Abstract Ongoing Arctic greening can increase productivity and reindeer pasture quality in the tundra. However, may also entail proliferation of unpalatable species, with consequences for pastoral social-ecological systems. Here we show extensive across 20 districts Norway between 2003 2020, which has reduced diversity. The allelopathic, evergreen dwarf-shrub crowberry increased its biomass by 60%, smaller increases deciduous shrubs no forbs graminoids, most species rich growth forms. There...

Abstract Many primary livelihoods in Arctic and sub‐Arctic regions experience accelerating effects of environmental change. The often close connection between indigenous peoples their respective territories allows them to make detailed observations how these changes transform the landscapes where they practice daily activities. Here, we report Sámi reindeer herders’ based on long‐term inhabitance use contrasting pastoral northern Fennoscandia. In particular, focus capacity for various herd...

Education for sustainability in early childhood tends to focus on practices and advocacy, rather than the aims of this education. We suggest that aim should be consider children as being becoming eco-citizens. This suggestion is built an exploration With theories concerning child-sized citizenship we a description adults eco-citizen. explore through fields nature connection science children’s curiosity. find environmentally friendly gardening harvesting wild food show how eco-citizenship...

Learning and development in early childhood is highly dependent on social interaction exploration through continuous encounters with the real world. Foraging gardening are outdoor pedagogical practices that have relevance to education for sustainability. Previous work suggests engagement such activities can be characterized by concept “community of practice” (CoP). In this paper, we explore how characteristics CoP recognized foraging projects performed Arctic region Norway, discuss these...

In the long‐term, herbivores can alter nutrient dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems by changing functional composition of plant communities. Here, we ask to what extent affect plant‐community short‐term. We provide theoretical expectations for immediate effects on tundra‐grassland levels throughout a single growing season and empirically evaluate these predictions. established an experiment within two forb‐dominated grass‐dominated selected tundra‐patches disturbed small rodents during...

Many terrestrial endotherm food webs constitute three trophic level cascades. Others have two dynamics (food limited herbivores; plants adapted to tackle intense herbivory) or one dynamic (herbivorous endotherms absent, thus compete for the few places where they can survive and grow). According Exploitation Ecosystems Hypothesis (EEH), these contrasting are consequences of differences in primary productivity. The productivity thresholds changing web were assumed be global constants. We...

Minke whales consume large amounts of pelagic crustaceans. Digestion the prey is initiated by indigenous bacteria in a rumen-like forestomach system. A major structural component crustacean exoskeleton chitin, beta-1,4-linked polymer N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The exoskeletons appear to dissolve completely non-glandular forestomach. Bacteria fluid six krill-eating minke were enumerated and isolated using an anaerobic habitat-simulating culture medium. Median viable population densities ranged...

Abstract Herbivore‐induced changes in both leaf silicon‐based defence and nutrient levels are potential mechanisms through which grazers alter the quality of their own grass supply. In tundra grasslands, herbivores have been shown to increase contents grasses; yet, it is an open question whether they also levels. Here, we asked if, what extent, affect silicon content silicon:nutrient ratios grasses found grasslands. We performed herbivore‐interaction field‐experiment spanning four...

<p>Comparative chemical and botanical analyses of the reticulo-rumen content (RR) fill digestive system were carried out in free-living Norwegian reindeer {Rangifer t. tarandus) on South Georgia (SG) summer (mean body mass (BM) = 74 kg, n - 10), northern Norway late (NS) BM 77 6) winter (NW) 60 11). The RR SG contained mainly grasses, while grasses dominated NS woody plants lichens NW reindeer. Mean ruminal plant cell-wall contents (CWC) comprised 37% organic dry matter (OM) 50 69%...

Abstract We studied the feeding apparatus of three species northern ruminants representative types: muskoxen Ovibos moschatus , Norwegian reindeer Rangifer tarandus and high Arctic Svalbard platyhrynchus Siberian musk deer Moschus moschiferus . The shape muzzle, incisor arcade, incisiform molariform teeth indicate that these are selective feeders, irrespective their body size or position on gazer‐concentrate selector continuum types. Narrow muzzles seem well adapted for diminutive but highly...

