Spring feeding by pink-footed geese reduces carbon stocks and sink strength in tundra ecosystems

van der Wal, Rene; Sjogersten, Sofie; Woodi, Sarah J.; Cooper, Elizabeth J.; Jonsdottir, Ingibjorg S.; Kuijpers, Dries; Fox, Tony A.D.; Huiskes, A.D.. 2007 Spring feeding by pink-footed geese reduces carbon stocks and sink strength in tundra ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 13 (2). 539-545. 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01310.x

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Official URL: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j...

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01310.x
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ Ecosystem Dynamics
ISSN:	1354-1013
Additional Keywords:	belowground herbivory, C sink, C source, ecosystem respiration, goose grubbing, high arctic, land-use change, net ecosystem exchange, Spitsbergen
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	29 Jan 2008 15:56 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2227

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01310.x

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

_ Ecosystem Dynamics

ISSN:

1354-1013

Additional Keywords:

belowground herbivory, C sink, C source, ecosystem respiration, goose grubbing, high arctic, land-use change, net ecosystem exchange, Spitsbergen