1. |
- Allard, Christina, et al.
(author)
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Rasbiologiskt språkbruk i statens rättsprocess mot sameby : DN Debatt 2015-06-11
- 2015
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Other publication (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Statens hantering av forskningsresultat i rättsprocessen med Girjas sameby utgör ett hot mot Sverige som rättsstat och kunskapsnation. Åratal av svensk och internationell forskning underkänns och man använder ett språkbruk som skulle kunna vara hämtat från rasbiologins tid. Nu måste staten ta sitt ansvar och börja agera som en demokratisk rättsstat, skriver 59 forskare.
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2. |
- Butwicka, Agnieszka, et al.
(author)
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Hypospadias and increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders
- 2014
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In: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. - 0021-9630 .- 1469-7610.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Hypospadias (aberrant opening of the urethra on the underside of the penis) occurs in 1 per 300 newborn boys. It has been previously unknown whether this common malformation is associated with increased psychiatric morbidity later in life. Studies of individuals with hypospadias also provide an opportunity to examine whether difference in androgen signaling is related to neurodevelopmental disorders. To elucidate the mechanisms behind a possible association, we also studied psychiatric outcomes among brothers of the hypospadias patients. METHODS: Registry study within a national cohort of all 9,262 males with hypospadias and their 4,936 healthy brothers born in Sweden between 1973 and 2009. Patients with hypospadias and their brothers were matched with controls by year of birth and county. The following outcomes were evaluated (1) any psychiatric (2) psychotic, (3) mood, (4) anxiety, (5) eating, and (6) personality disorders, (7) substance misuse, (8) attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (9) autism spectrum disorders (ASD), (10) intellectual disability, and (11) other behavioral/emotional disorders with onset in childhood. RESULTS: Patients with hypospadias were more likely to be diagnosed with intellectual disability (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.8-3.8), ASD (1.4; 1.2-1.7), ADHD (1.5; 1.3-1.9), and behavioral/emotional disorders (1.4; 1.2-1.6) compared with the controls. Brothers of patients with hypospadias had an increased risk of ASD (1.6; 1.3-2.1) and other behavioral/emotional disorders with onset in childhood (1.2; 0.9-1.5) in comparison to siblings of healthy individuals. A slightly higher, although not statistically significant, risk was found for intellectual disability (1.3; 1.0-1.9). No relation between other psychiatric diagnosis and hypospadias was found. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to identify an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in patients with hypospadias, as well as an increased risk for ASD in their brothers, suggesting a common familial (genetic and/or environmental) liability.
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4. |
- Garrido, Pablo, et al.
(author)
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Experimental rewilding enhances grassland functional composition and pollinator habitat use
- 2019
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In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 56, s. 946-955
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Semi-natural grasslands are rich in biodiversity and thus important habitats for conservation, yet they are experiencing rapid declines due to agricultural intensification and abandonment. Promoting a more diverse mammalian herbivore community, including large and megaherbivores, may result in positive cascade effects for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Therefore, reintroducing an ecologically functional substitute of an extinct large herbivore could mitigate current biodiversity declines and foster semi-natural grassland conservation. To test this hypothesis, we set up a 3-year rewilding experiment where 12 feral horses were introduced in three 10-hectare enclosure replicates (four horses per enclosure). We used community-weighted mean plant functional traits to elucidate plant community changes induced by grazing through time. We also investigated the effects of this experimental treatment on insect pollinated plants and on pollinator habitat use. The grassland community exerted a mixed tolerance/avoidance response to grazing. This resulted in plant functional compositional changes which favoured prostrate plant species with higher specific leaf area, characteristic of ruderal communities. Plant species richness was higher in grazed compared to ungrazed areas. Butterfly and bumblebee habitat use, as well as feeding and resting activities were also higher in grazed areas. Moreover, the number of pollinators increased with plant species richness.Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that, to enhance the diversity of a given herbivore community with ecological replacements of extinct wild horses can have significant effects on the functional composition of grasslands. It can also mitigate plant species declines, in particular bee-dependent plants, and boost pollinator habitat use. Novel management alternatives are urgently needed to reverse the negative effect of land abandonment in European agricultural landscapes. Thus, rewilding interventions with large mammalian herbivores may offset current biodiversity declines by maintaining important functional links between plants and pollinators in grassland ecosystems.Foreign Language AbstractSammanfattningNaturbetesmarker ar rika pa biologisk mangfald och ar darmed av stor betydelse for naturvarden. Tyvarr minskar arealen av dessa marker pa grund av intensifieringar inom jordbruket och andrad djurhallning. En variationsrik djurhallning med stora daggdjur kan resultera i positiva foljdeffekter for biologisk mangfald och mer funktionella ekosystem. Genom att aterinfora ekologiskt funktionella ersattare for utdoda stora vaxtatare kan vi pa sa vis minska forlusten av biologisk mangfald och gynna bevarandet av naturbetesmarker. For att testa detta genomfordes ett trearigt faunarestaurerings-forsok med 12 hastar som fick beta i tre stycken 10-hektar stora hagn (fyra hastar i varje). Vi anvande medelvarden av vaxtsamhallets funktionella egenskaper for att studera hur hastarnas bete forandrade vaxtsamhallet over tid. Vi studerade aven effekter pa insektpollinerade vaxter och hur pollinerande insekter nyttjade forsoksytorna. Vaxterna uppvisade en blandning av tolerans och undvikande som respons mot betandet, vilket resulterade i funktionella forandringar som gynnade lagvaxande arter med stora blad, sa kallade ruderatvaxter. Vaxtrikedomen var hogre pa betade ytor an pa obetade. Det var aven storre forekomst av fodosokande och vilande fjarilar och humlor pa betade ytor. Antalet pollinerande insekter okade med vaxtrikedomen.Syntes och tillampning. Var studie visar att vi genom en vildare djurhallning kan aterskapa hastens ekosystemfunktion och att det ger positiva effekter pa vaxtsamhallets funktionella sammansattning. En vildare djurhallning kan aven motverka forlusten pollinerade vaxter och oka mangden pollinerande insekter. Nya forvaltningsmetoder behovs for att vanda den genomgripande utvecklingen kopplat till igenvaxning av det europeiska jordbrukslandskapet. angstrom terforandet av stora vaxtatande daggdjur kan forhindra forlusten av biologisk mangfald och uppratthalla viktiga funktionella kopplingar mellan vaxter och dess pollinatorer i naturbetesmarker.This study demonstrates that, to enhance the diversity of a given herbivore community with ecological replacements of extinct wild horses can have significant effects on the functional composition of grasslands. It can also mitigate plant species declines, in particular bee-dependent plants, and boost pollinator habitat use. Novel management alternatives are urgently needed to reverse the negative effect of land abandonment in European agricultural landscapes. Thus, rewilding interventions with large mammalian herbivores may offset current biodiversity declines by maintaining important functional links between plants and pollinators in grassland ecosystems.
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5. |
- Garrido, Pablo, et al.
(author)
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Experimental rewilding may restore abandoned wood-pastures if policy allows
- 2021
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In: AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 20, s. 101-112
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large herbivores play key roles in terrestrial ecosystems. Continuous defaunation processes have produced cascade effects on plant community composition, vegetation structure, and even climate. Wood-pastures were created by traditional management practices that have maintained open structures and biodiversity for millennia. In Europe, despite the broad recognition of their biological importance, such landscapes are declining due to land-use changes. This calls for finding urgent solutions for wood-pasture conservation. To test whether introducing an ecological replacement of an extinct wild horse could have positive effects on wood-pasture restoration, we designed a 3-year rewilding experiment. Horses created a more open wood-pasture structure by browsing on seedlings and saplings, affected tree composition via selective browsing and controlled the colonization of woody vegetation in grassland-dominated areas. Thus, rewilding could be a potential avenue for wood-pasture restoration and biodiversity conservation. However, such benefits may not materialize without a necessary paradigm and political shift.
