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
op_source |
Rangifer, Vol 27, Iss 4 (2007) |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/345 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.27.4.345 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/675a1c3a5c5b4848ab66a7b12690adde |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.27.4.345 |
container_title |
Rangifer |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
199 |
_version_ |
1766321401349799936 |