Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska
Abstract Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) rely on the short Arctic growing season to restore body condition, support the demands of lactation, and prepare for the long arctic winter, making them susceptible to even small changes in forage availability or quality. Body condition in the summer and autumn i...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:be2995aec1b04cb189f25aeeeab6d67c 2023-05-15T14:56:50+02:00 Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska J. C. Richert A. J. Leffler D. E. Spalinger J. M. Welker 2021-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/article/be2995aec1b04cb189f25aeeeab6d67c EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/article/be2995aec1b04cb189f25aeeeab6d67c Ecosphere, Vol 12, Iss 7, Pp n/a-n/a (2021) digestibility leaf N Rangifer tarandus secondary compounds snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 2022-12-31T06:07:34Z Abstract Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) rely on the short Arctic growing season to restore body condition, support the demands of lactation, and prepare for the long arctic winter, making them susceptible to even small changes in forage availability or quality. Body condition in the summer and autumn is linked to winter survival rates and fecundity in cows, critical factors in the productivity of caribou populations. Climate change predictions of warmer and wetter northern winters suggest increased snowfall over Alaska's North Slope, which has recently been verified between 1995 and 2017. However, a comprehensive analysis of how deeper snow will affect caribou forage quality is absent across Alaska. In this study, we quantify how snow depth alters the quality and seasonality of caribou forage using a long‐term (24 yr) International Tundra Experiment snow depth manipulation to evaluate how winter climate change scenarios may affect tussock tundra systems in northern Alaska. Deeper snow in prior winters leads to increases in growing season leaf N and digestible protein (DP) in deciduous shrubs (Salix spp. and Betula spp.) and graminoids (Carex spp. and Eriophorum spp.), but not evergreen dwarf shrubs (Rhododendron spp. and Vaccinium spp.). Dry matter digestibility varied among species with small differences (<5%) associated with snow depth. Most striking was the discovery that deeper snow in the prior winter increased the duration of DP levels above the minimum threshold for protein gain in caribou by as much as 25 d in Salix pulchra and 6–9 d in Betula nana and Carex bigelowii in late summer and early autumn. Consequently, deeper winter snow may provide an extended window of opportunity for foraging and the accumulation of lean body mass and fat reserves which promote winter survival and successful calving the following spring and potentially improve the productivity of caribou in northern Alaska. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Betula nana Carex bigelowii Climate change Eriophorum north slope Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Ecosphere 12 7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
digestibility leaf N Rangifer tarandus secondary compounds snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
digestibility leaf N Rangifer tarandus secondary compounds snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 J. C. Richert A. J. Leffler D. E. Spalinger J. M. Welker Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
topic_facet |
digestibility leaf N Rangifer tarandus secondary compounds snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) rely on the short Arctic growing season to restore body condition, support the demands of lactation, and prepare for the long arctic winter, making them susceptible to even small changes in forage availability or quality. Body condition in the summer and autumn is linked to winter survival rates and fecundity in cows, critical factors in the productivity of caribou populations. Climate change predictions of warmer and wetter northern winters suggest increased snowfall over Alaska's North Slope, which has recently been verified between 1995 and 2017. However, a comprehensive analysis of how deeper snow will affect caribou forage quality is absent across Alaska. In this study, we quantify how snow depth alters the quality and seasonality of caribou forage using a long‐term (24 yr) International Tundra Experiment snow depth manipulation to evaluate how winter climate change scenarios may affect tussock tundra systems in northern Alaska. Deeper snow in prior winters leads to increases in growing season leaf N and digestible protein (DP) in deciduous shrubs (Salix spp. and Betula spp.) and graminoids (Carex spp. and Eriophorum spp.), but not evergreen dwarf shrubs (Rhododendron spp. and Vaccinium spp.). Dry matter digestibility varied among species with small differences (<5%) associated with snow depth. Most striking was the discovery that deeper snow in the prior winter increased the duration of DP levels above the minimum threshold for protein gain in caribou by as much as 25 d in Salix pulchra and 6–9 d in Betula nana and Carex bigelowii in late summer and early autumn. Consequently, deeper winter snow may provide an extended window of opportunity for foraging and the accumulation of lean body mass and fat reserves which promote winter survival and successful calving the following spring and potentially improve the productivity of caribou in northern Alaska. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. C. Richert A. J. Leffler D. E. Spalinger J. M. Welker |
author_facet |
J. C. Richert A. J. Leffler D. E. Spalinger J. M. Welker |
author_sort |
J. C. Richert |
title |
Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
title_short |
Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
title_full |
Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in Arctic Alaska |
title_sort |
snowier winters extend autumn availability of high‐quality forage for caribou in arctic alaska |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/article/be2995aec1b04cb189f25aeeeab6d67c |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Betula nana Carex bigelowii Climate change Eriophorum north slope Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Betula nana Carex bigelowii Climate change Eriophorum north slope Rangifer tarandus Tundra Alaska |
op_source |
Ecosphere, Vol 12, Iss 7, Pp n/a-n/a (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.3617 https://doaj.org/article/be2995aec1b04cb189f25aeeeab6d67c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3617 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
7 |
_version_ |
1766328906326999040 |