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7. |
- Hansson, I, et al.
(author)
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Cow characteristics associated with the variation in number of contacts between dairy cows
- 2023
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In: Journal of Dairy Science. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0022-0302 .- 1525-3198. ; 106:4, s. 2685-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In modern freestall barns where large groups of cows are housed together, the behavior displayed by herd mates can influence the welfare and production of other individuals. Therefore, understanding social interactions in groups of dairy cows is important to enhance herd management and optimize the outcomes of both animal health and welfare in the future. Many factors can affect the number of social contacts in a group. This study aimed to identify which characteristics of a cow are associated with the number of contacts it has with other group members in 2 different functional areas (feeding and resting area) to increase our understanding of the social behavior of dairy cows. Inside 2 herds housed in freestall barns with around 200 lactating cows each, cow positions were recorded with an ultra-wideband real-time location system collecting all cows' positions every second over 2 wk. Using the positioning data of the cows, we quantified the number of contacts between them, assuming that cows spending time in proximity to one another (within a distance of 2.5 m for at least 10 min per day) were interacting socially. We documented in which barn areas these interactions occurred and used linear mixed models to investigate if lactation stage, parity, breed, pregnancy status, estrus, udder health, and claw health affect the number of contacts. We found variation in the number of contacts a cow had between individuals in both functional areas. Cows in later lactation had more contacts in the feeding area than cows in early lactation. Furthermore, in one herd, higher parity cows had fewer contacts in the feeding area than first parity cows, and in the other herd, cows in third parity or higher had more contacts in the resting area. This study indicates that cow characteristics such as parity and days in milk are associated with the number of contacts a cow has daily to its herd mates and provides useful information for further research on social interactions of dairy cows.
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9. |
- Herlin, Anders Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Animal welfare implications of digital tools for monitoring and management of cattle and sheep on pasture
- 2021
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In: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 11:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The opportunities for natural animal behaviours in pastures imply animal welfare benefits. Nevertheless, monitoring the animals can be challenging. The use of sensors, cameras, positioning equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles in large pastures has the potential to improve animal welfare surveillance. Directly or indirectly, sensors measure environmental factors together with the behaviour and physiological state of the animal, and deviations can trigger alarms for, e.g., disease, heat stress and imminent calving. Electronic positioning includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for the recording of animals at fixed points. Positioning units (GPS) mounted on collars can determine animal movements over large areas, determine their habitat and, somewhat, health and welfare. In combination with other sensors, such units can give information that helps to evaluate the welfare of free-ranging animals. Drones equipped with cameras can also locate and count the animals, as well as herd them. Digitally defined virtual fences can keep animals within a predefined area without the use of physical barriers, relying on acoustic signals and weak electric shocks. Due to individual variations in learning ability, some individuals may be exposed to numerous electric shocks, which might compromise their welfare. More research and development are required, especially regarding the use of drones and virtual fences. © 2021 by the authors.
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10. |
- Jansson, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Shaping the Swedish landscape: a future for the Gotland russ
- 2016
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Tree encroachment and abandonment of pastures is an important cause of biodiversity loss in Sweden. In thisstudy, we evaluate the impact of all-year-around grazing by an ancient horse breed, the Gotland russ (GR),on tree encroachment. Twelve GR stallions were kept in 3 enclosures (lat: 59, long: 17, 4 GR/enclosure, 7ha forest and 3 ha open fields/enclosure) from May 2014 (age 1 yrs) until February 2016. Prior to the study,3 exclosures (EX, 5×42.5 m) where GR grazing was excluded were centered with the long side at the borderbetween forest and field. The field part of EX were further divided into four 5×5 m sections starting from theforest (1 to 4). Tree type (deciduous, spruce or pine), number and height were registered in the sections and theequivalent, grazed area adjacent to the EX on the 25th of February 2016. Body condition (BC) was assessedweekly using a 9 leveled scoring system. Individuals <4 were withdrawn, fed and reintroduced when BC was>4. Analysis of tree heights and numbers were made by procGLM in SAS. There was no difference in the totalnumber of deciduous trees (21±8 vs 25±8), spruces (2±1 vs 3±1) and pines (0.2±0.2 vs 0.8±0.2) between EXand grazed areas (P>0.05). In the grazed areas, the deciduous trees were shorter compared to the trees in EX(330±57 vs 780±70 mm, P<0.0001). There was no difference in spruce height (EX: 920±110 vs grazed areas:780±130 mm, P=0.31). In the grazed areas, tree height decreased from quarter 1 to 4 (1: 610±60, 2: 230±110, 3:140±90 and 4: 60±100 mm, P<0.0001) whereas in EX, the height increased (1: 740±60, 2: 570±150, 3: 810±90and 4: 960±100 mm, P<0.02). Four individuals (3 from the same enclosure) were withdrawn temporarily inFebruary 2015 due to BC <4. The study show that grazing by GR may inhibit encroachment by deciduoustrees and that BC was maintained in most individuals, despite the semi-feral conditions. The results providea new use for a threatened, ancient breed in landscape management.
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11. |
- Nordenvall, Anna Skarin, et al.
(author)
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Hypospadias as a novel feature in spinal bulbar muscle atrophy
- 2016
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In: Journal of Neurology. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Spinal and bulbar muscle atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by CAG repeat expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The SBMA phenotype consists of slowly progressive neuromuscular symptoms and undermasculinization features as the result of malfunction of the AR. The latter mainly includes gynecomastia and infertility. Hypospadias is also a feature of undermasculinization with an underdeveloped urethra and penis; it has not been described as part of the SBMA phenotype but has been suggested to be associated with a prolonged CAG repeat in the AR gene. This study includes the first epidemiologic description of the co-occurrence of hypospadias and SBMA in subjects and their male relatives in Swedish population-based health registers, as well as an additional clinical case. One boy with severe hypospadias was screened for mutations in the AR gene and was found to have 42 CAG repeats in it, which is in the full range of mutations causing SBMA later in life. We also detected a maximum of four cases displaying the combination of SBMA and hypospadias in our national register databases. This is the third case report with hypospadias in association with CAG repeat expansions in the AR gene in the full range known to cause SBMA later in life. Our findings suggest that hypospadias may be an under diagnosed feature of the SBMA phenotype and we propose that neurologists working with SBMA further investigate and report the true prevalence of hypospadias among patients with SBMA.
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12. |
- Skarin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Impact of Year-Round Grazing by Horses on Pasture Nutrient Dynamics and the Correlation with Pasture Nutrient Content and Fecal Nutrient Composition
- 2019
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In: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple Summary Horse grazing may benefit biodiversity. This study compared the effect of horses grazing year-round to that of mowing on pasture quality in a forest-grassland landscape in Sweden. Twelve Gotlandsruss stallions were kept in three enclosures (similar to 0.35 horse/hectare) without supplementary feeding for 2.5 years. Each enclosure contained three exclosures where pasture was not grazed, but mown monthly. Horse grazing increased the diversity of pasture nutrient content. Moreover, energy and protein concentrations and grass availability increased in areas grazed by horses, but decreased where grass was mown. This indicates that year-round grazing can be used to increase biodiversity, a suggestion supported by botanical observations. Nutrient content in horses' droppings was found to correlate with nutrient content in pasture, so analysis of droppings may be used to roughly estimate the quality of pasture consumed by horses. Under the conditions studied, pasture protein content was sufficient to meet horse requirements year-round, while energy content and pasture availability may have been limited in winter. Monthly data presented here on the nutritive value of pasture can help guide the management of year-round grazing systems in the Nordic countries. Horse grazing may benefit biodiversity, but the impact of year-round grazing on nutrient dynamics has not been evaluated previously. This study compared pasture quality in a forest-grassland landscape grazed year-round by horses with that in exclosed mown areas. Twelve Gotlandsruss stallions were kept without supplementary feeding in three enclosures (similar to 0.35 horse/ha) outside Uppsala, Sweden, from May 2014 to September 2016. Each enclosure contained three mown exclosures, where grass sward samples were collected monthly and analyzed for chemical composition and vegetation density. Fecal grab samples were collected and analyzed for crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) content. There were no differences in exclosure pasture energy or CP content between enclosures (p > 0.05). In grazed areas, there were differences in grass energy and CP content (p > 0.05) between enclosures. During the three summers studied, energy and CP content increased in the enclosures, but decreased in the exclosures. By the end, biomass content/ha was greater in the enclosures than in the exclosures. Fecal OM and CP content showed moderate to strong correlations with pasture nutrient content (r = 0.3-0.8, p < 0.05). Thus, in contrast to monthly mowing, horse grazing diversified pasture chemical composition and increased its nutritive value.
