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Arnoldus Schytte Blix - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Panting in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).
American journal of physiology. Regulatory integrative and comparative physiology, 2000Co-Authors: Øyvind Aas-hansen, Lars P. Folkow, Arnoldus Schytte BlixAbstract:Two winter-insulated Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were exposed to air temperatures of 10, 20, 30, and 38°C while standing at rest in a climatic chamber. The direction of airflow ...
Pirkko Ukkonen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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On the early history of the wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) in Finland
Boreas, 2008Co-Authors: Tuija Rankama, Pirkko UkkonenAbstract:This paper discusses the early migration of the wild reindeer into Finland. Reindeer bones found in dated archaeological contexts suggest that the two subspecies, the mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) and the forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus Lonnb.), were part of our fauna as early as c. 9000 BP and 7000 BP, respectively. The mountain reindeer may be descended from the European Pleistocene reindeer, and may have migrated into northern Finland via the west coast of Norway. The forest reindeer invaded Finland directly from the east, from its glacial refugia in Siberia. During the Holocene, the distribution ranges of these two subspecies fluctuated in accordance with climatic and vegetational changes in northern Finland.
Joanna M. Łoś - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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New Insights into the Microbiota of the Svalbard Reindeer Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus
Frontiers in microbiology, 2016Co-Authors: Sylwia Zielińska, Dorota Kidawa, Lech Stempniewicz, Marcin Łoś, Joanna M. ŁośAbstract:Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) is a non-migratory subspecies of reindeer inhabiting the high-arctic archipelago of Svalbard. In contrast to other Rangifer tarandus subspecies, Svalbard reindeer graze exclusively on natural sources of food and have no chance of ingestion of any crops. We report the use of a non-invasive method for analysis of fecal microbiome by means of sequencing the 16S rDNA extracted from the fecal microbiota of Rengifer tarandus platyrhynchus from a small, isolated population in Hornsund, South Spitsbergen National Park. Analyses of all samples showed that 99% of the total reads were represented by Bacteria. Taxonomy-based analysis showed that fecal bacterial communities consisted of 14 phyla. The most abundant phyla across the population were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and those phyla jointly accounted for more than 95% of total bacterial sequences (ranging between 90.14% and 98.19%). Specifically, Firmicutes comprised 56.53% (42.98% - 63.64%) and Bacteroidetes comprised 39.17% (34.56% - 47.16%) of the total reads. The remaining 5% of the population reads comprised of Tenericutes, Cyanobacteria, TM7, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Elusimicrobia, Planctomycetes, Fibrobacteres, Spirochaetes, Chloroflexi and Deferribacteres. Differences in the fecal bacteria composition between particular reindeer were not statistically significant which may reflect the restricted location and similar diet of all members of the local population.
David G. Anderson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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animal domestication in the high arctic hunting and holding reindeer on the iamal peninsula northwest siberia
Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2019Co-Authors: David G. Anderson, Loic Charles Pierre Harrault, Karen Milek, Bruce C Forbes, M S Kuoppamaa, Andreĭ V PlekhanovAbstract:Abstract The history of animal domestication in the Arctic is often represented as marginal or a weak copy of more complex pastoral situations in southern climes. This article re-assesses the classic archaeological site of IArte 6 on the IAmal Peninsula of Northwest Siberia for markers of early Rangifer and dog taming and the emergence of transport reindeer husbandry at the start of the Iron Age. We critically examine published and unpublished Russian language material on this first millenium site, and evaluate the interpretations against three ethnoarchaeological models: herd-following, decoy-mediated hunting, and transport reindeer husbandry. Using new ethnographic, geoarchaeological, botanical, and palynological evidence, as well as a revised site chronology, we demonstrate that IArte 6 was likely the home of several different types of adaptation over a much longer period of time than had previously been assumed. This leads us to question the standard models of reindeer pastoralism, and to argue for a renewed attention to the ways in which Rangifer are held and enticed into a long-term relationship with people, the possibility that canine domestication may have also been a key factor, and how these relationships leave imprints in the environmental record.
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Maintaining genetic integrity of coexisting wild and domestic populations: Genetic differentiation between wild and domestic Rangifer with long traditions of intentional interbreeding.
