Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of reindeer grazing on the composition and species richness of vegetation in forest–tundra ecotone

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We conducted an 8-year exclosure experiment (1999–2006) in a forest–tundra ecotonal area in northwestern Finnish Lapland to study the effects of reindeer grazing on vegetation in habitats of variable productivity and microhabitat structure. The experimental sites included tundra heath, frost heath and riparian habitats, and the two latter habitats were characterized by hummock-hollow ground forms. The total cover of vegetation, cover of willow (Salix spp.), dwarf birch (Betula nana), dwarf shrubs, forbs and grasses (Poaceae spp.) increased in exclosures in all habitats. The increase in the total cover of vegetation and in the covers of willow and dwarf birch tended to be greatest in the least productive tundra heath. Opposing to the increase in the dominant vascular plant groups, the cover and species number of bryophytes decreased in exclosures. We conclude that the effects of reindeer grazing on vegetation composition depend on environmental heterogeneity and the responses vary among plant groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Archer S, Tieszen LL (1980) Growth and physiological responses of tundra plants to defoliation. Arct Alp Res 12(4):531–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austrheim G, Eriksson O (2001) Plant species diversity and grazing in the Scandinavian mountains: patterns and processes at different spatial scales. Ecography 24:683–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bråthen KA, Oksanen J (2001) Reindeer reduce biomass of preferred plant species. J Veg Sci 12:473–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bråthen KA, Ims RA, Yoccoz NG, Fauchald P, Tveraa T, Hausner VH (2007) Induced shift in ecosystem productivity? Extensive scale effects of abundant large herbivores. Ecosystems. doi:10.1007/sl10021-007-9058-3

  • Crawley MJ (2002) Statistical computing: an introduction to data analysis using S-plus. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Crête M, Doucet GJ (1998) Persistent suppression in dwarf birch after release from heavy summer browsing by caribou. Arct Alp Res 30(2):126–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danell K, Utsi P-M, Palo T, Eriksson O (1994) Food plant selection by reindeer in relation to plant quality. Ecography 17:153–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • den Herder M, Niemelä P (2003) Effects of reindeer on the re-establishment of Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanowii and Salix phylicifolia in a Subarctic meadow. Rangifer 23(1):3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • den Herder M, Virtanen R, Roininen H (2004) Effects of reindeer browsing on tundra willow and its associated insect herbivores. J Appl Ecol 41:870–879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • den Herder M, Virtanen R, Roininen H (2008) Reindeer herbivory reduces willow growth and grouse forage in a forest-tundra ecotone. Basic Appl Ecol 9:324–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskelinen A (2008) Herbivore and neighbour effects on tundra plants depend on species identity, nutrient availability and local environmental conditions. J Ecol 96:155–165. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01322.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Eskelinen A, Oksanen J (2006) Changes in the abundance, composition and species richness of mountain vegetation in relation to summer grazing by reindeer. J Veg Sci 17:245–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans R (1996) Some impacts of overgrazing by reindeer in Finnmark, Norway. Rangifer 16(1):3–19

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gough L, Grace JB (1998) Herbivore effects on plant species density at varying productivity levels. Ecology 79(5):1586–1594

    Google Scholar 

  • Grab S (2005) Aspects of the geomorphology, genesis and environmental significance of earth hummocks (thufur, pounus): miniature cryogenic mounds. Progr Phys Geogr 29(2):139–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP (1973) Control of species density in herbaceous vegetation. J Environ Manage 1:151–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Haapasaari M (1988) The oligotrophic heath vegetation of northern Fennoscandia and its zonation. Acta Bot Fenn 135:1–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämet-Ahti L (1963) Zonation of the mountain birch forest in northernmost Fennoscandia. Ann Zool Fenn 34:1–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämet-Ahti L, Suominen J, Ulvinen T, Uotila P (eds) (1998) Retkeilykasvio (summary: Field Flora of Finland), 4th edn. Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botanical Museum, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen BB, Henriksen S, Aanes R, Sæther B-E (2007) Ungulate impact on vegetation in a two-level trophic system. Polar Biol 30:549–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helle T, Aspi J (1983) Effects of winter grazing by reindeer on vegetation. Oikos 40:337–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry GHR, Gunn A (1991) Recovery of tundra vegetation after overgrazing by caribou in Arctic Canada. Arctic 44(1):38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Järvinen A (1987) Basic climatological data on the Kilpisjärvi area, NW Finnish Lapland. Kilpisjärvi Notes 10:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasmin J-N, Rochefort L, Gauthier G (2008) Goose grazing influences the fine-scale structure of a bryophyte community in arctic wetlands. Polar Biol. doi:10.1007/s00300-008-0443-y

  • Korsman K, Koistinen T, Kohonen J, Wennerström M, Ekdahl E, Honkamo M, Idman H, Pekkala Y et al (1997) Bedrock map of Finland 1:1,000,000. Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumpula J, Colpaert A, Nieminen M (2000) Condition, potential recovery rate, and productivity of lichen (Cladonia spp) ranges in the Finnish reindeer management area. Arctic 53(2):152–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyllönen H (1988) Alpine and subalpine vegetation at Kilpisjärvi, Finnish Lapland. Acta Univ Oul A 202

  • Manseau M, Huot J, Crête M (1996) Effects of summer grazing by caribou on composition and productivity of vegetation: community and landscape level. J Ecol 84:503–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCullagh P, Nelder JA (1989) Generalized linear models: monograph on statistics and applied probability no. 37. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Milchunas DG, Lauenroth WK (1993) Quantitative effects of grazing on vegetation and soils over a global range of environments. Ecol Monogr 63(4):327–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moen J, Danell Ö (2003) Reindeer in the Swedish mountains: and assessment of grazing impacts. Ambio 32(6):397–402

