scholarly journals Insect avoidance may override human disturbances in reindeer habitat selection

Rangifer ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Skarin ◽  
Öje Danell ◽  
Roger Bergström ◽  
Jon Moen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Pellet Group ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Insect Harassment

Habitat selection of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) was investigated through faecal pellet- group counts and by direct observations of reindeer from helicopter in the Långfjället area in Idre reindeer herding district (62˚10’N) and in Mittådalen reindeer herding district (62˚50’N, aerial observations only). Reindeer pellets were found to be most abundant in habitats at high altitudes, and in some vegetation types. Pellet-group densities tended to be higher near the tourist trails, which often follow higher altitudes in the terrain. The aerial surveys showed that the reindeer moved towards higher altitudes when the wind speed was low and the temperature was high both in June and July. In June they moved towards lower regions when temperature was low and the wind speed was strong. The conclusion is that the reindeer use Långfjället to escape insect harassment and warm weather, even though disturbance by tourism sometimes is high.Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning:Habitatval hos tamren (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) undersöktes genom att göra en spillningsinventering och genom att göra flygobservationer från helikopter. Studien gjordes på Långfjället (62˚10’N) i Idre nya sameby och i Mittådalens samebys sommarbetesområde (62˚50’N, endast flygobservationer). På Långfjället finns det vandringsleder som är frekventerade av vandrare från juni månad fram till september. Spillningen visade att renarna föredrog höjderna i området samt en del av vegetationstyperna. Det var också mer spillning närmare vandringslederna. Detta kan förklaras av att vandringslederna följer höjderna i terrängen. Flyginventeringarna under både juni och juli visade att renarna rörde sig mot högre terräng när det var varmt och lugnt väder. I juni rörde dom sig också i lägre terräng när det var stark vind och kallt väder. Slutsatsen är att renarna väljer att vistas i högre terräng för att undvika störningar från insekter och för att finna svalka trots att det är mänsklig aktivitet i området.

scholarly journals Habitat use by semi-domesticated reindeer, estimated with pellet-group counts

Rangifer ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Skarin
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Resource Utilisation ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Pellet Group ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus

Habitat selection theory predicts that herbivores should select for or against different factors at different spatial scales. For instance, quantity of forage is expected to be a strong factor influencing habitat choice at large scales, while forage quality may be important at finer scales. However, during summer, herbivores such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) can be limited in their grazing time by insect harassment, and do not always have the possibility to select for high quality forage. Human disturbances from hikers, etc., can also have a limiting effect on the possibility for reindeer to graze in high quality foraging habitats. Reindeer habitat selection at the landscape level was investigated through faecal pellet-group counts during the summers of 2002 and 2003 in two reindeer herding districts in Sweden. Resource utilization functions (RUFs) were developed using multiple linear regressions, where the pellet densities were related to vegetation types, topographic features, distances to tourist resorts, and distances to hiking trails. Validations of the models were performed through cross-validation correlations. Results show that high altitudes with high quality forage were important habitats. Areas that offer both snow patches and fresh forage plants for the reindeer were used in relation to their availability. The reindeer also seemed able to habituate to human intervention to a certain extent. The predictive capabilities of the RUF models were high and pellet-group counts seemed well suited to study how abiotic factors affect the habitat use at large temporal and spatial scales Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning: Renens användning av sommarbetesområdet, uppskattat med spillningsinventeringar Hierarkiskt habitatval innebär att djur väljer för och emot olika faktorer beroende på den rumsliga skalan. Mängden bete kan t ex spela stor roll för en växtätares habitatval på en stor skala medan kvalitén på betet kan ha större betydelse på en mindre skala. För renar (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), kan betestiden och möjligheten att hitta bra bete sommartid begränsas både på stor och liten skala pga. störningar från insekter och mänsklig aktivitet. Här studerades renarnas val av betesområde på landskapsnivå med hjälp av spillningsinventering under somrarna 2002 och 2003 i två samebyar i Sverige. Spillningstätheten för respektive område och år undersöktes statistiskt med hjälp av multipel linjär regression eller sk ”resource utilisation functions” (RUF). Där relaterades spillningstätheten till vegetationstyp, olika topografiska faktorer, avstånd till vandringsleder, stugplatser och fjällstationer. Resultaten visade att områden högt upp i terrängen med hög beteskvalitet var attraktiva. Vegetationstypen moderat snölega som anses ha hög beteskvalitet användes av renarna i relation till dess förekomst. Däremot verkade renarna undvika områden kring välbesökta fjällstugor och fjällstationer medan de däremot t o m föredrog områden nära vandringsleder. Det kan bero på att vandringslederna går genom attraktiva vegetationstyper. RUF-modellerna hade en hög prediktiv förmåga vilket visar att spillningsinventeringar är användbara när man önskar studera hur djuren använder ett betesområde i relation till olika faktorer på en relativt stor rumslig och temporal skala.