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13. |
- Thulin, Carl-Gustaf, et al.
(author)
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Saving a threatened breed – Conditions for maintenance and habitat selection of extensively kept Gotland Russ (Equus caballus)
- 2016
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Gotland Russ is a native Swedish horse breed and one of the oldest horse breeds in Europe. The numbers of Gotland Russ are however relatively few and it is difficult for breeders to find buyers. To aid preservation of this breed, we evaluate if Gotland Russ can be used to manage open landscapes and biodiversity. In May 2014, twelve one-year-old Gotland Russ stallions were released outside Uppsala, Sweden, into three enclosures of 10 ha each, consisting of 3 ha lay and 7 ha forest, respectively. Each enclosure was provided with a man-made shelter and a water trough, but no supplementary feeding was offered. Here, we report preliminary results from the first year (May 2014 - April 2015) of the experiment on nutrient and energy status and habitat preferences. Body condition was scored (9 degree system) weekly and fecal crude protein (CP) contents were analyzed monthly. Horses with BCS <4 were temporarily excluded and fed at another place. To monitor habitat preferences, we equipped two horses in each enclosure with GPS-collars. Shelter seeking behavior (SSB) was monitored with camera traps in the shelters. Horses started at BCS 4.7-5.0 (range of enclosures means) in May 2014. Mean BCS per month and enclosure was 5.0 until February 2015. In February, four horses were removed to be fed outside the enclosures due to BCS <4. Fecal CP content peaked in June 2014 (10.2-13.3% of organic matter) and was lowest January-February 2015 (4.9-6.3%). Analysis of GPS-data, using resource selection functions, showed that the horses favored lay except during night and when snow was covering the ground. In those cases, forest was preferred. SSB was displayed on average 48 (range 6-338) min/day. Relating the SSB to weather showed that precipitation and days with mean temperature > 15° C made the horses use the shelters longer, while wind speed had no impact on their SSB. This study shows that the Gotland Russ may survive all year around without supplementary feeding. The horses, as expected, primarily preferred the lay. However, the unexpected preference for forest in night suggests that Gotland Russ have the potential to impact forest vegetation all year round. In comparison, our horses used the shelters less than shown in previous studies of horses in smaller enclosures. This suggests that our horses spent more time foraging and that the landscape in the enclosures provided natural shelters.
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14. |
- Åstrand, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Poststroke Physical Activity Levels No Higher in Rehabilitation than in the Acute Hospital.
- 2016
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In: Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-8511. ; 25:4, s. 938-45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Returning to physical activity is a common goal for stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation, and higher levels of activity have been linked to better gait and greater independence in activities of daily living. Our aim was to determine if inpatient rehabilitation settings promoted higher levels of physical activity in stroke survivors than an acute stroke unit setting.
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15. |
- Barbero-Palacios, Laura, et al.
(author)
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Herbivore diversity effects on Arctic tundra ecosystems : a systematic review
- 2024
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In: Environmental Evidence. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 2047-2382. ; 13:1
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Northern ecosystems are strongly influenced by herbivores that differ in their impacts on the ecosystem. Yet the role of herbivore diversity in shaping the structure and functioning of tundra ecosystems has been overlooked. With climate and land-use changes causing rapid shifts in Arctic species assemblages, a better understanding of the consequences of herbivore diversity changes for tundra ecosystem functioning is urgently needed. This systematic review synthesizes available evidence on the effects of herbivore diversity on different processes, functions, and properties of tundra ecosystems.Methods: Following a published protocol, our systematic review combined primary field studies retrieved from bibliographic databases, search engines and specialist websites that compared tundra ecosystem responses to different levels of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivore diversity. We used the number of functional groups of herbivores (i.e., functional group richness) as a measure of the diversity of the herbivore assemblage. We screened titles, abstracts, and full texts of studies using pre-defined eligibility criteria. We critically appraised the validity of the studies, tested the influence of different moderators, and conducted sensitivity analyses. Quantitative synthesis (i.e., calculation of effect sizes) was performed for ecosystem responses reported by at least five articles and meta-regressions including the effects of potential modifiers for those reported by at least 10 articles.Review findings: The literature searches retrieved 5944 articles. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 201 articles including 3713 studies (i.e., individual comparisons) were deemed relevant for the systematic review, with 2844 of these studies included in quantitative syntheses. The available evidence base on the effects of herbivore diversity on tundra ecosystems is concentrated around well-established research locations and focuses mainly on the impacts of vertebrate herbivores on vegetation. Overall, greater herbivore diversity led to increased abundance of feeding marks by herbivores and soil temperature, and to reduced total abundance of plants, graminoids, forbs, and litter, plant leaf size, plant height, and moss depth, but the effects of herbivore diversity were difficult to tease apart from those of excluding vertebrate herbivores. The effects of different functional groups of herbivores on graminoid and lichen abundance compensated each other, leading to no net effects when herbivore effects were combined. In turn, smaller herbivores and large-bodied herbivores only reduced plant height when occurring together but not when occurring separately. Greater herbivore diversity increased plant diversity in graminoid tundra but not in other habitat types.Conclusions: This systematic review underscores the importance of herbivore diversity in shaping the structure and function of Arctic ecosystems, with different functional groups of herbivores exerting additive or compensatory effects that can be modulated by environmental conditions. Still, many challenges remain to fully understand the complex impacts of herbivore diversity on tundra ecosystems. Future studies should explicitly address the role of herbivore diversity beyond presence-absence, targeting a broader range of ecosystem responses and explicitly including invertebrate herbivores. A better understanding of the role of herbivore diversity will enhance our ability to predict whether and where shifts in herbivore assemblages might mitigate or further amplify the impacts of environmental change on Arctic ecosystems.
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16. |
- Berg, Lotta, et al.
