Growth Rates of Important Reindeer Forage Lichens on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Author: Pegau, Robert E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1968
• Subjects: Albedo; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric temperature; Density; Measurement; Microclimatology; Mountains; Slopes; Snow stratigraphy; Snow water equivalent; Solar radiation; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Topography; Weather stations; Winds; Logan; Mount; Yukon; Canada; Renne; Mount Yukon; Arctic; Cladonia rangiferina; Nome; Péninsule de Seward; Seward Peninsula; Alaska; renne
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/66319

Cladonia alpestris, C. rangiferina and C. sylvatica may comprise 75-90% of all lichens eaten by reindeer. Their growth rates must be known to determine the carrying capacity, rates of recovery and patterns for rotational grazing of reindeer rangelands. Data from two sites near Nome and a third near Koyuk show the annual linear rates of growth of these three species to be 5.0, 5.3 and 5.4 mm respectively. These averages exceed those of northern Canada and some areas in the USSR. C. rangiferina reaches the podetium renewal period in 5.9 yr, or in almost half the time required by the other two species. Taux de croissance d'importants lichens fourragers du renne, dans la Péninsule de Seward, Alaska. Les taux linéaires moyens annuels de croissance de Cladonia alpestris, C. rangiferina et C. sylvatica dans la péninsule de Seward, Alaska, ont été établis respectivement à 5, 5.3 et 5.4 mm. Ces moyennes sont plus grandes que celles du nord du Canada et de quelques régions de l'U.R.S.S. Cladonia rangiferina atteint sa période de renouvellement du podétium en 5.9 années, ce qui est à peu près la moitié du temps requis par les deux autres espèces.