Twenty-four-hour feeding and lying patterns of wild reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus in summer

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 2168-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E Colman ◽  
Christian Pedersen ◽  
Dag Ø. Hjermann ◽  
Øystein Holand ◽  
Stein R Moe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Proximate Factors ◽  
Insect Harassment ◽  
Time Spent Feeding ◽  
Night And Day ◽  
Wild Reindeer

We tested whether sunlight and insect harassment were important proximate factors (Zeitgebers) controlling feeding and lying patterns of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in summer. With no insect harassment, feeding and lying each exhibited a polycyclic rhythm with, on average, 4 bouts at equal intervals during each 24-h period (unit-sum constraints in a polycyclic rhythm). When insects were absent, the activity percentages were 50 ± 4% feeding (mean ± SE) and 33 ± 4% lying for daytime and 44 ± 3% feeding and 47 ± 4% lying for nighttime, i.e., the percentage of time spent feeding was equal for daytime and nighttime (nychthemeral), while for lying it was not. With insects present, percentages of time spent feeding and lying were 18 ± 3 and 13 ± 3% for daytime and 45 ± 8 and 41 ± 8% for nighttime, respectively, i.e., neither feeding nor lying exhibited a nychthemeral pattern. During periods of insect harassment, 24-h feeding patterns had no cyclic rhythm, whereas lying remained cyclic, but the percentages of time spent lying during peak bouts (amplitude) and at peak duration (period) were unequal between night and day. Reindeer did not attune their activity to the set points of sunrise and sunset (not crepuscular), demonstrating that daylight is most likely not a powerful Zeitgeber for reindeer during summer.

scholarly journals Calf mortality of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the Finnish reindeer-herding area

Rangifer ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauri Nieminen ◽  
Harri Norberg ◽  
Veikko Maijala
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Brown Bears ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Golden Eagles ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
Annual Mortality

During 1999-2008 calf mortality was studied in six reindeer-herding cooperatives in Northern Finland, where 3942 semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves were equipped with radio mortality collars. The calves were weighed and earmarked mostly at 2-5 days of age, or at 2-8 weeks of age. Altogether 460 dead radio-collared calves were found from calving in May until winter round-ups in October-January. In northern mountain herding cooperatives, the average mortality of calves varied between 7-12%. On average, 39-54% of calves found dead were attributed to predation. Golden eagles killed 0-3.5% of calves in different years and areas in Ivalo and Käsivarsi cooperatives. Golden eagles were responsible for 33-43% of the cases and 84-93% of all identified predation. Most calves killed by golden eagles were found in July-August and in open areas. Calves killed by golden eagles were significantly (P<0.01) lighter than those not predated. No predation occurred in the Poikajärvi cooperative, but the annual mortality of calves varied between 0-35% in cooperatives near the Russian border. In Oivanki cooperative brown bears killed on average 2% of the radio-collared calves. Most predation (87%) occurred at the end of May and in early June. In the Kallioluoma cooperative, predator-killed calves found comprised 53% and wolf-killed 45%. Predation was 70% of total mortality in the Halla cooperative, and predation by wolf, bear, lynx and wolverine comprised on average 38%, 20%, 9% and 2.3%, respectively. The sex and pelt color did not significantly affect survival of calves. Birth weight of calves killed by bears was significantly (P<0.01) lighter than those not killed, but those calves killed by lynxes were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than that survived. Bears killed calves mainly in May-July, wolves in July-October and lynx in August-December.

