Arctic tundra degradation: late snow melt and grubbing

A study has been published in the journal Écoscience assessing the impact of pink-footed geese on arctic tundra vegetation on Svalbard, Norway.

Monitoring and assessing the impact of pink-footed geese on arctic tundra vegetation is a fundamental part of the ISMP. A study has been published describing and assessing the extent of arctic tundra degradation on Svalbard, Norway caused by grubbing, where pink-footed geese forage for rhizomes below-ground. The study assessed grubbing extent (occurrence of vegetation disturbance) and intensity (proportion of vegetation disturbed) in 2006/07/08 when goose numbers were approximately 56,000 and in 2013 when they increased to approximately 81,000.

Further details of this study are available on the Publications section of this website.

Date added: 24.11.2016