Abstract
In summer 2006 Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) in southwestern Edgeoya (Plurdalen, Grunnlinjesletta, Siegelfjellet and Burmeisterfjellet) showed a low population (181 animals) and recruitment rate, in terms of both calves (9.4%) and yearlings (1.2%). The low recruitment rates were not accompanied by high winter mortality: of only five carcasses found, none were calves born in 2005. A comparison with survey data from 1969 in a restricted part of the study area (Plurdalen and Grunnlinjesletta) shows a consistently low recruitment rate since 1975, indicating a stable or slowly decreasing population. Keywords Edgeoya; population regulation; recruitment rates; Svalbard reindeer; winter mortality; Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus ( Published: 15 May 2012) Citation: Polar Research 2012, 31 , 11089, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v31i0.11089
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