Ecology and evolution, 2017Co-Authors: David G. Anderson, Kjersti S. Kvie, Vladimir Davydov, Knut H. RøedAbstract:This study investigates the genetic effect of an indigenous tradition of deliberate and controlled interbreeding between wild and domestic Rangifer. The results are interpreted in the context of conservation concerns and debates on the origin of domestic animals. The study is located in Northeastern Zabaĭkal'e, Russia at approximately 57 degrees North latitude. Blood and skin samples, collected from wild and domestic Rangifer, are analyzed for their mtDNA and microsatellite signatures. Local husbandry traditions are documented ethnographically. The genetic data are analyzed with special reference to indigenous understandings of the distinctions between local domestic types and wild Rangifer. The genetic results demonstrate a strong differentiation between wild and domestic populations. Notably low levels of mtDNA haplotype sharing between wild and domestic reindeer, suggest mainly male-mediated gene flow between the two gene pools. The nuclear microsatellite results also point to distinct differences between regional domestic clusters. Our results indicate that the Evenki herders have an effective breeding technique which, while mixing pedigrees in the short term, guards against wholesale introgression between wild and domestic populations over the long term. They support a model of domestication where wild males and domestic females are selectively interbred, without hybridizing the two populations. Our conclusions inform a debate on the origins of domestication by documenting a situation where both wild and domestic types are in constant interaction. The study further informs a debate in conservation biology by demonstrating that certain types of controlled introgression between wild and domestic types need not reduce genetic diversity.
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Landscape Agency and Evenki-Iakut Reindeer Husbandry Along the Zhuia River, Eastern Siberia
Human Ecology, 2014Co-Authors: David G. Anderson, Evgenii M. Ineshin, Natalia V. Kulagina, Mika Lavento, Oksana P. VinkovskayaAbstract:This interdisciplinary study applies a series of environmental tests developed in Fennoscandia to elaborate the patterns created by contemporary and past reindeer husbandry along the Zhuia River, Bodaibo district, Irkutsk oblast’ , Russian Federation. We successfully used pollen and fungal spore analysis to document the long-term use of one site by ungulates–although it remains unclear if these animals were ‘domestic’ reindeer or not. The date of occupation could go as far back as the fourteenth century. The on-site phosphate analysis, attempted for the first time in Eastern Siberia, proved a useful tool for locating the sites of animal action although failed to specify the boundaries of that action. It did emphasise the importance of accounting for the agency of wind in ordering reindeer behaviour. Finally, the combined phosphate, botanical, and pollen work documented a history of succession of types of land-use from the hunting of Rangifer, to holding Rangifer, to the maintenance of meadows for horses or cattle, to the formation of cereal crops and vegetable patches. The combined use of these methods and a discussion of the ambiguities they produced suggests that they are best employed to find distinctive sites in the landscape which attract both people and animals and are less effective in documenting a Euro-American vision of trust or domination in human-animal relations.
Eigil Reimers - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Rangifer within areas of human influence: understanding effects in relation to spatiotemporal scales
Polar Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Kjetil Flydal, Eigil Reimers, Diress Tsegaye, Sindre Eftestøl, Jonathan E ColmanAbstract:Depending on the spatial scale, fluctuations in the area use of social, migratory herbivores may be related to changes in population size, season, predation, climatic variation, different types of disturbance, and random animal movement. We present a review and case study highlighting how study design limitations and publication bias have influenced our current knowledge on effects of human disturbance on Rangifer spp. Our case study illustrates how yearly variation may lead to false conclusions about the effects of infrastructure. From 58 analyses presented in 52 reviewed papers, we found that 14 analyses had study designs comparing area use before and after construction of infrastructure, 24 included spatial time series of > 6 years, 21 included spatiotemporal variation in their analyses, and only six contained both static and dynamic habitat variables. Categorizing the 58 analyses into 404 specific outcomes, we found that 64% of the authors focused their conclusions on negative effects and 14% focused on mixed effects but emphasized on negative effects of human activities and infrastructure, while only 53% of the outcomes actually showed negative effects, 34% no effects and 13% positive effects. Our review shows that only one study had a before–after-control–impact (BACI) design, and a majority of publications do not include before–after (BA) designs (76%), have not included spatiotemporal variation (64%), and do not evaluate the effects of spatial fluctuations on Rangifer area use at long enough time intervals (only 8 studies had > 10 years data). Although Rangifer is vulnerable to human disturbances, we have showed how the effects of infrastructure differ among studies and highlight the need for study designs that integrate and account for spatiotemporal variation in future studies, for a better understanding of Rangifer (or wildlife) area use in relation to anthropogenic effects.
