Effects of wind-hardened snow on foraging by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
Arctic
By: W. B. Collins and T. S. Smith
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Abstract
Various methods were investigated for assessing the relationship between wind-hardened snow (upsik) and forage availability to reindeer. Mean bottom area of individual craters was not a function of depth, hardness or integrated hardness. Individual crater area was partially dependent on specific cratering time (r2 = .60). Cratering time per active period increased with integrated snow hardness (r2 = .88). Number of craters and total area cratered increased with decreasing site hardness. Reindeer always cratered microsites of lesser depth and hardness than found in the general feeding site. A threefold decrease in snow hardness resulted in a fourfold increase in forage availability.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Effects of wind-hardened snow on foraging by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) |
| Series title | Arctic |
| DOI | 10.14430/arctic1541 |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication Date | January 01, 1991 |
| Year Published | 1991 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Arctic Institute of North America |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Biological Science Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 217 |
| Last page | 222 |