Winter Mortality and Population Trends of Reindeer on Svalbard, Norway

Abstract

During the winter of 1975/76 on Edgeøya, Svalbard, an estimated 23% of the reindeer population starved to death. This implies a population net decrease of 16% and a 65% loss of the calves entering the winter in 1975. Animal body weights and fat accumulation in midsummer indicate that the surviving reindeer seemed to recover rapidly. These data support the hypothesis that weather conditions may limit arctic populations of Rangifer without a preceding overgrazing of ranges.