The Experts below are selected from a list of 309 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Morten Tryland - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Characterisation of parapoxviruses isolated from Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)
Virology Journal, 2005Co-Authors: Joern Klein, Morten TrylandAbstract:Background Two outbreaks of the disease contagious ecthyma were reported in 1999 and 2000 in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ). Contagious ecthyma is an epidermal disease of sheep and goats worldwide, which is caused by the zoonotic parapoxvirus orf virus. Characterisation of clinical samples from the two outbreaks in semi-domesticated Reindeer in Norway by electron microscopy and PCR (B2L) revealed typical parapoxvirus particles and partial gene sequences corresponding to parapoxvirus, respectively. If contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by orf virus, the virus may be transferred from sheep and goats, via people, equipment and common use of pastures and corrals, to Reindeer. Another possibility is that contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by a hitherto unclassified member of the parapoxvirus genus that circulates among Reindeer herds and remains endemic in Norway. Results Genomic comparisons of one standard orf strain (orf NZ2) and the Reindeer isolates, employing restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, demonstrated high similarity between the Reindeer viruses and known orf virus strains. Partial DNA sequences of two different viral genes were determined for the different isolates and compared with corresponding parapoxvirus genebank sequences. The comparison/alignment and construction of phylogenetic trees also point to an affiliation of the Reindeer viruses to the species orf virus. Conclusion The results of this work imply that the parapoxvirus causing contagious ecthyma in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer belongs to the species orf virus and that the orf virus crosses the host species barrier from sheep and goat to semi-domesticated Reindeer.
-
characterisation of parapoxviruses isolated from norwegian semi domesticated Reindeer rangifer tarandus tarandus
Virology Journal, 2005Co-Authors: Joern Klein, Morten TrylandAbstract:Background Two outbreaks of the disease contagious ecthyma were reported in 1999 and 2000 in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Contagious ecthyma is an epidermal disease of sheep and goats worldwide, which is caused by the zoonotic parapoxvirus orf virus. Characterisation of clinical samples from the two outbreaks in semi-domesticated Reindeer in Norway by electron microscopy and PCR (B2L) revealed typical parapoxvirus particles and partial gene sequences corresponding to parapoxvirus, respectively. If contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by orf virus, the virus may be transferred from sheep and goats, via people, equipment and common use of pastures and corrals, to Reindeer. Another possibility is that contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by a hitherto unclassified member of the parapoxvirus genus that circulates among Reindeer herds and remains endemic in Norway.
Henrik Andren - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
native predators reduce harvest of Reindeer by sami pastoralists
Ecological Applications, 2012Co-Authors: Thompson N Hobbs, Jens Persson, Henrik Andren, Malin Aronsson, Guillaume ChapronAbstract:Contemporary efforts to protect biological diversity recognize the importance of sustaining traditional human livelihoods, particularly uses of the land that are compatible with intact landscapes and ecologically complete food webs. However, these efforts often confront conflicting goals. For example, conserving native predators may harm pastoralist economies because predators consume domestic livestock that sustain people. This potential conflict must be reconciled by policy, but such reconciliation requires a firm understanding of the effects of predators on the prey used by people. We used a long-term, large-scale database and Bayesian models to estimate the impacts of lynx (Lynx lynx), wolverine (Gulo gulo), and brown bear (Ursus arctos) on harvest of semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) by Sami pastoralists in Sweden. The average annual harvest of Reindeer averaged 25% of the population (95% credible interval! 19, 31). Annual harvest declined by 96.6 (31, 155) Reindeer for each lynx family group (the surveyed segment of the lynx population) in a management unit and by 94.3 (20, 160) for each wolverine reproduction (the surveyed segment of the wolverine population). We failed to detect effects of predation by brown bear. The mechanism for effects of predation on harvest was reduced population growth rate. The rate of increase of Reindeer populations declined with increasing abundance of lynx and wolverine. The density of Reindeer, latitude, and weather indexed by the North Atlantic Oscillation also influenced Reindeer population growth rate. We conclude that there is a biological basis for compensating the Sami Reindeer herders for predation on Reindeer.
