Abstract:
Reindeer grazing impact on the mountain ecosystems in Norway was studied using an integrated approach to analyse vegetation and environmental variables. The aim was to identify functional ecological changes and to calculate the multi-scale impact on diversity patterns. Three dimensions were used: local sites to investigate the a-diversity; micro-spatial topographical and altitudinal gradients to study the ß-diversity; and ten regions along two broad-scale climatic gradients all over northern Norway to get information about the ?-diversity. Using multivariate statistical methods, we found complex heterogeneous plant species compositions that could not be interpreted significantly. By way of contrast, soils were found in good concordance with sites but could not explain species diversity. Calibrating the conditions along reindeer fences, using both sides of the fence each under different reindeer grazing intensities, the phenomenon was explainable. Dramatic changes of the environment had occurred due to overgrazing accompanied by a change of soil conditions by multiple erosion phenomena. Plant species compositions were directly al-tered resulting in a decrease of species richness at single sites, totally pauperising the variance of communities to secondary poor vegetation. Finally, comparing the conditions all over northern Norway, we found that landscape degradation had occurred in all regions and resulted in totally changed ecological conditions. The results allowed development perspectives to be deduced from the current conditions, using the calibration of different grazing impacts along fences.
