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What are the impacts of reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus L.) on arctic and alpine vegetation? A systematic review

Bernes, Claes, Bråthen, Kari Anne, Forbes, Bruce C, Speed, James DM, Moen, Jon·2015·Environmental Evidence
DOI 10.1186/s13750-014-0030-3
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Abstract

Background: The reindeer (or caribou, Rangifer tarandus L.) has a natural range extending over much of Eurasia’s and North America’s arctic, alpine and boreal zones, yet its impact on vegetation is still unclear. This lack of a common understanding hampers both the management of wild and semi-domesticated reindeer populations and the preservation of biodiversity. To achieve a common platform, we have undertaken a systematic review of published studies that compare vegetation at sites with different reindeer densities. Besides biodiversity, we focused on effects on major plant growth forms. Methods: Searches for literature were made using online publication databases, search engines, specialist websites and bibliographies of literature reviews. Search terms were developed in English, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish. Identified articles were screened for relevance based on titles, abstracts and full text using inclusion criteria set out in an a priori protocol. Relevant articles were then subject to critical appraisal of susceptibility to bias. Data on outcomes such as abundance, biomass, cover and species richness of vegetation were extracted together with metadata on site properties and other potential effect modifiers. Results: Our searches identified more than 6,000 articles. After screening for relevance, 100 of them remained. Critical appraisal excluded 60 articles, leaving 40 articles with 41 independent studies. Almost two thirds of these studies had been conducted in Fennoscandia. Meta-analysis could be made of data from 31 of the studies. Overall, effects of reindeer on species richness of vascular plants depended on temperature, ranging from negative at low temperature to positive at high temperature. Effects on forbs, graminoids, woody species, and bryophytes were weak or non-significant, whereas the effect on lichens was negative. However, many individual studies showed clear positive or negative effects, but the available information was insufficient to explain this context dependence. Conclusions: We see two pressing matters emerging from our study. First, there is a lack of research with which to build a circumpolar understanding of grazing effects, which calls for more studies using a common protocol to quantify reindeer impacts. Secondly, the highly context-dependent outcomes suggest that research and management have to consider local conditions. For instance, predictions of what a management decision would mean for the effects of reindeer on vegetation will have to take the variation of vegetation types and dominant growth forms, productivity, and grazing history into account. Policy and management have to go hand-in-hand with research in individual cases if the dynamics between plants, animals, and humans are to be sufficiently understood.

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Figures

Figure 1 Reindeer numbers in Fennoscandia. The diagram shows total populations of semi-domesticated reindeer in Sweden, Norway and Finland following the autumn slaughter. After calving in spring, herds are significantly larger. Data from Statistics Sweden, Norwegian Directorate for Reindeer Husbandry, Finnish Reindeer Herder's Association, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (A. Ermala) and [3-5].
Figure 1 Reindeer numbers in Fennoscandia. The diagram shows total populations of semi-domesticated reindeer in Sweden, Norway and Finland following the autumn slaughter. After calving in spring, herds are significantly larger. Data from Statistics Sweden, Norwegian Directorate for Reindeer Husbandry, Finnish Reindeer Herder's Association, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (A. Ermala) and [3-5].CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 2
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Image 3
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Figure 4 Sites where studies included in this review were carried out.
Figure 4 Sites where studies included in this review were carried out.CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 5 Fennoscandian sites, districts or ranges where studies included in this review were carried out. Numbers refer to Norwegian reindeer-herding districts (see Table B in Additional file 5).
Figure 5 Fennoscandian sites, districts or ranges where studies included in this review were carried out. Numbers refer to Norwegian reindeer-herding districts (see Table B in Additional file 5).CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 6 Numbers of included studies with different characteristics.
Figure 6 Numbers of included studies with different characteristics.CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 7
CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 8 Summary of meta-analyses of species richness responses to reindeer herbivory. Subdivisions are based on groups of vegetation. Individual data are presented in forest plots in Additional file 7. See also explanations to Figure 7.
Figure 8 Summary of meta-analyses of species richness responses to reindeer herbivory. Subdivisions are based on groups of vegetation. Individual data are presented in forest plots in Additional file 7. See also explanations to Figure 7.CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 9 Cover of lichens and bare ground at high and low exposures to grazing. Each pair of symbols (connected by a straight line) represents data from an individual study or site.
Figure 9 Cover of lichens and bare ground at high and low exposures to grazing. Each pair of symbols (connected by a straight line) represents data from an individual study or site.CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 10 Meta-regressions of lichen and bare-ground cover against average cover of lichens and bare ground. Each symbol represents one study. Symbol sizes are proportional to the inverse variance of effect sizes.
Figure 10 Meta-regressions of lichen and bare-ground cover against average cover of lichens and bare ground. Each symbol represents one study. Symbol sizes are proportional to the inverse variance of effect sizes.CC-BY · From the PDF
Figure 11 Meta-regression of vascular species richness against mean annual temperature. Each symbol represents one study. Symbol sizes are proportional to the inverse variance of effect sizes.
Figure 11 Meta-regression of vascular species richness against mean annual temperature. Each symbol represents one study. Symbol sizes are proportional to the inverse variance of effect sizes.CC-BY · From the PDF

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Metadata

Authors
Bernes, C., Bråthen, K. A., Forbes, B. C., Speed, J. D., & Moen, J.
Venue
Environmental Evidence
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2015-02-23
Volume
4
Issue
1
ISSN
2047-2382
DOI
10.1186/s13750-014-0030-3
Cited by
103
References
2
Language
en
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