What does this research mean for the field?

Human infrastructure and outdoor tourism disrupt reindeer grazing activity even when reindeer do not physically avoid the area, while also serving as a 'human-shield' refuge from predators. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to understand how tourism and predator presence influence reindeer grazing patterns in Fennoscandian tundra.

August 11, 2026People and NatureOpen Access

Balancing forage and fear: How people, environment and predators shape reindeer grazing in the Fennoscandian tundra

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Authors

MSMarianne StoesselStockholm University FWFelicia WikingerStockholm University RLRegina LindborgStockholm University

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Implication

Randomized trial examines grazing behaviors of reindeer in response to tourism and predators, highlighting ecological implications.

Key Points

This research aims to understand how tourism and predator presence influence reindeer grazing patterns in Fennoscandian tundra.
Tagged reindeer with GPS and accelerometers in three districts
Analyzed their grazing activity relative to human infrastructures and predator presence
Evaluated responses under varying levels of tourism pressure
Reindeer in high tourism areas avoided large buildings but tolerated hiking trails
Grazing activity decreased even near tolerated human infrastructure
Detected interactive effects between predators and human infrastructures, indicating a 'human-shield' effect

Cite This Study

Stoessel et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7ace273401087f2249e006 https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70402

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Balancing forage and fear: How people, environment and predators shape reindeer grazing in the Fennoscandian tundra

Discussion

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Balancing forage and fear: How people, environment and predators shape reindeer grazing in the Fennoscandian tundra

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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