(author)
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Digital tillsynsteknik i djurhållning utomhus
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- I enlighet med Jordbruksverkets förfrågan behandlar denna rapport tre områden för digital teknik vid övervakning och kontroll av djur som vistas utomhus på stora ytor: (1) kamerateknologi, t.ex. användning av drönare, (2) positioneringsteknologi som GPS och (3) teknologi för att styra djurens rörelser, som drivning med drönare och användning av s.k. virtuella stängsel. De tre teknikområdena överlappar delvis varandra. Digital tillsyn av utegående djur är beroende av att sensorer mäter det man tror att de mäter med tillräcklig noggrannhet och att data kan överföras och bearbetas till information som lagras och analyseras på ett säkert och korrekt sätt. Sådana teknologier benämns med samlingsnamnet ’Precision Livestock Farming’ (PLF). Användningen av informationen är avgörande för teknikens användbarhet i tillsyns- och djurskyddsarbete. Tillämpningarna är till viss del reglerade av gällande lagstiftning, exempelvis genom krav på tillsyn, begränsad användning av elektricitet för att styra djurs beteende, användning av obemannade luftfarkoster, d.v.s. drönare, samt åtgärder för att förhindra att utrustning skadar djuren eller påverkar deras hälsa och beteende. Inom PLF används en rad olika sensorer som direkt eller indirekt kan mäta djurens miljö och djurens beteende och fysiologiska tillstånd. Den teknologiska utvecklingen har främst varit inriktad på mjölkkor, fjäderfän och grisar och endast i liten utsträckning berört häst, får och get. För djur på bete är överföringen av data från en enhet på eller vid djuret till en mottagare särskilt problematisk p.g.a. stora avstånd, men det sker en snabb teknisk utveckling mot effektivare överföring. PLF-teknologin innebär i de flesta fall att djuren övervakas kontinuerligt och att avvikelser i t.ex. deras hälsotillstånd och välfärd i princip kan upptäckas i realtid, vilket ska ställas mot nuvarande lagkrav på tillsyn minst en eller två gånger dagligen. Sensorer kan ge information om ett stort antal fysiologiska tillstånd och beteenden. En av de vanligaste teknikerna är sensorer för aktivitet. Indirekt kan de också ge information om idissling, liggtid, stegantal och ättid och utlösa larm om exempelvis brunst, hälsoproblem, hälta och kalvning. Sensorer kan även placeras i förmagen hos idisslare (s.k. våmbolus) där de mäter våm-pH och kan larma om störningar i magfunktionen, eller utformas som termometrar som kan larma om hälsostörningar, kalvning och vattenintag eller mikrofoner som kan mäta idissling och larma om brunst, kalvning och onormalt idisslingsmönster. Med kamerateknik kan man mäta aktivitet, kroppsform och hudtemperatur, vilket kan ge information om ketosstatus, hull, hälta och juverhälsa. Kameror monterade på drönare kan användas för att lokalisera och räkna djur, bestämma deras position, habitatval och till viss del deras beteende, särskilt när djuren rör sig över stora arealer. Det finns flera elektroniska positioneringsteknologier varav passiv ’Radio Frequency Identification RFID’ är den vanligaste. Räckvidden är kort med denna teknik men den kan vara användbar om man t.ex. vill mäta hur ofta djuren besöker en vattenpost. Andra teknologier kan med hjälp av antenner följa djurens positioner i realtid. GPS-enheter monterade i halsband kan regelbundet registrera djurens geografiska position. Användningen av GPS har blivit relativt vanlig i renskötseln vilket tycks ha lett till en förbättrad arbetssituation för renskötarna. Positionering med GPS ger inte alltid exakta uppgifter men tekniken har visat sig användbar för studier av habitatval, sociala interaktioner och gruppdynamik. Med positionerna från GPS har man också kunnat styra djur till områden med bättre betestillgång. Med en tillräckligt frekvent bestämning av position med hjälp av GPS (ca en gång per minut) är det möjligt att bestämma betestiden för nötkreatur på ett tillförlitligt sätt. En användning av drönare i djurskötsel och djurtillsyn kan vara att med hjälp av kamera lokalisera djuren över stora ytor. Denna användning begränsas dock av nuvarande bestämmelser om att föraren måste ha ögontakt med drönaren. I renskötseln har drönare börjat användas för att förflytta djur men denna tillämpning är ännu inte juridiskt reglerad. Virtuella stängsel är strukturer som bestäms med kartkoordinater eller elektronisk sändare på marken. Stängslen fungerar som inhägnader, hinder eller gränser. Djuren mottar signaler (vanligen ljud) och stimuli (vanligen elstötar från ett halsband) som gör det möjligt för dem att lära sig var stängslet finns. I vetenskapliga studier har man med varierande framgång lyckats lära djuren att associera ljudsignaler och elstötar med en gräns som inte får passeras. Förmågan att lära sig skiljer mellan olika djurslag, liksom mellan individer. Det finns fortfarande många obesvarade frågeställningar om hur djur kan anpassa sig till virtuella stängselsystemet, liksom hur de påverkas, både under inlärningsfas och bruksfas.
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18. |
- Buhot, Yann, et al.
(author)
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Impact of hydroelectric power development on reindeer husbandry: the case of Suorva
- 2010
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In: Rangifer. Report. - 0808-2359. ; , s. 86-86
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Reindeer husbandry in Sapmi continuously coexists and competes with other land users, such as forestry, tourism, hydroelectric power and mine activities. The impact of water regulation for hydroelectric power, on reindeer herding use is rather unknown. In Sirges reindeer herding community in northern Sweden a large part of their range are affected by hydroelectric power developments, which have forced the reindeer herding to change the use of their ranges. Here we study these changes in relation to the Suorva dam within Lule river system, one of 15 dams within Sirges reindeer husbandry community. We compiled topographic maps from 1890 and 2007 and included the Renbruksplan (reindeer husbandry plan) developed by Sirges reindeer husbandry community. The Renbruksplan consists of the reindeer herder's documentation of seasonal grazing ranges within their reindeer husbandry community, in relation to vegetation type, intensity of use and quality of forage. Using topographic maps the losses of pasture in relation to the regulation of the Suorva dam were calculated using GIS software. The impacts on Unna Tjerusj reindeer herding community north of the dam Suorva are not included in this study. The results of the study showed that after the four water regulations (1923, 1941, 1944 and 1972) the reindeer lost calving areas and autumn pastures composed of birch forest and mires. In Sirges 55 km² has been lost as a direct result of the flooding of grazing areas. This constitutes 6 % of the ranges used during the bare-ground season in the Vaisa-group of Sirges herding ranges. This also includes the loss of important movement areas, which formerly connected seasonal grazing areas along the flooded rivers system and currently force the reindeer to use steeper less productive hillsides above the dam. In conclusion, this study gives a good overview of how water regulation may affect reindeer herding. Due to the losses, the reindeer herders in this area had to change their migration routes and herding routines in relation to use of the calving grounds and the autumn pastures. These losses most likely had negative effects on reindeer husbandry production, because of the lack of good and rich forage during important parts of the grazing season, however this loss cannot be traced today
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28. |
- Helldin, Jan Olof, et al.
(author)
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The impacts of wind power on terrestrial mammals : A synthesis
- 2012
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- We compiled available knowledge and experience of the impact of wind power on terrestrial mammals, both wild and domestic. The literature in the field is very limited, so we also tried to draw lessons from related fields, such as disturbance from noise, construction work, traffic, hunting and outdoor activities, and the effects of habitat change.Although the knowledge is generally sparse, the summary shows that it is possible that terrestrial mammals, especially large carnivores and ungulates including domestic reindeer, are affected by wind power development in various ways.For the larger game species as well as domestic reindeer, the influence from wind power should primarily be due to the network of access roads to the turbines. The main factor is probably the increased access for recreation, hunting and leisure traffic. It is well known that interference from such human activities can impact moose, wild deer, domestic reindeer and large carnivores, and in effect cause a habitat loss.New wind power farms are expected to be situated in more remote, upland, currently roadless areas, at least in the forested landscape. Such areas may serve as refugia for e.g. large predators or as important grazing areas for ungulates. Accordingly, wind power and associated infrastructure in these areas may have an impact on the population level of these species.By contrast, the habitat changes caused by access roads are not necessarily a problem for the larger mammal species. Open land, new edge zones and roadsides could rather benefit many wildlife species. Open land and edges create new browsing areas; roads can facilitate animal movement in the landscape or help animals escaping parasitic insects.The effects of power lines on reindeer tend to differ depending on the geographic scale studied; on a regional scale, an avoidance of large areas around power lines may be observed, while no effects have been shown for reindeer studied near power lines.A few studies available on wild deer, reindeer and large carnivores during construction work suggest that these animals may temporarily avoid wind farms during this period. However, the data is not conclusive.Noise emissions from wind turbines can theoretically disturb animal communication, and also visual stimuli (including reflections, shadows and lighting) may annoy or stress both wildlife and livestock. However, the few studies available suggest the lack of such effects, or a swift habituation to the disturbance, and therefore a limited impact.Animals may also get accustomed to the other disturbances from wind power. For example, both domestic and wild reindeer appear to remain in areas despite human presence, at least when no alternative areas are available. The ability to habituate varies with species, sex, age, individual, time of year, type of disturbance, and how frequent and predictable disturbances are, so overall, habituation cannot be presupposed.There may be differences in the response to disturbance, depending on landscape and current land use. In already disturbed areas, such as most agricultural landscapes, wind power may not affect the occurring species to the same extent as it would in more sparsely populated forest and mountain areas.The effects may also depand on the size of the wind farm. At the construction of large wind farms, even small and localised effects may sum up to significant impact, with consequences at the population level.Our summary highlights the large knowledge gaps in the field and indicates the need for research as well as for efficient environmental monitoring. Of particular need is to study the effects of noise and visual impacts from the turbines. Also studies are needed on the localisation of new wind power in relation to areas of particular value for ungulates and large predators. It is important that the potential cumulative impacts of wind power are considered, as these may lead to consequences at the population level and thus be most relevant from a conservation perspective.To address the large knowledge gaps, it is crucial that monitoring programs for new wind power are set up to create new, generalisable knowledge. We describe some principles that should be followed to achieve this. It is also important that monitoring programs are coordinated nationally and that the data are analysed on a comprehensive level.
