Reindeer, Ptarmigan Share Coveted Ice-Free Spot (IMAGE)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Reindeer, Ptarmigan Share Coveted Ice-Free Spot

Caption

During the winter and spring following heavy rain-on-snow events, herbivores in Svalbard may find their food sources covered by an impenetrable coat of ice. This can force wild reindeer and rock ptarmigan to aggregate in the few ice-free spots that are available.

Credit

Nicholas Lecomte, Norwegian Polar Institute

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