Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Understanding and predicting large-scale ecological responses to global environmental change requires comparative studies across geographic scales with coordinated efforts and standardized methodologies. We designed, applied, and assessed standardized protocols to measure tundra herbivory at three spatial scales: plot, site (habitat), and study area (landscape). The plot- and site-level protocols were tested in the field during summers 2014–2015 at 11 sites, nine of them consisting of warming experimental plots included in the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). The study area protocols were assessed during 2014–2018 at 24 study areas across the Arctic. Our protocols provide comparable and easy to implement methods for assessing the intensity of invertebrate herbivory within ITEX plots and for characterizing vertebrate herbivore communities at larger spatial scales. We discuss methodological constraints and make recommendations for how these protocols can be used and how sampling effort can be optimized to obtain comparable estimates of herbivory, both at ITEX sites and at large landscape scales. The application of these protocols across the tundra biome will allow characterizing and comparing herbivore communities across tundra sites and at ecologically relevant spatial scales, providing an important step towards a better understanding of tundra ecosystem responses to large-scale environmental change.
Source: Arctic Science
DOI: 10.1139/as-2020-0020
Authors: I.C. Barrio, D. Ehrich, E.M. Soininen, V.T. Ravolainen, C.G. Bueno, O. Gilg, A.M. Koltz, J.D.M. Speed, D.S. Hik, M. Mörsdorf, J.M. Alatalo, A. Angerbjörn, J. Bêty, L. Bollache, N. Boulanger-Lapointe, G.S. Brown, I. Eischeid, M.A. Giroux, T. Hájek, B.B. Hansen, S.P. Hofhuis, J.-F. Lamarre, J. Lang, C. Latty, N. Lecomte, P. Macek, L. McKinnon, I.H. Myers-Smith, Å.Ø. Pedersen, J.S. Prevéy, J.D. Roth, S.T. Saalfeld, N.M. Schmidt, P. Smith, A. Sokolov, N. Sokolova, C. Stolz, R. van Bemmelen, Ø. Varpe, P.F. Woodard, I.S. Jónsdóttir
Institutions: Agricultural University of Iceland, Université de Bourgogne, Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Polar Institute, University of Tartu, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Arctique, Washington University in St. Louis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Simon Fraser University, University of Freiburg, Qatar University, Stockholm University, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Center for Northern Studies, University of British Columbia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Université de Moncton, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Wageningen University & Research, Polar Knowledge Canada, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, York University, University of Edinburgh, Fort Collins Science Center, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, University of Manitoba, Aarhus University, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, University Centre in Svalbard, Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands), Wageningen Marine Research, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, University of Bergen, University of Iceland
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,575
Funders: Polar Knowledge Canada, Université de Moncton, Government of Nunavut, Eesti Teadusagentuur, Carl Tryggers Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning, Qatar Petroleum, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor, Háskóli Íslands, Norges Forskningsråd, International Arctic Science Committee, Natural Environment Research Council, European Regional Development Fund
OpenAlex ID: W3138930504