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30. |
- Horstkotte, Tim, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Pastures under pressure : Effects of other land users and the environment
- 2022
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In: Reindeer Husbandry and Global Environmental Change. - London : Routledge. - 9781000593402 - 9780367632670 ; , s. 76-98
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Reindeer husbandry has a long history of sharing landscapes with a multitude of other forms of land use. By competing for space, industrial resource developments from the early 20th century onwards have affected where, when and how the landscape can be used for reindeer grazing. Extending from the local to the landscape level, these impacts can reduce pastures either directly or indirectly as a result of increasing landscape fragmentation or changing reindeer behaviour. Furthermore, environmental drivers influence the dynamics of forage availability or accessibility for reindeer. The observed trend of shrinking pastures in the three countries is caused by these cumulative impacts. As a consequence, grazing pressure on the remaining pastures increases, and it curtails reindeer herders’ options to respond to the challenges of climate change. Reversing the continuing decrease in pastures requires the restoration of grazing resources and increasing landscape connectivity to facilitate movement and grazing rotation. However, socio-political incentives are also required to sustain reindeer pastures in the future. This includes an increase in the influence of reindeer herders on land use decisions and the inclusion of their traditional ecological knowledge of pasture management to identify alternative approaches to natural resource management.
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32. |
- Horstkotte, Tim, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Semi-domesticated reindeer avoid winter habitats with exotic tree species Pinus contorta
- 2023
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In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 540
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The introduction of exotic tree species can have profound effects on the native environment, including habitat use and movement patterns of animals, as well as becoming a management challenge for other land users. Here, we used GPS data from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and remote sensing measurements of lichen cover and soil moisture to assess the effects of the exotic lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) on reindeer husbandry by the Indigenous Sámi in northern Sweden. We used locational data from 67 reindeer for three winters to analyze their habitat selection at the second-order selection (placement of home range in the landscape) and third-order selection (selection of sites within the home range) in relation to land cover class, terricolous lichen cover as measure of winter forage abundance, topographic features, and distance to roads. We also analyzed remotely sensed abundance of lichens in different forest types, and the association between these forest types and soil moisture as measure of suitability as lichen habitat. Compared to native P. sylvestris, we found that reindeer avoided stands with P. contorta where trees were higher than three meters. If P. contorta was the dominant tree species, reindeer were 60 % less likely to select these stands compared to stands with P. sylvestris, and 40 % less likely if P. contorta was less dominant at both orders of selection. We also found that reindeer selected areas with higher lichen cover. Lichen cover was lower in P. contorta stands compared to stands of the native P. sylvestris, even though P. contorta occurred mainly on dry soils usually favorable for terricolous lichens. We conclude that planting P. contorta on soils suitable for terricolous lichens is likely to reduce forage availability for reindeer and turn habitats earlier preferred by reindeer into avoided habitat, resulting in an overall reduction of winter grazing grounds. The effects of stands with P. contorta, albeit covering a comparatively small percentage of the reindeer husbandry area, need to be seen in context with generally declining terricolous lichen abundance due to land uses like forestry and other cumulative effects by external pressures on reindeer husbandry.
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33. |
- Hörnell Willebrand, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Spillningsinventering : En metodbeskrivning av datainsamling och analys för att studera renens habitatval i relation till vindkraftutbyggnader
- 2011
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Ekologisk information behövs för att hjälpa företag och myndigheter i plane??ring och bedömning vid etablering av nya vindkraftverk. I ekologiska studier är det viktigt att få en god uppfattning om hur djuren reagerar på ett ingrepp i naturen både på lokal och på regional skala. Med spillningsinventering kan man på ett enkelt sätt skaffa sig en helhetsbild av effekter på både lokal och regional skala för hela populationen. Spillningsinventering har länge använts som metod för att inventera och uppskatta populationsstorlekar hos vilda djur. Under senare delen av 1900??talet har det även börjat användas för att skatta habitatnyttjande eftersom det erbjuder ett billigare alternativ än t.ex. GPS??halsband. I Sverige används spillningsinventering i stor utsträckning för att uppskatta populationsstorleken hos klövvilt som älg och rådjur. Det finns olika metoder för att inventera spillning, i den här rappor??ten kommer vi att beskriva metodik för provyteinventering och för Distance Sampling i linjer och i punkter. Provyteinventering är en typ av stickprovstag?? ning där man inventerar all spillning på förutbestämda provytor. Provytornas placering i terrängen är vanligtvis systematisk slumpvis för att man ska täcka in all typ av terräng i inventeringen. Tätheten av spillning i de olika punk?? terna relateras sedan till olika miljöfaktorer som t.ex. vegetationstyp, topo?? grafi, och avstånd till vägar, vindkraftverk och kraftledningar, och i de fall det finns; täthetskattning av rovdjur. Den andra metoden som vi beskriver är Distance Sampling eller inventering av avstånd då man inventerar längs linjer i terrängen och skattar avstånden från linjen till de spillningshögar som man hittar. Tätheten av spillning längs linjen kan relateras till olika habitatfaktorer på samma sätt som för resultaten från en provyteinventering. På regional nivå kan det gå fortare att inventera med Distance Sampling??metoden men på en lokal nivå är det osäkert om det ger någon tidsvinst. Den här rapporten är i första hand en metodbeskrivning av spillnings?? inventering på ren. Informationen i den här rapporten kan användas som en del för att upprätta ett kontrollprogram där man vill kunna spåra om renarnas habitatval förändras i och med en vindkraftsetablering. Vi beskri?? ver även möjliga felkällor och/eller bias för metoden. Alternativa metoder till spillningsinventering nämns också i denna rapport men beskrivs inte närmare. I slutet av rapporten finns en fördjupad del där vi beskriver hur man statistisk kan analysera spillningsdata från provyteinventering, och mer generellt hur man kan behandla data från Distance??inventering
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34. |
- Kindberg, Jonas, et al.
