Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra
Abstract Herbivore grazing is an important determinant of plant community assemblages. Thus, it is essential to understand its impact to direct conservation efforts in regions where herbivores are managed. While the impacts of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grazing on plant biodiversity and community...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8131 |
| _version_ | 1828978896237756416 |
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| author | Kate Gibson Johan Olofsson Arne Ø. Mooers Melanie J. Monroe |
| author_facet | Kate Gibson Johan Olofsson Arne Ø. Mooers Melanie J. Monroe |
| author_sort | Kate Gibson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Herbivore grazing is an important determinant of plant community assemblages. Thus, it is essential to understand its impact to direct conservation efforts in regions where herbivores are managed. While the impacts of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grazing on plant biodiversity and community composition in the Fennoscandian tundra are well studied, the impact of reindeer grazing on phylogenetic community structure is not. We used data from a multiyear quasi‐experimental study in northern Fennoscandia to analyze the effect of reindeer grazing on plant community diversity including its phylogenetic structure. Our study design used a permanent fence constructed in the 1960s and temporary fences constructed along the permanent fence to expose plant communities to three different grazing regimes: light (almost never grazed), pulse (grazed every other year), and press (chronic grazing for over 40 years). Similar to previous studies on low productivity ecosystems in this region, the species richness and evenness of plant communities with pulse and press grazing did not differ from communities with light grazing. Also consistent with previous studies in this region, we observed a transition from shrub‐dominated communities with light grazing to graminoid‐dominated communities with pulse and press grazing. Interestingly, communities with pulse, but not press, grazing were more phylogenetically dispersed than communities with light grazing. If grazing pulses can increase the phylogenetic diversity of plant communities, our result suggests changes in reindeer management allowing for pulses of grazing to increase phylogenetic diversity of plant communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:27:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ae1dcb0c5cc4f968670485e031f4c54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:27:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ae1dcb0c5cc4f968670485e031f4c542022-12-21T22:55:59ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-11-011121145981461410.1002/ece3.8131Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundraKate Gibson0Johan Olofsson1Arne Ø. Mooers2Melanie J. Monroe3Department of Biology Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC CanadaDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University Umeå SwedenDepartment of Biology Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC CanadaDepartment of Biology Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC CanadaAbstract Herbivore grazing is an important determinant of plant community assemblages. Thus, it is essential to understand its impact to direct conservation efforts in regions where herbivores are managed. While the impacts of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grazing on plant biodiversity and community composition in the Fennoscandian tundra are well studied, the impact of reindeer grazing on phylogenetic community structure is not. We used data from a multiyear quasi‐experimental study in northern Fennoscandia to analyze the effect of reindeer grazing on plant community diversity including its phylogenetic structure. Our study design used a permanent fence constructed in the 1960s and temporary fences constructed along the permanent fence to expose plant communities to three different grazing regimes: light (almost never grazed), pulse (grazed every other year), and press (chronic grazing for over 40 years). Similar to previous studies on low productivity ecosystems in this region, the species richness and evenness of plant communities with pulse and press grazing did not differ from communities with light grazing. Also consistent with previous studies in this region, we observed a transition from shrub‐dominated communities with light grazing to graminoid‐dominated communities with pulse and press grazing. Interestingly, communities with pulse, but not press, grazing were more phylogenetically dispersed than communities with light grazing. If grazing pulses can increase the phylogenetic diversity of plant communities, our result suggests changes in reindeer management allowing for pulses of grazing to increase phylogenetic diversity of plant communities.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8131biodiversitycommunity structuregrazingherbivorephylogenetic diversity |
| spellingShingle | Kate Gibson Johan Olofsson Arne Ø. Mooers Melanie J. Monroe Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra Ecology and Evolution biodiversity community structure grazing herbivore phylogenetic diversity |
| title | Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra |
| title_full | Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra |
| title_fullStr | Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra |
| title_short | Pulse grazing by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the Fennoscandian tundra |
| title_sort | pulse grazing by reindeer rangifer tarandus can increase the phylogenetic diversity of vascular plant communities in the fennoscandian tundra |
| topic | biodiversity community structure grazing herbivore phylogenetic diversity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8131 |
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