scholarly journals Prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in winter slaughtered reindeer of northern Finland

Rangifer ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie T. Hrabok ◽  
Antti Oksanen ◽  
Mauri Nieminen ◽  
Peter J. Waller
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Low Levels

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal nematodes in winter-slaughtered reindeer during 2002-2004, from northern reindeer herding cooperatives in Finland. Ostertagia gruehneri of the abomasum was prevalent with low levels of infections in 100% of calves, (n = 53; mean ≈ 1300 worms per animal) and in 98% of adults, (n = 41; mean ≈ 3900 worms per animal). There was no difference in the number of O. gruehneri between male and female calves. The proportion of O. gruehneri inhibited larvae was significantly higher in calves (81%) than in adult reindeer (39%) (P = 0.005). The intestinal nematodes, Nematodirus tarandi and Nematodirella longispiculata, were detected only in reindeer calves. The numbers of these worms did not differ between male and female calves, but there was a difference in abundance between sites. High prevalence and low intensity of gastrointestinal nematodes characterized the patterns of infection of the reindeer examined in this study. It is assumed that these infections are sub-clinical and would not contribute to productivity losses.Abstract in Finnish / Lyhennelmä:Ruuansulatuskanavan sukkulamatojen esiintyminen talvella teurastetuissa pohjoissuomalaisissa poroissa Tämän työn tavoitteena oli määrittää ruuansulatuskanavan sukkulamatojen prevalenssi ja tartunnan aste talvella teurastetuissa Suomen pohjoisten paliskuntien poroissa vuosina 2002-2004. Juoksutusmahan Ostertagia gruehneri –loisella oli korkea prevalenssi, mutta infektion aste (matojen lukumäärä) oli melko matala; 100% vasoista oli infektoituneita (n = 53; keskimäärin 1300 matoa mahassa) ja 98% aikuisista (n = 41, keskimäärin 3900 matoa). Juoksutusmahamatojen määrissä ei ollut eroja naaras- ja urosvasojen välillä. Kehityksessään estyneiden (pysähtyneiden) O. gruehneri –matojen osuus oli tilastollisesti merkitsevästi korkeampi vasoilla (81%) kuin aikuisilla poroilla (39%) (P = 0.005). Suolistosukkulamatoja Nematodirus tarandi ja Nematodirella longispiculata tavattiin ainoastaan vasoilla. Näiden matojen määrä ei eronnut naaras- ja urosvasojen välillä, mutta maantieteellisiä eroja yleisyydessä havaittiin. Tutkimuksen poroille leimallinen loisten korkea prevalenssi ja matala infektioaste viittaa oireettomuuteen ja siihen, että ne ehkä eivät aiheuta tuotantotappioita. Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Prosentvis forekomst (prevalens) av rundmark (nematoder) i mage-tarm fra vinterslakta rein i nordlige Finland Studien ble gjennomført på rein (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) fra nordlige reindistrikter i Finland i perioden 2002 til 2004. Rundmarken Ostertagia gruehneri fra løpemagen var vanlig og fantes i lavt infeksjonsnivå (dvs. i relativt lite antall) i alle undersøkte kalver (100% forekomst i 53 dyr med et gjennomsnittlig antall marker per kalv på ca 1300) og i 98% av de 41 undersøkte voksne dyrene der gjennomsnittet per voksent dyr var ca 3900 marker. Andelen med hvilende (inhiberte) larver var statistisk sannsynlig høyere i kalver (81%) enn i voksen rein (39%) (P = 0.05). Tarmnematodene Nematodirus tarandi og Nematodirella longispiculata fantes bare i kalver. Her varierte prosentvis infeksjon fra 25% til 100% i flokkene. Det var ingen forskjell i intensitet (antall mark) mellom han- og hunkalver. Høy prevalens og lav intensitet var det karakteristiske infeksjonsmønsteret i denne studien. Vi antar derfor at infeksjonene er ubetydelige (er subkliniske) og at de ikke vil bidra til produksjonstap.