(author)
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Large carnivore conservation and traditional pastoralism: A case study on bear–reindeer predation mitigation measures
- 2023
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In: Ecosphere. - 2150-8925. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While wildlife and cultural preservation goals can be either complimentary or counteractive, the goals of large carnivore conservation and traditional pastoralist lifestyles are often at odds. Livestock depredation can negatively impact the economies of livestock herders, while subsequent lethal removals contribute to local carnivore population declines. Here, we collaborated with two Sámi reindeer herding communities (2010–2016) situated in Sweden's boreal forest to evaluate the efficacy and economic feasibility of three brown bear predation mitigation measures: corralling pregnant reindeer during parturition, lethal bear management removals, and public bear-license hunting. Calving corrals increased survival for reindeer calves born to average-sized females by 7%–15%, and by 14%–30% for calves born to small females. However, the realized cost of implementing calving corrals outweighed the financial gain for both our study areas (net losses ranged between €1111 and €6210 per calf saved from bear predation per year when using the updated 2021 calf value; 1€ [Euro] = US$1.1), as well as for almost every theoretical scenario we explored (net losses €234 and €13,995 per calf saved from bear predation). The exception was the theoretical scenario where small herding communities overlapped large bear populations, which crossed the breakeven efficacy bear/reindeer ratio of 13.5 bears/100 reindeer and had a potential net gain of €36 per saved calf. Similarly, the cost of lethal management removals of bears outweighed the potential financial gain from saved calves, with net losses between €75 and €239 per calf. License hunting, where the hunters voluntarily incur the monetary costs of removing bears, is in most cases the only economically viable mitigation measure where the cost of mitigation did not outweigh the financial gain from increased reindeer survival. While the annual public license hunt was the most cost-effective mitigation measure, it may be less biologically effective, that is, bear hunting occurs in the fall and reindeer parturition the following spring which leaves time for the empty niche of harvested bears to be filled by survivors. Economically and biologically effective predation mitigation measures are key for promoting coexistence, and we suggest that potential mitigation measures should be studied in collaboration with local people.
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35. |
- Klocker Larsen, Rasmus, et al.
(author)
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Kumulativa effekter av exploateringar på renskötseln : Vad behöver göras inom tillståndsprocesser
- 2016
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- En av de största utmaningarna i dagens landskapsplanering rör de många och ofta konkurrerande anspråken på mark och naturresurser. Denna rapport redovisar resultaten från ett projekt som syftade till att utveckla kunskap och metodik för att beskriva och ta hänsyn till kumulativa effekter av exploateringar på den samiska renskötseln.Projektet sökte svar på följande frågor:1. Kartläggning av kumulativa effektera. Hur stora arealer upptar de kumulativa effekterna av exploateringar på renskötseln?b. Vilka metoder kan utvecklas för att dokumentera och kommunicera omfattning och effekter av olika former av exploateringar på renskötseln i ett landskap?2. Beaktandet av kumulativa effekter i tillståndsprocessera. Vilka möjligheter och svårigheter har svenska myndigheter inom dagens regelverk och myndighetspraxis att beakta kumulativa effekter och hantera konflikter mellan olika anspråk?b. Vilka ansatser kan utvecklas för att förbättra hänsynen till kumulativa effekter i tillståndsprövning?Metod Kartläggningen av kumulativa effekter gjordes för Vilhelmina norra sameby genom att beräkna det totala störningsområdet utifrån information om historiska, befintliga och potentiella framtida exploateringar samt forskning kring störningszoner. Vi har använt kartlagd information för all infrastruktur och mänsklig aktivitet, och applicerat störningszoner för respektive störningskälla för att beräkna hur stor yta som berörs av de olika störningskällorna. Detta är första gången en metod presenteras för att uppskatta det totala störningsområdet som mått för de kumulativa effekterna av exploateringar på renskötseln.Studien av hänsyn till kumulativa effekter i tillståndsprocesserna gjordes i en deltagande policyanalys med bidrag från tjänstemän på de berörda tillståndsmyndigheterna som fick belysa hur de ser på regelverket och sin praxis och hur dessa kan förbättras. Detta är också första gången i Sverige som berörda tjänstemän från olika myndigheter tillsammans medverkat vid analys av regelverket och sin egen praxis rörande kumulativa effekter. Huvudmomentet i arbetet var en tvådagars workshop som hölls den 7–8 maj 2015.Resultat Vilhelmina norra sameby har sett en omfattande kumulativ förlust av sitt betesområde, mätt i det samlade störningsområdet. Det totala störningsområdet sedan förra sekelskiftet och fram till i dag i Vilhelmina norra sameby uppgick till 30 % (4679 km2) av samebyns 15 709 km2. Beräknat för vinterbeteslandet är störningsområdet 54 % (4111 km2) av samebyns 7656 km2 vinterbetesmark. I scenariot för år 2050 beräknas det totala störningsområdet till 39 % (6131 km2) av hela samebyn och 50 % (3815 km2) av vinterbeteslandet. Scenarioberäkningen visar att är det möjligt att faktiskt öka den tillgängliga betesarealen i ett framtida renbeteslandskap genom ett antal strategiska åtgärder i landskapet.Erfarenheterna från tjänstemännen som deltog i denna studie visar på avsevärda hinder i det befintliga regelverket och myndighetspraxis för att beakta de kumulativa effekterna. Följande hinder för att beakta kumulativa effekter i tillståndsprocesserna identifierades:Isolerade stuprör och fragmenterade tillståndsprocesser;Bristande underlag vid tillståndsprövning;Hög arbetsbörda och orealistiska förväntningar på samebyarna;Spänningar mellan politisk styrning och myndighetsutövning;Olika tolkningar av regelverk och underlag.Följande åtgärder som kan anammas för att förbättra beaktandet av kumulativa effekter i tillståndsprocesserna framkom:Minska fragmentering i prövningen;Säkerställa en oberoende MKB-process;Etablera en gemensam databas och en regional landskapsplanering;Införa en toleransnivå för vad samebyar förväntas tåla;Förse renskötseln med tillräckliga resurserSlutsatser Denna studie initierades i syfte att sätta igång en strukturerad diskussion kring hur myndigheter kan ta hänsyn till och motverka kumulativa effekter av andra markanvändningar på renskötseln. Detta kommer att kräva fortsatt engagemang från de involverade aktörerna. Vi skulle gärna se att dialogen utökas till att innefatta också bolag och deras konsulter, då denna pilotstudie fokuserade på myndigheternas erfarenhet.I brist på tydliga riktlinjer och praxis kring hur kumulativa effekter ska beaktas får enskilda tjänstemän för närvarande en svår sits när de förväntas medla mellan samebyar och bolag. Omfattande osäkerhet präglar vad som kan betraktas som ”relevanta” effekter, vilka metoder som är legitima för att beakta dessa effekter, och hur evidensen bör inkluderas i beslutsfattandet. När regelverk och procedur är otydliga, lämnar staten i praktiken över ansvaret till samebyarna och bolagen att, på eget initiativ, förhandla kring vad som är relevanta effekter att ta hänsyn till. Det finns starka argument för att skapa en tydligare ansats inom lagstiftning och förvaltningspraxis så att hänsyn kan tas till de kumulativa effekterna.
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36. |
- Kløcker Larsen, Rasmus, et al.
(author)
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Omtvistade landskap : Navigering mellan konkurrerande markanvändning och kumulativa effekter
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Rapporten presenterar ny kunskap om hur staten, exploatörer och samebyar kan förbättra hanteringen av exploateringars kumulativa effekter på renskötseln och samisk markanvändning.Rapporten bygger på ett forskningsprojekt som genomförts i partnerskap mellan samiska organisationer knutna till renskötseln, och forskningsinstitutionerna. Sex delstudier ingår i rapporten.•Hänsynen till kumulativa effekter i gruvbolags miljökonsekvensbeskrivningar, •samiskt inflytande i samband med miljöbedömningar, •vindkraftens påverkan under driftsfas på renskötseln i kalvningsområde, •metodik för att beräkna störningszoner, •konsekvenserna för renskötseln av vattenkraftutbyggnaden i Porjus och Vojmån samt möjliga skadelindrande åtgärder, samt •hur myndigheter kan efterleva sina skyldigheter mot samebyar i samband med tillståndsprocesser för konkurrerande markanvändning.Forskningen har finansierats av Naturvårdsverkets miljöforskningsanslag till stöd för Naturvårdsverket och Havs- och vattenmyndighetens verksamhet.
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37. |
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38. |
- Lee, Youngjo, et al.
