Reindeer herbivory has local effects on carbon storage in the Arctic
Plant and microbial communities, along with soil properties, may have more consistent implications for carbon storage across the Arctic, compared to the effect of herbivorous large mammals.
– Large mammals such as reindeer appear to have localised effects, so whether they benefit or further reduce carbon storage depends strongly on individual site conditions, says Cole Brachmann, who recently wrote a PhD thesis on the subject.
What is your PhD thesis about?
– I have looked into how large mammals, like reindeer, impact soil fungi and carbon dynamics in tundra environments.
Why is it important to study this?
– This is an important topic as changes in carbon dynamics and fungal communities can negatively affect the current store of carbon in Arctic soils which would promote further climate change as the carbon enters the atmosphere. Large mammal herbivory may mitigate a portion of these effects which is beneficial to humans.
What is the main result of your work?
– The main findings are that these animals seem to have localised effects, and so whether they benefit or further reduce carbon storage depends strongly on individual site conditions. Plant and microbial communities, along with soil properties may have more consistent implications for carbon storage across the Arctic, but large mammals can be quite important in some areas.
How would you like this new knowledge to come to use?
– The knowledge generated would primarily be of interest to researchers looking to explore similar topics but could also help to inform policy and stakeholder interests on the benefit of large mammals and complex community interactions for people as climate change continues.
For further information about this research, please contact:
Cole Brachmann, email: cole.brachmann@gu.se
Titel: Trophic interactions in the tundra: Impacts of large mammal herbivory on carbon processes and fungal communities
Download the PhD thesis in GUPEA: https://hdl.handle.net/2077/79197
