Cited by 58Climate change and permafrostPolar Research and EcologyWildlife Ecology and Conservation

Quantifying Muskox Plant Biomass Removal and Spatial Relocation of Nitrogen in a High Arctic Tundra Ecosystem

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Mosbacher, Jesper B., Kristensen, Ditte K., Michelsen, Anders, Stelvig, Mikkel, Schmidt, Niels M.·2016·Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

Abstract

The muskox (Ovibos moschatus), a key species in the arctic tundra, is the only large-bodied herbivore in Northeast Greenland. Here, we quantify the biomass removal and fecal deposition by muskoxen during the snow-free period in the years 1996 to 2013 in the high arctic tundra ecosystem at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland. We show that despite high densities, muskoxen removed only 0.17% and 0.04% of the available forage in graminoid-dominated areas and in Salix snowbeds (including Salix dominated heaths), respectively, during the main plant growing season (from mid-June to end of August). Into the autumn, the biomass removal increased to ∼4.6% and 0.19% in the graminoid-dominated areas and Salix snowbeds, respectively. Muskoxen forage mainly in the graminoid-dominated areas, but defecate primarily in Salix snowbeds, resulting in net nutrient transfers from the nitrogen-rich wet habitats to the nitrogen-poor, drier habitats, corresponding to an addition of 0.016 g m−2 of nitrogen in the Salix snowbeds per year. This nitrogen addition is of same magnitude as the dissolved inorganic nitrogen pool in similar arctic soils. Hence, while the quantitative impact of muskox biomass removal seems negligible, the nitrogen relocation may be important for the arctic vegetation and associated biota in the tundra ecosystem.

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  1. Haukioja, E., 1981: Invertebrate herbivory at tundra sites. In Bliss, L. C., Heal, O. W., and Moore, J. J. (eds.), Tundra Ecosystems. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 547-556.
  2. MacLean, S. F. J., 1981: Fauna of tundra ecosystems: invertebrates. In Bliss, L. C., Heal, O. W., and Moore, J. J. (eds.), Tundra Ecosystems. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 509-516.
  3. Muc, M., 1977: Ecology and primary production of sedge- moss communities, Truelove Lowland. In Bliss, L. C. (ed.), Truelove Lowland, Devon Island, Canada: A High Arctic Ecosystem. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 157-184.
  4. Murray, J. L., 1991: Biomass Distribution and Nutrient Pool and Dynamics in the Major Muskox-Grazed Communities at Sverdrup Pass (79°N) Ellesmere Island, N.W.T, Canada. Master's thesis, University of Toronto, 183 pp.

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Authors
Mosbacher, J. B., Kristensen, D. K., Michelsen, A., Stelvig, M., & Schmidt, N. M.
Affiliations
  • Aarhus University (DK)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Copenhagen Zoo (DK)
Corresponding author
Schmidt, Niels M.
Venue
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Published
2016-05-01
Volume
48
Issue
2
Pages
229-240
ISSN
  • 1523-0430 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-4246
OpenAlex
W2346846280
Cited by
58
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3
FWCI
4.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research (publishedVersion)
  • BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
  • Scopus (Elsevier) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Climate change and permafrost
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Polar Research and Ecology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Keywords
Ovibos moschatus, fecal deposition, Arctic tundra, nutrient cycling, Northeast Greenland, Zackenberg, snow-free period

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