Abstract
Reindeer were introduced 70 years ago to the Stromness Bay area on the subantarctic island of South Georgia, and the herd is still surviving. Two glaciers confine the herd, and movements are restricted even within the area due to a rugged topography. The Husvik herd has recently expanded its range within this area, and today approximately 88% of the vegetated area is affected by grazing. The grazing effects are described, and the value of the introduction as a natural experiment is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greene, SW (1964) The vascular flora of South Georgia. British Antarctic Survey Scientific Reports No. 45. London
Headland RK (1984) The island of South Georgia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Kightley SPJ, Lewis Smith RI (1976) The influence of reindeer on the vegetation of South Georgia: I. Longterm effects of unrestricted grazing and the establishment of exclosure experiments in various plant communities. Br Antarct Surv Bull 44:57–76
Leader-Williams N (1988) Reindeer on South Georgia. The Ecology of an Introduced Population. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Leader-Williams N, Scott TA, Pratt RM (1981) Forage selection by introduced reindeer on South Georgia, and its consequences for the flora. J Appl Ecol 18:83–106
Leader-Williams N, Lewis Smith RI, Rothery P (1987) Influence of introduced reindeer on the vegetation of South Georgia: results from a long-term exclusion experiment. J Appl Ecol 24:801–822
Leader-Williams N, Walton DWH, Prince PA (1989) Introduced reindeer on South Georgia — a management dilemma. Biol Cons 47:1–11
Lewis Smith RI, Walton DWH (1975) South Georgia, Subantarctic. In: Rosswall T, Heal OW (eds) Structure and Function of Tundra Ecosystems. Ecological Bulletin 20, Swedish Natural Science Research Council, Stockholm, pp 399–423
Lindsay DC (1973) Effects of reindeer on plant communities in the Royal Bay area of South Georgia. Br Antarct Surv Bull 35:101–109
McCann TS (1987) Further range expansion of introduced reindeer Rangifer tarandus on South Georgia. Br Antarct Surv Bull 76:95–98
Moen J (1994) Growth and morphology of grazed and ungrazed shoots of the clonal plant Acaena magellanica. In: Karlqvist A (ed) Swedish Antarctic Research Programme 1992/93. A Cruise Report. Swedish Polar Research Committee, Stockholm, (in press)
Pratt RM, Lewis Smith RI (1982) Seasonal trends in chemical composition of reindeer forage plants on South Georgia. Polar Biol 1:13–32
Staaland H, Scheie JD, Grøndahl FA, Persen E, Leifseth AB, Holand Ø (1993) The introduction of reindeer to Brøggerhalvøya, Svalbard: grazing preference and effect on vegetation. Rangifer 13:15–19
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moen, J., MacAlister, H. Continued range expansion of introduced reindeer on South Georgia. Polar Biol 14, 459–462 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239049
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239049