-
factors affecting eurasian lynx kill rates on semi domestic Reindeer in northern scandinavia can ecological research contribute to the development of a fair compensation system
Biological Conservation, 2011Co-Authors: Jenny Mattisson, John Odden, Erlend B Nilsen, John D C Linnell, Jens Persson, Henrik AndrenAbstract:Semi-domestic Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are the main prey for lynx (Lynx lynx) in northern Scandinavia. This causes large, but poorly documented, losses of Reindeer. Although the compensation schemes differ between Norway and Sweden, there is a legal requirement in both Scandinavian countries that losses of semi-domestic Reindeer to large carnivores should be fully compensated. The current level of compensation payment is based on limited data on lynx kill rates on Reindeer. The main goal of this study was to quantify lynx kill rates on Reindeer across a range of ecological conditions in northern Scandinavia. A total of 35 lynx were monitored during 3667 days. All lynx individuals killed Reindeer. However, we observed a high variation in individual kill rates. Kill rates were strongly affected by sex and social status (i.e. females with and without kittens), as well as season and Reindeer availability. The highest kill rates were observed in summer for male lynx, and the lowest were observed during winter for solitary lynx at low Reindeer density. In summer, several female lynx switched completely to small prey species even at high densities of Reindeer. The present political goals for lynx conservation in Scandinavia require that lynx occur in the Reindeer husbandry area where Reindeer are the only suitable ungulate prey available. Accordingly, it is therefore impossible to have the total prevention of depredation as a management goal. Rather depredation levels must be limited such that they are considered acceptable, and fair compensation payments should be paid. Our study is the first empirical quantification of the magnitude of lynx depredation on semi-domestic Reindeer. This is an important step necessary to enable the setting of fair compensation levels and will hopefully lead to a reduction in conflict level concerning the potential impacts that lynx have on Reindeer.
-
winter lynx lynx lynx predation on semi domestic Reindeer rangifer tarandus in northern sweden
Wildlife Biology, 1999Co-Authors: Vegar A Pedersen, John D C Linnell, Henrik Andren, Reidar Andersen, Mats Linden, Peter SegerstromAbstract:The predation behaviour of six lynx Lynx lynx family groups, i.e. adult females with dependent kittens, was studied using radio-tracking and snow-tracking in the Sarek area of northern Sweden during winter 1995/96 and 1996/97. One hundred and six daily radio-locations were obtained, and 340 km of intervening tracks were followed in the snow. Forty-one scats were collected, and 57 hunting attempts, 37 of which were successful, were recorded. Semi-domestic Reindeer Rangifer tarandus contributed over 90% to lynx ingested meat calculated from both scats and kills. Eighty-three percent of hunting attempts on Reindeer, and 53% of attempts on small prey species, mainly Lagopus sp. and mountain hares Lepus timidus, were successful. Four incidents of multiple-killing of Reindeer were documented. Reindeer were generally in poor body condition, with an average femur marrow fat content of 27%. Lynx spent an average of three nights at each Reindeer kill-site. Reindeer were less completely consumed than small prey (61% vs 99%). The amount of meat eaten from a Reindeer was proportional to the number of lynx-nights on the kill. An overall kill rate of one Reindeer per five days was calculated. We concluded that Reindeer are a very important food source for lynx in winter, which potentially could lead to problems in resolving the carnivore-livestock conflicts in the region.
Joern Klein - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Characterisation of parapoxviruses isolated from Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)
Virology Journal, 2005Co-Authors: Joern Klein, Morten TrylandAbstract:Background Two outbreaks of the disease contagious ecthyma were reported in 1999 and 2000 in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ). Contagious ecthyma is an epidermal disease of sheep and goats worldwide, which is caused by the zoonotic parapoxvirus orf virus. Characterisation of clinical samples from the two outbreaks in semi-domesticated Reindeer in Norway by electron microscopy and PCR (B2L) revealed typical parapoxvirus particles and partial gene sequences corresponding to parapoxvirus, respectively. If contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by orf virus, the virus may be transferred from sheep and goats, via people, equipment and common use of pastures and corrals, to Reindeer. Another possibility is that contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by a hitherto unclassified member of the parapoxvirus genus that circulates among Reindeer herds and remains endemic in Norway. Results Genomic comparisons of one standard orf strain (orf NZ2) and the Reindeer isolates, employing restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, demonstrated high similarity between the Reindeer viruses and known orf virus strains. Partial DNA sequences of two different viral genes were determined for the different isolates and compared with corresponding parapoxvirus genebank sequences. The comparison/alignment and construction of phylogenetic trees also point to an affiliation of the Reindeer viruses to the species orf virus. Conclusion The results of this work imply that the parapoxvirus causing contagious ecthyma in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer belongs to the species orf virus and that the orf virus crosses the host species barrier from sheep and goat to semi-domesticated Reindeer.
