Optimal foraging in an Arctic herbivore : How does the foraging behaviour of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) respond to seasonal changes from summer through autumn of the Arctic tundra?

Abstract: Foraging decisions of large herbivores can be affected by many factors and have great effect on both above- and below-ground ecosystems. Here, I determine to which degree temporal (seasonality), or spatial (habitat) factors influence the foraging behaviour of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) and asses if small-scale foraging behaviour correlates with an animals’ patch residence time. I analysed behavioural observations on 15 Svalbard reindeer between summer and autumn 2022, recording both behaviour and habitat use. Using mixed-effects multinomial logistic regression, the interaction between seasonal change from summer to autumn and habitat best explained the variation in Svalbard reindeer foraging behaviour. The foraging behaviour “standing-grazing” was found to have the highest observed amount in all habitat types and increased over the growing season. Contrastingly, the foraging behaviour of “walking-grazing” had its highest abundance in the beginning of the study period, and then decreased over the course of the season for all analysed habitats. In addition, “walking-grazing” was found to be significantly correlated with patch residency time and decreased the longer an individual stayed in a patch. With presumable high plant quality early in the season, my results imply how Svalbard reindeer are greatly stationary foragers, but prioritizing to become relatively mobile when it is beneficial. Thus, highlighting how Svalbard reindeer respond dynamically to shifts in foraging conditions. These findings provide knowledge about what factors may impact the foraging behaviours of Arctic herbivores and helps contribute to a broader understanding of how changes in foraging behaviours may alter arctic ecosystems.