Large herbivores link plant phenology and abundance in Arctic tundra

Abstract

Abstract Plant phenological dynamics have been well studied in relation to abiotic conditions and climate change, but comparatively poorly studied in relation to herbivory. In contrast, plant abundance dynamics have been well studied in relation to abiotic conditions and herbivory, but poorly studied in relation to phenology. Consequently, the contribution of herbivory to plant phenological dynamics and therefrom to plant abundance dynamics remains obscure. We conducted a 9-year herbivore exclusion experiment to investigate whether herbivory might link plant phenological and abundance dynamics in arctic tundra. From 2009 to 2017, we monitored annual green-up timing and abundance of nine plant taxa, including deciduous shrubs, forbs, and graminoids, on plots that were either grazed or experimentally exclosed from herbivory by caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). In 62% of cases, green-up occurred earlier under herbivory, and in 75% of cases abundance was greater under herbivory, compared to green-up and abundance under herbivore exclusion. Moreover, taxa that responded to herbivory with earlier green-up also had comparatively greater abundance later in the growing season. Conversely, taxa that responded to herbivory with delayed green-up exhibited comparatively lower abundance later in the growing season. Hence, well-documented influences of large herbivores on plant abundance and community composition in arctic tundra may relate, at least to some extent, to influences of herbivory on plant phenology. We recommend that ongoing and future assessments of the contribution of herbivores to plant abundance and community responses to climate change, especially in the Arctic, should also consider impacts of herbivores on plant phenology.