Cratering behaviour and faecal C:N ratio in relation to seasonal snowpack characteristics in a High-Arctic ungulate

Polar research

Brage B. Hansen¹  Øystein Varpe³  Larissa T. Beumer⁴ 

[1] Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NorwayView further author information;Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayView further author information;Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway;Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, NorwayCorrespondence

关键词: Climate change;    foraging behaviour;    icing;    herbivore;    optimal foraging theory;    Rangifer tarandus;    AICc: Akaike information criterion corrected for small sample sizes;    C:N: carbon to nitrogen ratio;    ID: identification number;    IRH: integrated ram hardness;    LMM: linear mixed model;    ROS: rain-on-snow;    SD: standard deviation;    SE: standard error;   

DOI  :  10.1080/17518369.2017.1286121

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACTSnow and ice determine winter forage availability for Arctic herbivores. Winter precipitation is anticipated to increase, and icing following warm spells and rain-on-snow (ROS) are likely to become more frequent. While this may reduce herbivore survival, fecundity and population growth, we can also expect behavioural and dietary responses. Here, we tested predictions from optimal foraging theory on how changing snowpack conditions influence choice of feeding craters and diet quality in a large generalist herbivore, the wild Svalbard reindeer. Snow and ice conditions over winter 2012/13 (a ‘normal’ winter with little ROS and icing) were measured in reindeer feeding craters, in paired controls one metre away and in fixed control sites. On average, feeding craters had less snow and integrated ram hardness (IRH, the force needed to reach the ground), but not less ice, than nearby controls. However, on this fine spatial scale, reindeer tended to select for microhabitat with worse snowpack conditions up...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC