Long-Term Experiments Reveal Strong Interactions Between Lemmings and Plants in the Fennoscandian Highland Tundra

摘要: Both the theory and observations suggest that, there are strong links between herbivores plants in terrestrial ecosystems; although, effect of on plant community biomass is often attributed to variations palatability. The existence a link commonly tested by constructing exclosures that exclude during period time. We here present data from two long-term (9 20 years, respectively) herbivore exclosure studies lemming habitats arctic tundra northernmost Norway. exclusion all mammalian triggered increases level substantial changes composition. Palatable like graminoids large bryophytes, as well unpalatable evergreen ericoids, deciduous shrubs, lichens were favored excluding lemmings. These results reveal increase which occurs only when species capable accumulating present, palatability poor predictor responses herbivores.