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Rangifer management controls a climate-sensitive tundra state transition.

Kari Anne Bråthen1, Virve Tuulia Ravolainen2, Audun Stien3

  • 1Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway.

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Summary

Rangifer (caribou/reindeer) management at high densities prevents Arctic tundra from transitioning into shrublands by keeping young shrubs in a "browse trap." Sustainable Rangifer populations can mitigate shrub expansion in a warming Arctic.

Keywords:
Salixbrowse trapbrowsingclimate changelife history stageplant-herbivore interactionsshrub growthshrublinesummer temperature

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Area of Science:

  • Arctic ecology
  • Plant-herbivore interactions
  • Ecosystem state transitions

Background:

  • Arctic tundra is transitioning to shrubland, driven by warming temperatures.
  • Riparian areas with palatable willows are particularly responsive to climate change.
  • Understanding shrub recruitment is key to predicting ecosystem state transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Rangifer (caribou/reindeer) population density in mitigating Arctic tundra shrubification.
  • To assess the relative importance of Rangifer browsing and summer temperature on shrub performance and shrubline elevation.
  • To test the hypothesis that high Rangifer densities maintain a "browse trap" for young shrubs.

Main Methods:

  • Quasi-experimental study design across management units with varying Rangifer densities and summer temperatures.
  • Ground surveys to measure density and height of young shrub life stages.
  • Aerial photography to determine the shrubline elevation of established shrublands.

Main Results:

  • Rangifer densities above ~5 animals/km² maintained young shrubs at low height and abundance (browse trap).
  • Below this threshold, young shrubs were taller and more abundant, indicating loss of grassland state control.
  • Shrublines were 100m lower in areas with summer Rangifer browsing and increased 100m per 1°C temperature rise.

Conclusions:

  • Sustainable Rangifer management can prevent the grassland-to-shrubland transition in a warming Arctic.
  • Rangifer browsing pressure is a critical factor in controlling shrub recruitment and ecosystem state.
  • Management strategies should consider maintaining Rangifer densities within a sustainable range to preserve tundra ecosystems.