The exploitation of wetland ecosystems by herbivores on Bylot Island
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Authors: G. Gauthier, L. Rochefort, and A. Reed
Date: 1996
Journal: Geoscience Canada
Volume: 23
Number: 4
Pages: 253-259
Summary of Methods: This documented case history examines the interactions between herbivores, plants, and climatic factors in arctic wetlands. Synthesis utilized the results of research on snow geese (Chen caerulescens) grazing on Bylot Island.
Article Summary / Main Points: Population dynamics of arctic herbivores, geese in particular, are strongly influenced by their food supply. Geese consume the most graminoid (grasses and sedges) biomass on Bylot Island during the summer. No evidence was found of compensatory plant growth due to grazing. Gosling survival is highly dependent upon quantity and quality of available food. Slight changes in global climate could alter timing and quantity of feed production through direct and indirect means, influencing survivability of goslings and other arctic herbivores.
Vegetation Types: Tundra
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: herbivory, grazing, snow geese, chen caerulescens, nitrogen, plant production, reproduction, plant-herbivore interaction, arctic ecosystems
Annotation: Tundra plant-herbivore systems are tightly coupled with climate, increasing the odds that they will be affected by future climatic changes. Further research is needed to understand the effects of global warming on these systems. Variables such as soil microbial populations, plant growth due to extended seasons and or change in moisture availability, and herbivores ability to thermo regulate at higher temperatures are still mainly unknown. Study has limited applicability across rangelands in the western United States.
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