scholarly journals A Screening for Virus Infections in Eight Herds of Semi-domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Norway, 2013–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Tryland ◽  
Javier Sánchez Romano ◽  
Ingebjørg Helena Nymo ◽  
Eva Marie Breines ◽  
Francisco Javier Ancin Murguzur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Viral Pathogen ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Total Prevalence ◽  
Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis

Background: Previous serological screenings have indicated that Eurasian semi-domesticated tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finnmark, Northern Norway, are exposed to alphaherpesvirus, gammaherpesvirus and pestivirus. Alphaherpesvirus (i.e., Cervid herpesvirus 2; CvHV2) has been identified as the transmissible component of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC). Limited knowledge exists on the presence and prevalence of virus infections in other herding regions in Norway, which are hosting ~67,000 semi-domesticated reindeer and have contact with other species and populations of wildlife and livestock than those present in Finnmark.Methods: Blood samples (n = 618) were obtained over five winter seasons (2013–2018), from eight different herds representing summer pasture districts in Tana, Lakselv, Tromsø, Lødingen, Hattfjelldal, Fosen, Røros, and Filefjell, distributed from North to South of the reindeer herding regions in Norway. Blood samples were investigated for specific antibodies against five viral pathogen groups, alphaherpesvirus, gammaherpesvirus (viruses in the malignant catarrhal fever group; MCFV), pestivirus, bluetongue virus (BTV), and Schmallenberg virus (SBV), by using commercial multispecies serological tests (ELISA). In addition, swab samples obtained from the nasal mucosal membrane from 486 reindeer were investigated by PCR for parapoxvirus-specific DNA.Results: Antibodies against aphaherpesvirus and MCFV were found in all eight herds, with a total prevalence of 42% (range 21–62%) and 11% (range 2–15%), respectively. Anti-Pestivirus antibodies were detected in five of eight herds, with a total prevalence of 19% (range 0–52%), with two of the herds having a particularly high seroprevalence. Antibodies against BTV or SBV were not detected in any of the animals. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in two animals representing two different herds in Finnmark.Conclusions: This study confirmed that alphaherpesvirus and MCFV are enzootic throughout the geographical reindeer herding regions in Norway, and that pestivirus is present in most of the herds, with varying seroprevalence. No exposure to BTV and SBV was evident. This study also indicated that semi-domesticated reindeer in Finnmark are exposed to parapoxvirus without disease outbreaks being reported from this region.

scholarly journals Decay rate of reindeer pellet-groups

Rangifer ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Skarin
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Pellet Group ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Exponential Decay Rate

Counting of animal faecal pellet groups to estimate habitat use and population densities is a well known method in wildlife research. Using pellet-group counts often require knowledge about the decay rate of the faeces. The decay rate of a faecal pellet group may be different depending on e.g. substrate, size of the pellet group and species. Pellet-group decay rates has been estimated for a number of wildlife species but never before for reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). During 2001 to 2005 a field experiment estimating the decay rate of reindeer pellet groups was performed in the Swedish mountains close to Ammarnäs. In total the decay rate of 382 pellet groups in three different habitat types (alpine heath, birch forest and spruce forest) was estimated. The slowest decay rate was found in alpine heath and there the pellet groups persisted for at least four years. If decay was assumed to take place only during the bare ground season, the estimated exponential decay rate was -0.027 pellet groups/week in the same habitat. In the forest, the decay was faster and the pellet groups did not persist more than two years. Performing pellet group counts to estimate habitat use in dry habitats, such as alpine heath, I will recommend using the faecal standing crop method. Using this method makes it possible to catch the animals’ general habitat use over several years. Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning:Nedbrytningshastighet av renspillningInom viltforskningen har spillningsinventeringar använts under flera årtionden för att uppskatta habitatval och populationstäthet hos olika djurslag. För att kunna använda data från spillningsinventeringar krävs ofta att man vet hur lång tid det tar för spillningen att brytas ner. Nedbrytningshastigheten är olika beroende på marktyp och djurslag. Nedbrytningshastighet på spillning har studerats för bland annat olika typer av hjortdjur, men det har inte studerats på ren (Rangifer tarandus) tidigare. I området kring Ammarnäs genomfördes under åren 2001- 2005 ett fältexperiment för att uppskatta nedbrytningshastigheten av renspillning. Under tre somrar lades totalt 382 renspillningar ut i hägn i tre olika typer av habitat (fjällhed, fjällbjörkskog och granskog). Det visade sig att nedbrytningshastigheten var långsammast på fjällheden, där spillningshögarna fortfarande var kvar efter fyra år. Den exponentiella nedbrytningshastigheten beräknades till -0.027 högar/vecka om nedbrytningen antas ske under barmarksperioden. I skogshägnen gick nedbrytningen snabbare och alla högar var borta inom två år. Vid spillningsinventeringar på kalfjällsområdet eller områden med liknande marktyp, där syftet är att studera djurens habitatval över en längre tid rekommenderas att använda den så kallade ”faecal accumulation rate”-metoden, där man inventerar orensade ytor. Det ger en generell bild av hur djuren använt området under en längre period, eftersom nedbrytningen av spillning är långsam i sådana habitat.

