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Spring feeding by pink‐footed geese reduces carbon stocks and sink strength in tundra ecosystems
Author(s) -
Van Der WAL RENÉ,
SJÖGERSTEN SOFIE,
WOODIN SARAH J.,
COOPER ELISABETH J.,
JÓNSDÓTTIR INGIBJÖRG S.,
KUIJPER DRIES,
FOX TONY A. D.,
HUISKES A. D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01310.x
Subject(s) - tundra , ecosystem , ecology , arctic , environmental science , goose , sink (geography) , herbivore , temperate climate , carbon sink , growing season , arctic vegetation , foraging , habitat , geography , biology , cartography
Tundra ecosystems are widely recognized as precious areas and globally important carbon (C) sinks, yet our understanding of potential threats to these habitats and their large soil C store is limited. Land‐use changes and conservation measures in temperate regions have led to a dramatic expansion of arctic‐breeding geese, making them important herbivores of high‐latitude systems. In field experiments conducted in high‐Arctic Spitsbergen, Svalbard, we demonstrate that a brief period of early season belowground foraging by pink‐footed geese is sufficient to strongly reduce C sink strength and soil C stocks of arctic tundra. Mechanisms are suggested whereby vegetation disruption due to repeated use of grubbed areas opens the soil organic layer to erosion and will thus lead to progressive C loss. Our study shows, for the first time, that increases in goose abundance through land‐use change and conservation measures in temperate climes can dramatically affect the C balance of arctic tundra.