-
characterisation of parapoxviruses isolated from norwegian semi domesticated Reindeer rangifer tarandus tarandus
Virology Journal, 2005Co-Authors: Joern Klein, Morten TrylandAbstract:Background Two outbreaks of the disease contagious ecthyma were reported in 1999 and 2000 in Norwegian semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Contagious ecthyma is an epidermal disease of sheep and goats worldwide, which is caused by the zoonotic parapoxvirus orf virus. Characterisation of clinical samples from the two outbreaks in semi-domesticated Reindeer in Norway by electron microscopy and PCR (B2L) revealed typical parapoxvirus particles and partial gene sequences corresponding to parapoxvirus, respectively. If contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by orf virus, the virus may be transferred from sheep and goats, via people, equipment and common use of pastures and corrals, to Reindeer. Another possibility is that contagious ecthyma in Reindeer is caused by a hitherto unclassified member of the parapoxvirus genus that circulates among Reindeer herds and remains endemic in Norway.
Jon Moen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Effects of Modern Forest Management on Winter Grazing Resources for Reindeer in Sweden
AMBIO, 2010Co-Authors: Sonja Kivinen, Jon Moen, Anna Berg, Åsa ErikssonAbstract:Boreal forests in Sweden are exploited in a number of ways, including forestry and Reindeer husbandry. In the winter, Reindeer feed mainly on lichens, and lichen-rich forests are a key resource in the herding system. Commercial forestry has mainly negative effects on Reindeer husbandry, and conflicts between these two industries have escalated over the last century. This article reviews the effects of modern forest management practices on the winter resources available for Reindeer husbandry. Forestry affects Reindeer husbandry at both the stand level and the landscape level and over various time scales. Clear-cutting, site preparation, fertilization, short rotation times, and forest fragmentation have largely resulted in a reduced amount of ground growing and arboreal lichens and restricted access to resource. This article also discusses alternative forestry practices and approaches that could reduce the impacts of forestry on Reindeer husbandry, both in the short and long term.
-
Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus
Wildlife Biology, 2008Co-Authors: Anna Skarin, O Danell, Ãje Danell, R. Bergström, Jon Moen, Roger BergströmAbstract:Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus husbandry In Sweden commonly uses the Scandinavian mountain chain as grazing area during the snow-free season and the coniferous forests in the east during winter. Current knowledge of habitat use by Reindeer is primarily based on traditional or local knowledge, or on investigations carried out on wild Reindeer and caribou in other parts of the world. We identified spatial and temporal habitat use of free-ranging semi-domesticated Reindeer by following 48 GPS-equipped Reindeer in three summer ranges in the Swedish Reindeer herding area. The GPS equipment registered positions every hour or every second hour, during two snow-free seasons. The GPS-collared Reindeer were randomly chosen from herds with several thousand animals. Estimated home-range utilisation distributions were used to fit resource utilisation functions (RUFs) including various topographical features, vegetation types, and the vicinity to water and hiking trails. The GPS-equipped Reindeer used different parts of the range throughout the snow-free season. Preferred vegetation types were consistently meadows, grass heaths, and other heaths. Avoided vegetation types were all types of forests, sparsely vegetated areas, and bare rocks. The Reindeer were seemingly indifferent to hiking trails within their home ranges, which, however, usually coincided with preferred vegetation types, but they avoided areas with houses and holiday huts during early summer. Later in the season, the Reindeer preferred higher elevated areas where human constructions were sparse. The home ranges of the GPS-equipped Reindeer overlapped considerably during early parts of the season, indicating a dense use of the range by the entire herds. Crowding within the herds appeared to make individual Reindeer select non-optimal habitats. However, in our study, we found a nonsignificant tendency of less predictable individual home ranges when there were large range overlaps. Vegetation types, direction of slopes, time within the season and the possibilities of avoiding insect harassment appear to be key factors for predicting valuable Reindeer habitats in novel areas in a land management context.