(author)
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Estimating zones of influence using threshold regression
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In environmental impact assessments, it is important to be able to estimate influence of anthropogenic activities on animal populations. To quantify the influence, it is common to estimate how far, in distance, from a given disturbance source there is an influence on the animals’ habitat selection through estimating a zone of influence (ZOI). Usually, ZOI is estimated for one disturbance source at a time. In this work, we demonstrate how threshold regression modelling can be used for estimating ZOI from several possible sources of disturbances, simultaneously. Based on the theoretical properties of different estimation methods for the estimation of threshold regression we select a set of estimation methods and compare their merits through a simulation study and a real data example. The simulation results revealed that Adaptive Lasso, and Hierarchical likelihood (HL) methods, are two reasonable methods for dealing with the problem. HL performed better than Adaptive Lasso in that it had much higher success rate in identifying correct threshold with small sample size whereas Adaptive Lasso requires large sample to assure good performance. While Adaptive lasso needed to be aided with suitable weights, which are not easy to find, HL method did not require any prior weights. These two methods were applied to estimate the ZOI around 40 wind turbines and surrounding public roads on reindeer habitat selection in winter, by using GPS positioning data from 42 reindeer in north of Sweden in December to March (2012-2015). The results showed that both the disturbance sources have a negative effect on reindeer habitat selection in winter. The HL approach showed that the negative ZOI from the nearest wind turbine was 1.8 km (approx.), however the trend of higher selection of areas further away from the wind turbines was evident up to 4 km (approx.) from the active wind turbines.
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39. |
- Lindberget, Mirja, et al.
(author)
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Terrängkörningens påverkan på djurlivet : en litteraturstudie
- 2014
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Terrängkörning ökar snabbt i många delar av världen, vilket kan ge negativa kon- sekvenser för det vilda djurlivet. I Sverige har antalet terrängskotrar (snöskotrar och terränghjulingar) i trafik ökat markant det senaste decenniet, vilket förmodlig- en innebär att djurlivet påverkas i stor utsträckning där dessa aktiviteter sker. Mot bakgrund av miljökvalitetsmålet Storslagen fjällmiljö har Naturvårdsverket identi- fierat ett behov av bättre kunskap om terrängkörningens effekter på miljön. I den här litteratursammanställningen har totalt 19 olika vetenskapliga studier behandlats i vilka djurs reaktionsmönster på terrängkörning (eller aktiviteter som påminner om det) har studerats, som ett led i att få bättre kunskap om detta. Vi fann att alla studierna konstaterade någon typ av negativ effekt av terrängkör- ning på djurens beteende och deras möjlighet att välja uppehållsområden med god tillgång på föda. Hur djur reagerar på mänsklig aktivitet beror på vilken art det är, om den är specialist eller generalist, djurets ålder och kön, om det lever i grupp eller är solitär, vilken säsong det är, typ av störning, förutsägbarheten av aktivite- ten, djurens relativa läge (t.ex. om de befinner sig ovanför eller nedanför en stör- ningskälla i en sluttning), störningens frekvens och omfattning. Snöskotrars inverkan på djurlivet i jämförelse med terränghjulingars är totalt sett att anse som något högre eftersom snöskoterkörningen sker under en period då de flesta djur är i en negativ energibalans på grund av begränsad födotillgång. Djur som påverkas av mänsklig aktivitet blir mer vaksamma, vilket kan resultera i ett reducerat födointag samtidigt som energibehovet ökar på grund av ökad aktivitet hos djuret. Vid upprepad kontakt med motorfordon har studier visat att djur flyttar från annars lämpliga livsmiljöer. Detta kan resultera i kumulativa effekter t.ex. om denna förflyttning medför att djuret istället väljer att uppehålla sig i ett sämre habi- tat och kan på lång sikt medföra sämre kondition, reproduktion och överlevnad. Vi har här tagit upp ett djurslag i taget vilket så också är fallet i de forskningsrap- porter som behandlats, vilket bör ses som en förenkling av verkligheten. Det saknas fortfarande mycket kunskap om hur terrängkörning påverkar djurlivet sammantaget i ett regionalt perspektiv. I och med att terrängkörningen i Sverige ökar behövs mer kunskap om hur djurlivet påverkas, men vi kan redan nu konstatera att djurlivet påverkas negativt av terrängkörning och att reglering av trafiken i känsliga områ- den är viktig och likaså information till förare om hur de kan minimera sin påver- kan på djurlivet i området.
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40. |
- Lindén, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Circum-Arctic distribution of chemical anti-herbivore compounds suggests biome-wide trade-off in defence strategies in Arctic shrubs
- 2022
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In: Ecography. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0906-7590 .- 1600-0587. ; :11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Spatial variation in plant chemical defence towards herbivores can help us understand variation in herbivore top–down control of shrubs in the Arctic and possibly also shrub responses to global warming. Less defended, non-resinous shrubs could be more influenced by herbivores than more defended, resinous shrubs. However, sparse field measurements limit our current understanding of how much of the circum-Arctic variation in defence compounds is explained by taxa or defence functional groups (resinous/non-resinous). We measured circum-Arctic chemical defence and leaf digestibility in resinous (Betula glandulosa, B. nana ssp. exilis) and non-resinous (B. nana ssp. nana, B. pumila) shrub birches to see how they vary among and within taxa and functional groups. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomic analyses and in vitro leaf digestibility via incubation in cattle rumen fluid, we analysed defence composition and leaf digestibility in 128 samples from 44 tundra locations.We found biogeographical patterns in anti-herbivore defence where mean leaf triterpene concentrations and twig resin gland density were greater in resinous taxa and mean concentrations of condensing tannins were greater in non-resinous taxa. This indicates a biome-wide trade-off between triterpene- or tannin-dominated defences. However, we also found variations in chemical defence composition and resin gland density both within and among functional groups (resinous/non-resinous) and taxa, suggesting these categorisations only partly predict chemical herbivore defence. Complex tannins were the only defence compounds negatively related to in vitro digestibility, identifying this previously neglected tannin group as having a potential key role in birch anti-herbivore defence.We conclude that circum-Arctic variation in birch anti-herbivore defence can be partly derived from biogeographical distributions of birch taxa, although our detailed mapping of plant defence provides more information on this variation and can be used for better predictions of herbivore effects on Arctic vegetation.
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41. |
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42. |
- Moen, Jon, et al.
(author)
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Variations in mountain vegetation use by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) affects dry heath but not grass heath
- 2009
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In: Journal of Vegetation Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1100-9233 .- 1654-1103. ; 20, s. 805-813
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Question: Are differences in landscape use of semi-domesticated reindeer reflected in the vegetation of summer grazing grounds?Location: Alpine heaths, central east Sweden.Methods: Dry heath and grass heath vegetation plots with inferred grazing intensities (high, intermediate and low) were selected a priori from an interpolated pellet count map compiled in 2002. In each plot, faecal pellets were counted, environmental variables measured and vegetation sampled by listing presence and absence. Species composition was compared with a detrended correspondence analysis, and a canonical correspondence analysis was used to infer relations between species composition and environmental variables. Plots were also clustered to provide groupings for an indicator species analysis.Results: Significant differences in faecal pellet count were present between the highest and lowest grazing intensities for both vegetation types, showing that the pattern in the interpolated pellet maps was robust. Differences in species composition between grazing intensities were found for the dry heath only. Here, there was an apparent grazing gradient, with lichens and mosses in the low-use plots and grasses and herbs in the high-use plots. No such gradient was found for the grass heath.Conclusions: Within the dry heath vegetation type, grazing levels had a subtle effect on the vegetation, while no effects were seen in the grass heath, probably as a result of the dominance of more grazing-tolerant graminoids. Even in the dry heath, species richness did not differ between grazing levels, but the relative abundances of species differed.
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43. |
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44. |
- Pyziel, Anna Maria, et al.