Small rodents are prevalent and functionally important across the world's biomes, making their monitoring salient for ecosystem management, conservation, forestry, agriculture. There is a growing need cost-effective noninvasive methods large-scale, intensive sampling. Fecal pellet counts readily provide relative abundance indices, given suitable analytical methods, feces could also allow determination of multiple ecological physiological variables, including community composition. In this...

Dietary influence on pH and volatile fatty acids concentrations production rates in the rumen distal fermentation chamber (DFC) was investigated Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus) South Georgia summer (SG), northern Norway late (NS) winter (NW). Mean [standard deviation (s)] ruminal similar SG teindeet (6.46, s = 0.13) NW (6.45, 0.19), but significantly different from NS (6.87, 0.08)(P < 0.05). DFC (6.92, 0.12) (6.70, 0.16) did not differ significantly. In (6.26, 0.20) lower...

Abstract Textbooks have several important functions in science education. By interviewing six teachers, this study shows how secondary school teachers perceive and use textbooks as resources, especially inquiry teaching. The results show that aid teaching by offering easily accessible suggestions for practical activities accordance with the curriculum to be implemented lessons addition presenting scientific content adapted students’ level which they can link theory their inquiry. However, of...

Abstract Ruminants are dependent on their gut microbiomes for nutrient extraction from plant diets. However, knowledge about the composition, diversity, function, and spatial structure of microbiomes, especially in wild ruminants, is limited, largely because analysis has been restricted to faeces or rumen. In two geographically separated reindeer subspecies, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed strong structuring, pronounced differences microbial diversity at least 33 phyla across...

Leafy timothy (Phleum pratense) silage (S), mixed with molasses (SM) and hay (H) were fed to nine male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves in winter investigate rumen function digestion. Three given S 18.5% dry matter (DM), three SM (21.9% DM) H (85.0% DM). The content of water soluble carbohydrates (in % was 8.2% S, 16.0% 8.5% H. Median (range) daily DM food intake per kg BM 12.9 (9-2-14.4) g 19.0 (19-0-21.9) 21.0 (19.2¬21.1) In vivo digestion ranged from 78.5-83.1%...

The chemical composition and digestibility of plants selected by Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus) on the sub-Antarctic island South Georgia (SG) were investigated in austral summer compared with two qualities standard grasses Phleum pratense European origin. Paridiochola flabellata, Poa pratense, annua, Deschampsia antarctka, alpinum collected SG contained 14.8, 17.6, 22.8, 16.1 10.1% respectively crude protein dry matter (DM). Aceana magellanica also 19.8% 18.8% water-soluble...

We studied the feeding apparatus of three species northern ruminants representative types: muskoxen Ovibos moschatus, Norwegian reindeer Rangifer tarandus and high Arctic Svalbard platyhrynchus Siberian musk deer Moschus moschiferus. The shape muzzle, incisor arcade, incisiform molariform teeth indicate that these are selective feeders, irrespective their body size or position on gazer-concentrate selector continuum types. Narrow muzzles seem well adapted for diminutive but highly nutritious...

Abstract Ongoing Arctic greening can increase productivity and reindeer pasture quality in the tundra. However, may also entail proliferation of unpalatable species, with distinct consequences for pastoral socio-ecological systems (SES). We show extensive across 20 districts northern Norway between 2003 2020. The allelopathic, evergreen dwarf-shrub crowberry biomass increased by 60%, contrasted smaller increases deciduous dwarf-shrubs stagnating forb graminoid biomass. found evidence,...

ABSTRACT Small rodents are prevalent and functionally important across world’s biomes, making their monitoring salient for ecosystem management, conservation, forestry agriculture. Yet, there is a dearth of cost-effective non-invasive methods large-scale, intensive sampling. As one such method, fecal pellet counts readily provide relative abundance indices. Given available analytical methods, feces could also allow determination multiple ecological physiological variables, including...