scholarly journals Evidence of parapox-, alphaherpes- and pestivirus infections in carcasses of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from Finnmark, Norway

Rangifer ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Tryland ◽  
Torill Mørk ◽  
Kathrine A. Ryeng ◽  
Karen K. Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Orf Virus ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Liver Sample ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
B2l Gene ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Bovine Papular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Polymerase Chain

During March to May 2000, 48 carcasses of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were collected on winter pastures and calving grounds from two herds in western Finnmark and two herds in eastern Finnmark, northern Norway. The animals were autopsied and blood and tissue samples were collected for serology (alphaherpes- and pestivirus; virus neutralization test) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR; parapoxvirus; B2L gene) investigations. Autopsy revealed that 39 of 48 animals (81%) had died of emaciation. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in samples from 6 of 48 animals (12.5%; liver, parotid salivary gland and/or pulmonary lymph nodes). A DNA sequence of 376 base pairs from a PCR amplicon obtained from a liver sample from one animal showed 98-99% identity with orf virus strain Orf-11 and reindeer parapoxvirus isolates from Norway and Finland (1992 and 1994), 92-93% similarity with pseudocowpoxvirus and 87% similarity with bovine papular stomatitis virus. Alphaherpes- and pestivirus antibodies were detected in 10% and 33% of the animals, respectively. These results indicates that parapoxvirus, presumably orf-virus, is present among reindeer also in Finnmark, although contagious ecthyma has never been reported in reindeer in this important reindeer herding area. Furthermore, they show that herpes- and pestiviruses are still endemic in reindeer herds in Finnmark. The nature of these viruses and their impact on reindeer health and reproduction and reindeer herding economy should be further addressed, as well as the possibility that these viruses may be transferred between reindeer and domestic animals in this region.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: I løpet av perioden mars-mai 2000 ble 48 reinsdyrkadavre (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) samlet inn fra vinterbeiter og kalvingsområder fra to flokker i Vest-Finnmark og to i Øst-Finnmark, Norge. Dyrene ble obdusert, og blod og vevsprøver ble samlet for påvisning av antistoffer mot alfaherpes- og pestivirus i blod(serologi) og tilstedeværelse av parapoxvirus-DNA i vev (Polymerase kjedereaksjon, PCR; parapoxvirus B2L genet). Obduksjonen viste at 39 av de 48 dyrene (81%) hadde dødd av avmagring. Parapoxvirus-spesifikt DNA ble funnet i prøver av lever, spyttkjertel (Gl. parotis) og/eller lungelymfeknuter fra 6 av de 48 dyrene (12,5%). En DNA sekvens på 376 basepar fra PCR-oppformeringsproduktet fra en leverprøve hadde 98-99% likhet med orf-virus (Orf-11) og parapoxvirus isolert fra reinsdyr i Norge og Finland (1992 og 1994), 92-93% likhet med pseudocowpoxvirus og 87% likhet med bovint papulær stomatittvirus, hvorav de to siste parapoxvirusartene er assosiert med storfé. Disse resultatene viser at også reinsdyr i Finnmark er infisert av parapoxvirus, til tross for at sykdommen munnskurv ikke ennå er rapportert hos rein i dette fylket. Alfaherpes- og pestivirus antistoffer ble funnet hos henholdsvis 10% og 33% av dyrene. Dette er i samsvar med tidligere funn på slaktedyr, og viser at disse virusinfeksjonene er endemiske hos rein i Finnmark. Det er viktig å avklare hvilken rolle disse virusinfeksjonene spiller for reinsdyrenes helse og næringens økonomi. Videre bør det avklares i hvilken grad disse virustypene er i stand til å smitte mellom rein og husdyr.

