Winter forage selection by barren-ground caribou: Effects of fire and snow

Both long- and short-term consequences should be considered when examining the effects of fire on the foraging behavior of caribou. Post-fire increases in protein content, digestibility, and availability of E. vaginatum make burned tussock tundra an attractive feeding area for caribou in late winter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rangifer
Main Author: Saperstein, Lisa
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1996
Subjects:
Online Access:https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/1248
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.16.4.1248
Description
Summary:Both long- and short-term consequences should be considered when examining the effects of fire on the foraging behavior of caribou. Post-fire increases in protein content, digestibility, and availability of E. vaginatum make burned tussock tundra an attractive feeding area for caribou in late winter. These benefits are likely short-lived, however. Lowered availability of lichens and increased relative frequency of bryophytes will persist for a much longer period.