(author)
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Gastrointestinal parasites of captive European bison Bison bonasus (L.) with a sign of reduced efficacy of Haemonchus contortus to fenbendazole
- 2018
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In: Parasitology Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0932-0113 .- 1432-1955. ; 117, s. 295-302
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The history of European bison Bison bonasus Linnaeus, 1758 has been stormy since its extinction in the wild after the First World War. Due to the fact that the species was restored from just 12 founders, further expansion has suffered from low genetic variability, rendering the bison vulnerable to various pathogens due to inbreeding depression. Parasites are recognised as a key biological threat to bison population. Thus, parasitological examination including monitoring of the level of anthelmintic resistance in a herd should be a routine procedure involved in management and protection of European bison. This study was conducted in a group of 27 bison kept in a European bison breeding centre in Sweden. In April 2015, a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed in animals with 100 gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) eggs per gram faeces, to determine effectiveness of fenbendazole (FBZ) treatment. Additionally, the third stage larvae were cultured for molecular examination by a conventional PCR as well as by real-time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) for detection of the blood-sucking nematode Haemonchus contortus. Faecal sampling was conducted 1 day before and 8 days after deworming each animal. Anthelmintic treatment turned to be entirely efficient toward intestinal nematodes of genera Nematodirus and Trichuris, whereas shedding of strongylid eggs from the subfamily Ostertagiinae was reduced from 81 to 30%. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on cultured third-stage larvae (L3) before treatment was positive for H. contortus, Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora, whereas post-treatment examination revealed exclusively the DNA of H. contortus. Thus, only H. contortus was involved in post-treatment faecal egg count (FEC). FECRT showed that the reduction in strongylid FEC to FBZ in the examined bison herd was 87% (95%-confidence intervals [95% CI] = 76-93), suggesting reduced efficacy of FBZ to strongylid GIN including mainly H. contortus.
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45. |
- Rautiainen, Heidi, et al.
(author)
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Identification of reindeer fine-scale foraging behaviour using tri-axial accelerometer data.
- 2022
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In: Movement Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2051-3933. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Animal behavioural responses to the environment ultimately affect their survival. Monitoring animal fine-scale behaviour may improve understanding of animal functional response to the environment and provide an important indicator of the welfare of both wild and domesticated species. In this study, we illustrate the application of collar-attached acceleration sensors for investigating reindeer fine-scale behaviour. Using data from 19 reindeer, we tested the supervised machine learning algorithms Random forests, Support vector machines, and hidden Markov models to classify reindeer behaviour into seven classes: grazing, browsing low from shrubs or browsing high from trees, inactivity, walking, trotting, and other behaviours. We implemented leave-one-subject-out cross-validation to assess generalizable results on new individuals. Our main results illustrated that hidden Markov models were able to classify collar-attached accelerometer data into all our pre-defined behaviours of reindeer with reasonable accuracy while Random forests and Support vector machines were biased towards dominant classes. Random forests using 5-s windows had the highest overall accuracy (85%), while hidden Markov models were able to best predict individual behaviours and handle rare behaviours such as trotting and browsing high. We conclude that hidden Markov models provide a useful tool to remotely monitor reindeer and potentially other large herbivore species behaviour. These methods will allow us to quantify fine-scale behavioural processes in relation to environmental events.
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46. |
- Rönnegård, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Analyzing spatially correlated counts with excessive zeros : a case of modeling the changes of reindeer distribution
- 2013
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Spatial dependency is a common issue in the modeling of ecological data, especially in the surveying of animal distributions. In this paper, we argue that when we make such an inference we should account for both environmental factors and spatial correlation. We show how this can be done by using hierarchical generalized linear models (HGLMs), which allow us to model wide classes of spatial dependencies. In a real data set of reindeer fecal pellet-group count at sample locations in a northern Swedish forest, we found that over 70% of counts were zeros. Analyzing this data set we show that the proposed HGLM-based models can perform better than the other commonly used models, e.g. ordinary Poisson model and spatial hurdle model, in modeling spatially correlated count data with excessive zeros.
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47. |
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48. |
- Rönnegård, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Using kriging regression to detect change in reindeer distribution in relation to human development
- 2011
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wind power is a promising source of alternative renewable energy, but there is concern about adverse effects on key species in both the boreal forest and mountain areas. Ecological information is needed in assessing the impacts and conflicts of proposed wind turbines. Proper planning is critical to avoid and minimize negative habitat impacts. To detect if semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), which are herded in a pastoral system, are affected by these infrastructural changes spatial distribution of reindeer faecal pellet groups will be analyzed before and after wind power development. In this presentation we will compare two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) before wind power development in Malå reindeer herding district in northern Sweden (N 65°13', E 18°54'). In this area two wind-power parks (8 and 10 power plants) are built within 5 km distance from each other. Faecal pellet-group counts are used to estimate reindeer resource selection at population level at both the local and regional scale (within 2 and 20 km respectively, from the planned wind power parks). Interpolation of the pellet-group counts are estimated by using regression-kriging, where the number of pellet groups are correlated with vegetation type, altitude, terrain ruggedness, slope, aspect, distance to roads, and to wind power plants and other infrastructure such as power lines and mines. Generalized linear models are used to the fit the regression models since the pellet-group counts are close to a Poisson distribution. Preliminary results shows that the pellet density increases with altitude and in proximity to roads at the local scale but, while at the regional scale the pellet density is indifferent to altitude and roads and more dependent on vegetation type. This confirms the importance of regional scale perspective when studying avoidance behavior of animals in relation to human constructions and infrastructure.
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49. |
- Rönnegård, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Using pellet-group counts to detect change in reindeer spatial distribution in relation to human development
- 2010
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In: Rangifer. Report. - 0808-2359. ; , s. 43-43
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Wind power is a promising source of alternative renewable energy, but there is concern about adverse effects on key species in both the boreal forest and mountain areas. Ecological information is needed in assessing the impacts and conflicts of proposed wind turbines. Proper planning is critical to avoid and minimize negative habitat impacts. To detect if semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), are affected by these infrastructural changes, spatial distribution of reindeer faecal pellet groups will be analysed before, during, and after wind power development. In this presentation I will show preliminary results from two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) before wind power development in Malå reindeer herding community in northern Sweden (N 65°13', E 18°54'). In this forest area two wind-power parks (8 and 10 power plants) are built within 5 km distance from each other. Reindeer resource selection at population level was estimated at both the local and regional scale (within 2 and 20 km respectively, from the planned parks). Linear regressions of density of the pellet groups on habitat variables were evaluated, with the purpose of using them to predict the density of the reindeer habitat use within the whole study area and in other similar areas. The habitat variables used were vegetation type, forest age, altitude, terrain ruggedness, slope, aspect, and distance to roads and power plants (after they are built) or other infrastructure such as power lines and mines. Preliminary results suggest the use of different regression models depending on the spatial autocorrelation in the data set. In one of the study areas at the local scale I found spatial autocorrelation in the data suggesting that kriging interpolation of the pellet group density might be performed. In the other area at the local scale the spatial autocorrelation was very weak suggesting that we can perform a prediction using only the habitat variables. The preliminary results also shows that the pellet density increase with altitude at both local and regional scale, and also in proximity to roads at the local scale, while at the regional scale the density decreases in proximity to roads. This confirms the importance of regional scale perspective when studying avoidance behaviour of animals in relation to human constructions and infrastructure
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50. |
- Rönnegård, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Using pellet-group counts to illustrate changes in reindeer habitat use in a managed boreal forest
- 2012
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In the track of new infrastructure, i.e. wind power, mining etc., it becomes increasingly important to map and understand animal and wildlife response towards the new infrastructure and how this response ad to the already existing infrastructure. In Malå community, in northern Sweden, two mountains (Storliden and Jokkmokksliden) have been built with wind power parks, 8 and 10 power plants, respectively. We have followed how semi-domesticated reindeer habitat use in a managed forest landscape has changed due the infrastructural changes in the landscape, using reindeer pellet-group counts during four consecutive years. The data is collected before and during construction of the parks. To illustrate reindeer habitat use in relation to the new constructions and to the existing infrastructure we have estimated the pellet group density in relation to old and new infrastructure. In some parts of the area we see an obvious avoidance of the new roads and the power line constructions, within the wind power park.
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