Quantitative differentiation of types of feeding craters of Rangifer tarandus fennicus

Authors

  • William O. Pruitt, Jr.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/2.12.1.1022

Keywords:

reindeer, Rangifer, feeding adaptations, behaviour, winter ecology, snow, cratering, Finland, grazing

Abstract

During winter 1983-1984 in the Kainuu region of eastern Finland, based on 1363 api profiles, the Värriö Snow Index (VSI) modelled 3 different types of feeding craters dug by Rangifer tarandus fennicus. When mean log VSI of control sites = < ca. 1.4, the animals used suov'dnji (Lappish) or individual, single-use excavations; when mean log VSI of control sites = > 1.4 < ca. 2.1, the animals used fies'ki (Lappish) or cooperative excavations of the perimeter of a site; when mean log VSI of control sites = > ca. 2.6, the animals switched to using ciegar (Lappish) or linear extensions of a suov'dnji, excavated by a sequence of individuals^iegar-type feeding resulted in reduction of mean log VSI of feeding sites even though VSI of control sites increased. Ciegar-type feeding is interpreted as a successful behavioural adaptation to the Sub-Marginal Period.

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Published

1992-10-01

How to Cite

Pruitt, Jr., W. O. (1992). Quantitative differentiation of types of feeding craters of Rangifer tarandus fennicus. Rangifer, 12(1), 29–32. https://doi.org/10.7557/2.12.1.1022

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (1992)

Section

Articles

License

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