Abstract
Reindeer in the southern and central regions of reindeer husbandry in Finland feed on arboreal lichens or are given supplementary rations from midwinter whereas in the northern region reindeer use snow-covered forage throughout winter. Rates of mortality and reproduction were examined using data from population crashes of semi-domesticated reindeer that occurred in Northern Finland during 1960-1987. The mortality and reproductive rate were density-dependent in the southern region and the mortality was density-dependent in the central region. The density-dependence was most probably due to food competition in forest cutting areas where reindeer gather to feed on arboreal lichens from felled trees. In the northern region mortality was not density-dependent indicating that where reindeer feed on over-utilized winter range the effects of increased feeding competition are masked by very large changes in the availability of forage.
Highlights
The fecundity of females and the survival of juveniles are susceptible to food limitation regulation in many ungulates (Eisenberg, 1981; Sauer and Boyce, 1983; Clutton-Brock et al, 1987)
The number of semi-domesticated reindeer in Finland fluctuated considerably during the 1960s and 1970s owing to heavy natural mortality (Helle and Kojola, 1993)
Reindeer use snow-covered foods throughout the winter, while in the southern regions they feed on arboreal lichens in midwinter (Helle and Saastamoinen, 1979)
Summary
The fecundity of females and the survival of juveniles are susceptible to food limitation regulation in many ungulates (Eisenberg, 1981; Sauer and Boyce, 1983; Clutton-Brock et al, 1987). Density-dependent food limitation restricts population size above all through calf mortality (Skogland, 1985; 1990). Numbers have recovered and the density of reindeer has doubled yet there have been no large-scale crashes. This is a result of new management practices, which include slaughtering calves and providing supplementary feed in winter (Helle and Kojola, 1993; Kojola and Helle, 1993). Reindeer use snow-covered foods throughout the winter, while in the southern regions they feed on arboreal lichens in midwinter (Helle and Saastamoinen, 1979). Mortality and reproduction might be expected to be more density-dependent in the north than in the south
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