Nutrient deposition on Arctic fox dens creates atypical tundra plant assemblages at the edge of the Arctic

• DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12828
• Publication Date: 2019-10-16T22:34:59Z
• Authors: Paul M. Fafard; James D. Roth; John H. Markham
• Keywords: Arctic vegetation; Arctic fox

Abstract Questions In most ecosystems, some organisms can be considered ecosystem engineers because they modify their physical environment in a way that affect many other organisms. Nutrient deposition may extremely important as an engineering activity nutrient‐limited environments, but this mechanism remains understudied. low‐Arctic tundra, region characterized by continuous permafrost, low‐nutrient soils, and slow nutrient turnover, Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ) concentrate nutrients on dens through faecal feeding young. This concentration enhances productivity patches the landscape, likely creating unique habitat for variety of plants, could have cascading effects distribution diversity vegetation tundra. Location Low‐Arctic tundra Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada. Methods We quantified differences composition between 20 fox adjacent control sites. Results Plant growth form differed greatly dens, which were dominated deciduous grasses near coast erect shrubs farther from coast, sites, evergreen prostrate shrubs. Dens also had more forb cover less lichens, mosses, sedges. Species varied den areas, with 17 species found at least 10% sampled sites being indicator or Conclusions By providing plants reliant higher availability not typical heath, enhance biodiversity region. These help create new retaining snow normally windswept beach ridges. Overall, study illustrates broader impacts predators community mechanisms than predation.