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://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 |
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ftunitroemsoe:oai:ojs.henry.ub.uit.no:article/1199 2023-05-15T15:08:06+02:00 A test of the herbivore optimization hypothesis using muskoxen and a graminoid meadow plant community Smith, David L. 1996-01-01 application/pdf https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 eng eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199/1139 https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 doi:10.7557/2.16.2.1199 Copyright (c) 2015 David L. Smith http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC-BY Rangifer; Årg 16 Nr 2 (1996); 69-77 Rangifer; Vol 16 No 2 (1996); 69-77 1890-6729 grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis muskoxen info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 1996 ftunitroemsoe https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 2021-08-16T14:53:01Z 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 University of Tromsø: Septentrio Academic Publishing Arctic Canada Northwest Territories Rangifer 16 2 69 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tromsø: Septentrio Academic Publishing |
op_collection_id |
ftunitroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis muskoxen |
spellingShingle |
grazing arctic biomass plant community roots optimization hypothesis muskoxen Smith, David L. 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 muskoxen |
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 |
Smith, David L. |
author_facet |
Smith, David L. |
author_sort |
Smith, David L. |
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://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.2.1199 |
geographic |
Arctic Canada Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada Northwest Territories |
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; Årg 16 Nr 2 (1996); 69-77 Rangifer; Vol 16 No 2 (1996); 69-77 1890-6729 |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199/1139 https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1199 doi:10.7557/2.16.2.1199 |
op_rights |
Copyright (c) 2015 David L. Smith http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
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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1766339526204063744 |