-
Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus MANAGEMENT Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus
Wildlife Biology, 2008Co-Authors: Anna Skarin, Ãje Danell, Roger Bergström, Jon MoenAbstract:Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus husbandry in Sweden commonly uses the Scandinavian mountain chain as grazing area during the snow-free season and the coniferous forests in the east during winter. Current knowledge of habitat use by Reindeer is primarily based on tra- ditional or local knowledge, or on investigations carried out on wild Reindeer and caribou in other parts of the world. We identified spatial and temporal habitat use of free-ranging semi-domesticated Reindeer by following 48 GPS-equipped Reindeer in three summer ranges in the Swedish Reindeer herding area. The GPS equipment registered posi- tions every hour or every second hour, during two snow-free seasons. The GPS-collared Reindeer were randomly chosen from herds with sev- eral thousand animals. Estimated home-range utilisation distributions were used to fit resource utilisation functions (RUFs) including vari- ous topographical features, vegetation types, and the vicinity to water and hiking trails. The GPS-equipped Reindeer used different parts of the range throughout the snow-free season. Preferred vegetation types were consistently meadows, grass heaths, and other heaths. Avoided vege- tation types were all types of forests, sparsely vegetated areas, and bare rocks. The Reindeer were seemingly indifferent to hiking trails within their home ranges, which, however, usually coincided with preferred vegetation types, but they avoided areas with houses and holiday huts during early summer. Later in the season, the Reindeer preferred higher elevated areas where human constructions were sparse. The home ranges of the GPS-equipped Reindeer overlapped considerably during early parts of the season, indicating a dense use of the range by the entire herds. Crowding within the herds appeared to make individual Reindeer select non-optimal habitats. However, in our study, we found a non- significant tendency of less predictable individual home ranges when there were large range overlaps. Vegetation types, direction of slopes, time within the season and the possibilities of avoiding insect harass- ment appear to be key factors for predicting valuable Reindeer habitats in novel areas in a land management context.
Anna Skarin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Do human activity and infrastructure disturb domesticated Reindeer? The need for the Reindeer’s perspective
Polar Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Anna Skarin, Birgitta ÅhmanAbstract:In recent decades, human–Rangifer (Reindeer and caribou) interactions have increasingly been studied from a scientific perspective. Many of the studies have examined Norwegian wild Reindeer or caribou in North America. It is often questioned whether results from these studies can be applied to Reindeer in managed herds, as these animals have been exposed to domestication and are also more used to humans. In order to examine the domesticated Reindeer’s reactions to various disturbance sources, we reviewed 18 studies of the effects of human activity and infrastructure on 12 populations of domesticated Reindeer and compared these to studies on wild Reindeer and caribou; based on this, we discuss the effects of domestication and tameness on Reindeer responses to anthropogenic disturbance. We also consider the relevance of spatial and temporal scales and data collection methods when evaluating the results of these studies. The reviewed studies showed that domesticated Reindeer exhibit avoidance behaviours up to 12 km away from infrastructure and sites of human activity and that the area they avoid may shift between seasons and years. Despite a long domestication process, Reindeer within Sami Reindeer-herding systems exhibit similar patterns of large-scale avoidance of anthropogenic disturbance as wild Rangifer, although the strength of their response may sometimes differ. This is not surprising since current Sami Reindeer husbandry represents an extensive form of pastoralism, and the Reindeer are not particularly tame. To obtain a true picture of how Reindeer use their ranges, it is of fundamental importance to study the response pattern at a spatial and temporal scale that is relevant to the Reindeer, whether domesticated or wild.
-
Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus
Wildlife Biology, 2008Co-Authors: Anna Skarin, O Danell, Ãje Danell, R. Bergström, Jon Moen, Roger BergströmAbstract:Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus husbandry In Sweden commonly uses the Scandinavian mountain chain as grazing area during the snow-free season and the coniferous forests in the east during winter. Current knowledge of habitat use by Reindeer is primarily based on traditional or local knowledge, or on investigations carried out on wild Reindeer and caribou in other parts of the world. We identified spatial and temporal habitat use of free-ranging semi-domesticated Reindeer by following 48 GPS-equipped Reindeer in three summer ranges in the Swedish Reindeer herding area. The GPS equipment registered positions every hour or every second hour, during two snow-free seasons. The GPS-collared Reindeer were randomly chosen from herds with several thousand animals. Estimated home-range utilisation distributions were used to fit resource utilisation functions (RUFs) including various topographical features, vegetation types, and the vicinity to water and hiking trails. The GPS-equipped Reindeer used different parts of the range throughout the snow-free season. Preferred vegetation types were consistently meadows, grass heaths, and other heaths. Avoided vegetation types were all types of forests, sparsely vegetated areas, and bare rocks. The Reindeer were seemingly indifferent to hiking trails within their home ranges, which, however, usually coincided with preferred vegetation types, but they avoided areas with houses and holiday huts during early summer. Later in the season, the Reindeer preferred higher elevated areas where human constructions were sparse. The home ranges of the GPS-equipped Reindeer overlapped considerably during early parts of the season, indicating a dense use of the range by the entire herds. Crowding within the herds appeared to make individual Reindeer select non-optimal habitats. However, in our study, we found a nonsignificant tendency of less predictable individual home ranges when there were large range overlaps. Vegetation types, direction of slopes, time within the season and the possibilities of avoiding insect harassment appear to be key factors for predicting valuable Reindeer habitats in novel areas in a land management context.
-
Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus MANAGEMENT Summer habitat preferences of GPS-collared Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus
Wildlife Biology, 2008Co-Authors: Anna Skarin, Ãje Danell, Roger Bergström, Jon MoenAbstract:Reindeer Rangifer tarandus tarandus husbandry in Sweden commonly uses the Scandinavian mountain chain as grazing area during the snow-free season and the coniferous forests in the east during winter. Current knowledge of habitat use by Reindeer is primarily based on tra- ditional or local knowledge, or on investigations carried out on wild Reindeer and caribou in other parts of the world. We identified spatial and temporal habitat use of free-ranging semi-domesticated Reindeer by following 48 GPS-equipped Reindeer in three summer ranges in the Swedish Reindeer herding area. The GPS equipment registered posi- tions every hour or every second hour, during two snow-free seasons. The GPS-collared Reindeer were randomly chosen from herds with sev- eral thousand animals. Estimated home-range utilisation distributions were used to fit resource utilisation functions (RUFs) including vari- ous topographical features, vegetation types, and the vicinity to water and hiking trails. The GPS-equipped Reindeer used different parts of the range throughout the snow-free season. Preferred vegetation types were consistently meadows, grass heaths, and other heaths. Avoided vege- tation types were all types of forests, sparsely vegetated areas, and bare rocks. The Reindeer were seemingly indifferent to hiking trails within their home ranges, which, however, usually coincided with preferred vegetation types, but they avoided areas with houses and holiday huts during early summer. Later in the season, the Reindeer preferred higher elevated areas where human constructions were sparse. The home ranges of the GPS-equipped Reindeer overlapped considerably during early parts of the season, indicating a dense use of the range by the entire herds. Crowding within the herds appeared to make individual Reindeer select non-optimal habitats. However, in our study, we found a non- significant tendency of less predictable individual home ranges when there were large range overlaps. Vegetation types, direction of slopes, time within the season and the possibilities of avoiding insect harass- ment appear to be key factors for predicting valuable Reindeer habitats in novel areas in a land management context.
-
Reindeer use of alpine summer habitats
2006Co-Authors: Anna SkarinAbstract:Alpine areas in the Scandinavian mountain region are used for grazing by semi-domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during the snow-free season. These areas are also used for outdoor recreation and tourism. In summer the Reindeer seek nutritive forage and relief from insect harassment during warm weather. Their habitat selection is also expected to be affected by human occurrence in the ranges. Knowledge of Reindeer habitat use is needed in management, both within Reindeer husbandry and society as a whole. This thesis presents research on habitat selection by Reindeer at the landscape level within three temporal scales (whole summer, four summer periods, and daily cycles). The study was conducted in four study areas (210 to 4000 km2 each) within three Reindeer herding districts in Sweden: Idre Nya Sameby (62°00’N), Handolsdalen (63°00’N) and Sirges (67°00’N). The study areas differed in topography, relative abundance of vegetation types, and occurrence of back-country hikers. The Reindeer habitat use was surveyed with pellet-group counts and with 48 adult female Reindeer equipped with GPS collars. Reindeer preferences for different habitat attributes and reactions to hiking trails were analysed by fitting resource utilisation functions and by analyses of Reindeer movements. The Reindeer showed a general preference for high altitudes at all temporal scales. Selection for high-quality vegetation types was shown, in the Reindeer home ranges within the periods, with preference for meadows, grass heath, and heath. The Reindeer seemed limited in their forage intake by insect harassment. Effects of hiking trails were small, but the Reindeer movement rates increased close to hiking trails in areas with low frequency of hikers. In areas with a higher number of tourist-Reindeer encounters the Reindeer seemed to have habituated to the hikers. When insect relief areas coincided with high abundance of hikers, the Reindeer seemed to accept human disturbance in order to get insect relief. Predictions of habitat selection evaluated by cross-validation of estimated resource utilisation functions showed fairly low predictive capacities with the high resolution of habitat attribute data. For management purposes the results are suggested to be converted to a value point system for range compartments.
