Ungulates
Reindeer is the most numerous cervid species in the Arctic, and this is also the case here on the Varanger Peninsula. In the transition zone between forest and tundra, the grazing areas of reindeer overlap with the areas used by the moose.
Climate changes will affect the cervids' access to food in several ways. Are reindeer in Varanger going to persist at similar numbers in the near future?
Climate change is expected to have both positive and negative impacts on populations of reindeer and moose, primarily through changes in access to food.
Predicting how the populations will develop in the future is difficult. We are therefore monitoring the populations to understand more about what is happening.
DID YOU KNOW that today (2024) there is a small population of roe deer in Tana? A warmer climate may give this population the opportunity to increase in number and expand into neighboring areas.
Here, one of our wildlife cameras has captured a roe deer in Finnmark.
Warmer summers provide better grazing
Longer and warmer growing seasons increase plant production and will likely lead to more high quality food being available for reindeer and moose during the summer.
Photo: Geir Vie
Wet winters limit access to food
Mild periods with rain become more common in winter. When the wet ground freezes over, a layer of ice often forms over the vegetation. The ice can be too thick for reindeer to reach the food locked within.
Photo: Jan Erik Knutsen
In a warmer climate, the spread of shrubs and thickets increases.
This is good news for reindeer and moose, which get access to more food, but other species may risk losing their habitats if the shrubs take over.
In addition, dark thickets absorb heat
and can increase the warming of the Arctic.
Reindeer and moose grazing is important for preventing thickets from spreading over large areas.
Changes in the climate lead to more violent outbreaks of insect defoliators.
Insect defoliators can have devastating consequences for birch trees, but also other species in the ecosystem are affected by their impact on the forest. Reindeer prefer to eat juicy and nutritious plants such as herbs, grasses and willows if they can find them.
Reindeer avoid areas affected by insect defoliators —presumably because the quality of grazing becomes poorer.
Read more about outbreaks of insect defoliators.
This birch forest in Polmak has experienced a severe attack by insect defoliators.
Photo: Jakob Iglhaut
If conditions become poor in winter, many reindeer die. In addition, few of the survivors will have a calf the following summer.
Research into the processes that take place may allow us to find effective ways to manage reindeer populations as the climate change.
DID YOU KNOW that reindeer have a keen sense of smell and can find lichen buried as deep as 60 cm under the snow?
(source: artsdatabanken.no)
In winters with a lot of ice, it is difficult for reindeer to get enough food.
Photo: Jan Erik Knutsen
Not all survive until spring..
Photo: Rolf A. Ims
Warm summers are not only for the best
Reindeer are not made for a life at high temperatures and often stay near snow or water to cool down on hot summer days. By the cool snow, there are also fewer bothersome flies and parasites.
Photo: Leif Einar Støvern
This is how we research reindeer and moose
Reindeer are monitored through official statistics
The following are recorded annually:
- Reindeer herd sizes
- Number of calves
- Losses of reindeer
- Reported slaughter weights
- Vegetation monitoring on summer and winter pastures.
Poto: Geir Vie
The graphs to the right show the number of reindeer in the two reindeer grazing districts on the Varanger Peninsula (Rákkonjárga in the west and Várjjatnjárga in the east) over the last 20 years (2000-2023).
Note the difference in scale on the y-axes.
This is how we research reindeer and moose
Some reindeer and moose are equipped with GPS collars, allowing us to monitor their movements.
The effect of reindeer density is examined by looking at how plants and reindeer are doing in districts with different densities of reindeer.
The monitoring of moose is based on reports from hunters. The reports are used to calculate moose density, age structure, and slaughter weight.
Moose calf in Varanger. Photo: Geir Vie
How is the research on reindeer and moose used?
Reindeer and moose have a substantial impact on the ecosystem, and their management therefore affect the nature around us.
Climate change will alter the conditions for reindeer herding, an important resource and industry on the Varanger Peninsula.
The number of reindeer in the herds are controlled by the reindeer owners who aim to achieve good and long-term production.
It is important to have good knowledge about how grazing resources develop and how the reindeer herds and pastures can be managed in a sustainable way.