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reindeer and caribou Rangifer tarandus response towards human activities
Rangifer, 2009Co-Authors: Eigil Reimers, Jonathan E ColmanAbstract:We address the question of how human activities and infrastructure influence reindeer/caribou’s ( Rangifer tarandus ) behaviour and habitat use and review studies based on current methodologies. Anthropogenic activities have a direct affect on Rangifer behaviour through the senses hearing, sight and smell, and all of these are important tools for behavioural risk assessment. Short term indirect responses, such as habituation, sensitisation, avoidance, and displacement, develop through neutral, positive or negative associations towards stimulus in terms of Rangifer ’s ability to experience, learn, and remember. Long term behavioural responses develop through interaction with predators and, for reindeer, also domestication. A survey of the literature dealing with behavioural studies reveals that although Rangifer in most cases retreat from anthropogenic activities, comfort distances (i.e. distances beyond which animal behaviour or activity are not influenced) are relatively short. In most cases, energetic implications appear moderate and small compared to other natural, biotic influences such as disturbance (and death) caused by insect and/or predator harassment. Unless obstructing access, physical constructions of various kinds apparently have limited effects on Rangifer behaviour or habitat use. On the other hand, constructions that do obstruct or limit access and recreational or other motorized and non-motorized activities appear to have stronger impacts on avoidance and redistribution of Rangifer . Behavioural effects that might decrease survival and reproduction include retreat from favourable habitat near disturbance sources and reduction of time spent feeding with resulting energy depletion over time. Rangifer habitat use, habitat avoidance, and feeding preferences are governed by a complexity of natural interacting factors. Domestication, habituation and sensitisation are essential in shaping Rangifer ’s adaptability, and should be included in future studies on reindeer and caribou responses towards various anthropogenic activities. Although cumulative effects from human activities are likely, it remains difficult to separate these from natural variations in Rangifer habitat use and demography. Habitat avoidance towards various human infrastructures and activities is reported, but most studies reporting relatively far (4-25 km) avoidance distances relied on measurements of range properties and animal distribution recorded on 1-2 days annually in winter to induce a potential response from the animals and lack important environmental variables and/or alternative hypothesises. This methodology should be improved in order to enable identification of correlation versus causation. Studies relying on animal behaviour measurements can more correctly identify and test responses to various stimuli while also controlling for degree of domestication and other various environmental variables, but only in a limited time and spatial scale. Furthermore, such studies may not necessarily capture potential population consequences from disturbances. Thus, there are important weaknesses in the two leading methodologies (measuring animal behaviour and indirectly mapping regional/population movements and habitat use through measurements of range properties). To best study Rangifer ’s responses towards anthropogenic infrastructure and activities, we propose that the two methodologies be combined and supplied with modern GPS/telemetry. Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Rein og caribous reaksjon pa forskjellige menneskelige aktiviteter og installasjoner Vi adresserer sporsmalet om hvordan menneskelig aktivitet og infrastruktur pavirker rein/caribous ( Rangifer tarandus ) atferd og omradebruk og gjennomgar publiserte arbeider basert pa aktuelle metoder. Antropogene aktiviteter har direkte effekt pa reinens atferd via horsel, syn og lukt; alle er viktige for deres risikovurdering. Kortsiktige indirekte reaksjonsmonstre, slik som habituering, sensitivisering, unnvikelse og fortrengning utvikles gjennom noytrale, positive eller negative opplevelser av stimuli i henhold til erfaring, laering og hukommelse. Utviklingen av permanente atferdsmonstre skjer ved samvirke med predatorer og for reinens del, ogsa ved domestisering. En litteraturoversikt om atferdsstudier viser at selv om Rangifer i de fleste tilfeller unnviker antropogene virksomheter, sa er de avstander dyrene velger a ha mellom seg og infrastruktur uten at normalatferden endres, relativt korte. De energimessige implikasjonene er ogsa beskjedne sammenlignet med virkningen av naturlige stressfaktorer sa som forstyrrelser (og dod) forarsaket av insekter og predatorer. Fysiske installasjoner av ulik art har ogsa begrenset effekt med mindre de fysisk hindrer Rangifer s omradebruk. Pa den annen side vil fysiske installasjoner, som hindrer eller begrenser bruken av omrader, og trafikk, bade fottrafikk og trafikk med motorkjoretoy, kunne ha sterkere virkning pa unnvikelsesatferd og omradebruk. Atferdsmessige effekter som kan redusere overlevelse og reproduksjon omfatter unnvikelse fra beiteomrader naer forstyrrelseskilder. For Rangifer er det negative resultatet av dette oket aktivitet, redusert beitetid og nedbygging av energireserver. Rangifer s omradebruk, unnvikelsesatferd og naeringspreferanser bestemmes ut fra et kompleks av naturlige og gjensidig pavirkende faktorer. Domestisering, habituering og sensitivisering som er sentrale begrep i utformningen av Rangifer s tilpasningsevne, bor inkluderes i fremtidige studier av rein og caribous reaksjon pa antropogene aktiviteter. Selv om en kumulativ atferdseffekt av menneskelige aktiviteter er mulig, er det vanskelig a skille slike fra naturlige variasjoner som folge av variasjoner i omradebruk og bestandsdynamiske forhold. Habitatunnvikelse som folge av menneskelig pavirkning er rapportert. De fleste studiene som rapporterer relativt lange unnvikelsesavstander (4-25 km) er imidlertid basert pa malinger av beiteslitasje og lokalisering av dyr registrert i lopet av 1-2 dager arlig i lopet av vinteren og mangler viktige miljoparametere og/eller alternative hypoteser. Denne metoden bor forbedres for a kunne skille mellom korrelasjon og kausalitet. Malinger av atferd gjor mulig en mer korrekt testing av Rangifer s reaksjon pa ulike antropogene stimuli samtidig som man kontrollerer for graden av domestisering og forskjellige miljofaktorer. Atferdsstudiene avgrenses imidlertid i bade tid og rom og vil vanligvis ikke fange opp eventuelle bestandsdynamiske konsekvenser av forstyrrelser. Det hefter folgelig svakheter ved begge de to dominerende metodene som i dag anvendes; maling av atferd og bestandsfordeling og indirekte kartlegging av omradebruk ved maling av beiteslitasje. For a oppna en bedre studiedesign for maling av Rangifer s reaksjon pa antropogen infrastruktur og tilknyttede aktiviteter foreslar vi at de to metodene kombineres og suppleres med GPS/telemetri teknologi.