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moen J, Oksanen L (1998) Long-term exclusion of folivorous mammals in two arctic-alpine plant communities: a test of the hypothesis of exploitation ecosystems. Oikos 82(2):333–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder CPH (1999) Vertebrate herbivores and plants in the Arctic and Subarctic: effects on individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst 2(1):29–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oksanen L, Moen J (1994) Species-specific plant responses to exclusion of grazers in three Fennoscandian tundra habitats. Écoscience 1:31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Oksanen L, Virtanen R (1995) Topographical, altitudinal and regional patterns in continental and suboceanic heath vegetation of northern Fennoscandia. Acta Bot Fenn 153:1–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J (2001) Influence of herbivory and abiotic factors on the distribution of tall forbs along a productivity gradient: a transplantation experiment. Oikos 94:351–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J (2006a) Short and long-term effects of changes in reindeer grazing pressure on tundra heath vegetation. J Ecol 94:431–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J (2006b) Plant diversity and resilience to reindeer grazing. Arct Antarct Alp Res 38(1):131–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J, Oksanen L (2005) Effects of reindeer density on vascular plant diversity on North Scandinavian mountains. Rangifer 25(1):5–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J, Kitti H, Rautiainen P, Stark S, Oksanen L (2001) Effects of summer grazing by reindeer on composition of vegetation, productivity, and nitrogen cycling. Ecography 24:13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J, Moen J, Oksanen L (2002) Effects of herbivory on competition intensity in two arctic-alpine tundra communities with different productivity. Oikos 96:265–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J, Stark S, Oksanen L (2004) Reindeer influence on ecosystem processes in the tundra. Oikos 105:386–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olofsson J, Hulme PE, Oksanen L, Suominen O (2005) Effects of mammalian herbivores on revegetation of disturbed areas in the forest-tundra ecotone in northern Fennoscandia. Landsc Ecol 20(3):351–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Post ES, Klein DR (1996) Relationship between graminoid growth form and levels of grazing by caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Alaska. Oecologia 107:364–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proulx M, Mazumder A (1998) Reversal of grazing impact on plant species richness in nutrient-poor vs. nutrient-rich ecosystems. Ecology 79:2581–2592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quellet J-P, Boutin S, Heard DC (1994) Responses to simulated grazing and browsing of vegetation available to caribou in the Arctic. Can J Zool 72:1426–1435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suominen O, Olofsson J (2000) Impacts of semi-domesticated reindeer on structure of tundra and forest communities in Fennoscandia: a review. Ann Zool Fenn 37:233–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulvinen T, Syrjänen K, Anttila S et al (2002) Suomen sammalet- levinneisyys, ekologia, uhanalaisuus. (Abstract: Bryophytes of Finland: distribution, ecology and red list status). Finn Environ 560:1–354

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Wal R (2006) Do herbivores cause habitat degradation or vegetation state transition? Evidence from the tundra. Oikos 114(1):177–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Wal R, Brooker RW (2004) Mosses mediate grazer impacts on grass abundance in arctic ecosystems. Funct Ecol 18:77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Wal R, Pearce ISK, Brooker RW (2005) Mosses and the struggle for light in a nitrogen-polluted world. Oecologia 142:159–168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Vliet-Lanoe B, Seppälä M (2002) Stratigraphy, age and formation of peaty earth hummocks (pounus), Finnish Lapland. Holocene 12(2):187–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Väre H, Ohtonen R, Mikkola K (1996) The effect and extent of heavy grazing by reindeer in oligotrophic pine heaths in northeastern Fennoscandia. Ecography 19:245–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virtanen R, Edwards GR, Crawley MJ (2002) Red deer management and vegetation on the Isle of Rum. J Appl Ecol 39:572–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitikainen O, Ahti T, Kuusinen M, Lommi S, Ulvinen T (1997) Checklist of lichens and allied fungi of Finland. Norrlinia 6:1–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Warenberg K, Danell Ö, Gaare E, Nieminen M (1997) Flora i Reinbeteland (In Norwegian). In: Ekendahl B, Bye K (eds). Landbruksforlaget, Oslo

  • Zimov SA, Chuprynin VI, Oreshko FS, Chapin FS III, Reynolds JF, Chapin MC (1995) Steppe-tundra transition: a herbivore-driven biome shift at the end of the Pleistocene. Am Nat 146:765–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Kilpisjärvi Biological Station for lodging during the fieldwork and Finnish Forest Research Institute for help in the transportation of experimental materials. Hanna Nopsanen assisted in the field work. Dr. Teuvo Ahti and Dr. Pekka Halonen helped in the determination of lichen specimens. MSc Anu Eskelinen and three anonymous referees gave valuable comments to an earlier version of the manuscript. Anu Pajunen was funded by the Academy of Finland (project number 208147 and Arktis graduate school) during this research. The language was revised by Aaron Bergdahl.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Oulu, Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Anu Pajunen & Risto Virtanen

  2. Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, PO Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Heikki Roininen

Authors
  1. Anu Pajunen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Risto Virtanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heikki Roininen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anu Pajunen.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary table (XLS 67 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pajunen, A., Virtanen, R. & Roininen, H. The effects of reindeer grazing on the composition and species richness of vegetation in forest–tundra ecotone. Polar Biol 31, 1233–1244 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0462-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0462-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation