Reindeer interactions from plants and birds to humans: balancing the odds of climate change

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2016

End date

12/31/2022

Budget

737,262 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

We use DNA from plant and lichen remains to identify actual content of reindeer diet and study species and human interactions of the reindeer - one of the surviving remnants of the Ice ages in the Arctic, with high cultural and economic value for indigenous residents. While reindeer husbandry is relatively small in terms of economics at a national scale, it is deeply rooted in history, culture and provides for traditional subsistence way of life of indigenous peoples. Taking a circumpolar perspective, degradation, and loss of pasture lands, combined with the consequences of climate change, present substantial challenges to the future of this "small industry". Using DNA metabarcoding we analyzed geographic, climatic, and seasonal patterns of reindeer diet variation in different socio-economic settings of four arctic regions (Svalbard: wild reindeer, no management, no migrations, no blackflies, time series data available; Norway (Finnmark): semi-domesticated reindeer, long traditions; Russian Arctic (Yamal): both wild and domestic reindeer, long traditions; Canada and Alaska: wild populations of caribou and recently introduced reindeer herding. We studied diet overlap and inferred trophic interactions with other herbivore species in the North: ptarmigans (Lagopus spp.), hares (Lepus timidus), moose (Alces alces) and rodents. We aimed to test whether reindeer diet changes correlate with warmer/longer summers or variation in population density. We integrated this ecosystem-based information with local knowledge of reindeer herders to perform satellite image analyses for habitat suitability modelling for current (1998-2016) and future (2070) pastures in Finnmark. It was found that the area of mountain birch forest in Finnmark has been expanding as well as barren land area with very sparse vegetation at higher elevations of summer pastures. The area of mountain heath and shrubs has been decreasing. In terms of reindeer habitat suitability there are no significant changes happening. However, the unsuitable area is slowly expanding. If these patterns behave according to the model predictions, then they might have significant consequences for the state of summer pastures and the herds. Our interdisciplinary project team included young scientists and students and produced four MSc theses and contributed to one PhD thesis. Several manuscripts and datasets are now being prepared. This research work will be continued within the framework of ArcEcoGen-Arctic Ecosystem Genomics a newly established Aurora Centre of excellence at the UiT.