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Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) avoidance of a highway as revealed by lichen measurements
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2008Co-Authors: Bjørn Dahle, Eigil Reimers, Jonathan E ColmanAbstract:Reindeer and caribou Rangifer tarandus are reported to avoid human infrastructure such as roads, high-voltage power lines, pipelines, and tourist resorts. Lichens are important forage for reindeer during winter, and their relatively slow growth rates make them vulnerable to overgrazing. Height and volume of lichens are often used as an indicator of grazing pressure by reindeer and, thus, as an indirect measure of Rangifer avoidance of human infrastructure. We sampled lichen height in Cetraria nivalis -dominated communities along 4 and 3 parallel transects located on two parallel mountain ridges in Hardangervidda, south central Norway. The lichen measurements were analyzed in relation to altitude and the distance from four tourist cabins in the area and a highway (Rv7) running perpendicular to the 7 transects. The mountain ridge with 4 transects is part of a much used migratory corridor for wild reindeer R. tarandus tarandus . Along the nonmigratory ridge, lichen height decreased 35% over an 8-km distance from Rv7 and a tourist cabin, indicating reindeer aversion toward Rv7 and/or a tourist cabin. No similar relationship was found for the migration ridge in relation to distance from Rv7 or the tourist cabins. Our results suggest that avoidance of human infrastructure by wild reindeer might be limited where reindeer use of winter pastures is influenced by herd traditions and/or motivation to follow established migration corridors. This has important implications for addressing the use of similar pasture measurements when testing for Rangifer aversion toward human disturbances.
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Hearing in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).
Journal of comparative physiology. A Sensory neural and behavioral physiology, 2001Co-Authors: Kjetil Flydal, Andreas Hermansen, Per S. Enger, Eigil ReimersAbstract:The audiogram of two yearling male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were determined using a conditioned suppression/avoidance procedure. During testing, the animal was drinking from a metal bowl while pure tone signals were played at random intervals and followed by an electric shock in the bowl. By breaking contact with the bowl at sound signals, the animal avoided the shock. The animals detected sounds at intensities of 60 dB or less from 70 Hz to 38 kHz. The frequency range of best sensitivity was relatively flat from 1 kHz to 16 kHz, with a best sensitivity of 3 dB at 8 kHz. The hearing ability of reindeer is similar to the hearing ability of other ungulates.
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Rangifer population ecology: a Scandinavian perspective
Rangifer, 1997Co-Authors: Eigil ReimersAbstract:Population ecology is concerned with measuring changes in population size and composition, and identifying the causes of these fluctuations. Important driving variables include animal body size and growth rate, and their relationship to reproduction and mortality. Among wild and domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), reproductive performance, calving time, calf birth weight and neonatal mortality are strongly correlated to maternal weight. Heavy females enjoy higher pregnancy rates, calve earlier, and give birth to heavier calves which have a higher neonatal survival rate than light females. Most studies indicate that both weaning weight of a calf and mature body weight correlate to its birth weight. Calf body weight and composition influence the rate of attainment of sexual maturity. Females which breed as calves suffer reduced growth and give birth to smaller calves, which suffer higher neonatal mortality and lower rates of postnatal growth. A yet unresolved question is whether reindeer body weight, and hence reproductive performance and neonatal mortality, are more strongly influenced by winter than by summer grazing conditions. This paper reviews population ecology studies on wild and domestic reindeer and promotes the view that body size in Rangifer is determined primarily by grazing conditions during the summer.