scholarly journals Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) feeding on lichens and mushrooms: traditional ecological knowledge among reindeer-herding Sami in northern Sweden

Rangifer ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berit Inga
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus ◽  
Winter Grazing ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
Snow Conditions

The study was performed in four reindeer-herding districts (Sami villages) in northern Sweden. Reindeer herding Sami, born in 1950 or earlier, were interviewed about reindeer foraging behaviour on lichens and mushrooms, especially relating to non-summer grazing habits, and about characteristics of a good winter feeding ground. The informants claimed that lichens are preferably grazed in the wintertime, but that they also may be eaten in the summertime when the weather is cold and humid. Mushrooms were chosen in the autumn months August and September, but according to some informants mushrooms may also be eaten during late autumn (from Oct.) when frozen and under the snow. The reindeer herders had different names for lichens, which in general terms describe their appearance and habitat. For mushrooms they only used one Sami name. Ground lichens preferred by reindeer are Cladonia species, while the nitrogen-fixing lichen species such as Nephroma arcticum and Stereocaulon pascale were said not to be preferred by the reindeer. Snow conditions are very important, and the less snow (and the softer it is), the better. Habitats where reindeer herders know from experience that snow conditions tend to be problematic, e.g. in moist and open areas with small trees, are used early in the winter (Oct.–Jan.), before too much snow has accumulated. A good winter grazing area should have lichens. It is preferably a dry pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest heath with large, old and wide-crowned trees to shelter the ground from snow and thereby ease the cratering by reindeer. Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning: Renens (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) bete av lavar och svampar: Traditionell ekologisk kunskap bland renskötande samer i norra Sverige Studien genomfördes i fyra renskötseldistrikt (samebyar) i norra Sverige. Totalt 22 renskötande samer, födda 1950 eller tidigare, blev intervjuade om renens betande av lavar och svampar, renens vinterbete och om vad som karaktäriserar ett bra vinterbetesland. Informanterna hävdade att lavar företrädesvis betas under vintern, men även kan betas under sommaren då vädret är kallt och fuktigt. Svampar betas under höstmånaderna augusti och september, men enligt några informanter kan svamp även betas senare på hösten (från oktober) när den är frusen och under snön. Renskötarna har namn på lavar som i generella termer beskriver deras utseende och växtplats. För svampar använder de enbart ett samiskt namn, guoppar. Av de marklevande lavarna ansåg informanterna att renarna föredrar Cladonia-arter (renlavar), medan kväve-fixerade arter som Nephroma arcticum (norrlandslav) och Stereocaulon pascale (påskrislav) inte ansågs föredras av renarna. Snöförhållandena är mycket viktiga, och ju mindre snö (och ju lösare den är) desto bättre. Växtplatser där renskötarna vet av erfarenhet att snöförhållandena kan bli problematisk, t.ex. i fuktiga och öppna områden med små träd, används till bete tidigt under vintern (oktober-januari) innan för mycket snö har fallit. Ett bra vinterbetesområde ska ha gott om lavar. Det bästa är en torr tallhed (Pinus sylvestris) med stora och gamla träd med vida kronor som fångar upp snön som upplega och på det viset skyddar marken från snö, vilket gör det lättare för renarna att gräva.

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