Spatial Association of Lemming Burrows with Landforms in the Swedish Subarctic Mountains: Implications for Periglacial Feature Stability

• DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-43.2.223
• Publication Date: 2011-05-12T21:42:16Z
• Authors: Peter C. le Roux; Jan Boelhouwers; Jacqueline K. Davis; Natalie S. Haussmann; Elin J. Jantze; K. Ian Meiklejohn
• Keywords: Burrow; Landform; Subarctic climate; Solifluction

Burrowing mammals often have considerable geomorphological impacts, and their tunneling activities may decrease the stability of landforms. We document spatial distribution Norwegian lemming burrows in a subarctic alpine meadow to determine preferred locations for burrow entrances examine potential burrowing periglacial landforms at site. Burrow were disproportionately common into base sides (>68% burrows), probably reflecting lower energetic cost moving soil horizontally, rather than vertically, out burrows. Most (>60%) also located under large rocks, which improve by providing firm ceiling entrance. Field observations show that these are relatively stable, as only 3% associated with any signs increased erosion or landform instability. Therefore, contrast some previous studies, despite being concentrated on landforms, we suggest rodents little direct impact integrity this