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The researchers also say the reindeer helped to preserve the tundra habitat so native species such as mosses, lichen, and low-growing willows can continue to thrive.
In the forest, trees have a blocking effect. Reindeer grazing here don't have as much of an impact on the surface albedo.
A layer of soil on top of permafrost does not stay frozen all year. Called the active layer, it thaws during the warm summer months and freezes again in the fall.
In the same area, there had been a 75% increase in the reindeer population between 1986 and 2016. The authors of the study believed reindeer grazing appeared to compensate for changing temperatures.
This process prevents the growth of woody shrubs, that are trampled on by the reindeer, as they move and graze on the Arctic floor.
One study found that vegetation in the Yamal Peninsula, a region of north-west Siberia, remained stable despite increasing summer temperatures.
Reindeer are an integral part of the Arctic ecosystem. Research is proving the pivotal role these mammals play in maintaining both the livability and environmental protection of Arctic areas.
In contrast, on the Norwegian side reindeer only graze during winter. They can't trample lichen, as they have to dig down deep into the snow to feed on it.
In the warmer months, the reindeer roam freely in the region. During this time, they feed on lichen and other plants, trampling the ground.
Research suggests that climate change is accelerating the rate of shrubification in the Arctic, as the warmer, longer growing season speeds up plant growth.
On the northernmost part of the Finnish-Norwegian border, there's a fence to stop reindeer crossing from one country to the other. Lichen cover differs dramatically between the border countries here.
Shrubification could actually worsen the impact of climate change in the Arctic. Research suggests tundra is warmed up when shrubs trap heat that thaw the permafrost.
Bruce Forbes, professor at the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, says this is because of different reindeer herding methods employed on each side of the border fence.
Where there is higher surface albedo, more sunlight is reflected into space. By reducing or eliminating the amount of shrubs, reindeer help increase albedo.
Surface albedo is a concept that measures the whiteness of a given surface. The albedo effect is the capacity of snow and ice to reflect heat.
In colder regions, the active layer of ground rarely thaws—even in the summer. As temperatures rise, however, the permafrost is thawing. That means the ice inside the permafrost melts, leaving behind water and soil.
Shrub and forest cover in the Arctic erases an ancient ecosystem, which is characterized by boreal forests (open forest) and tundra landscapes.
Many northern villages are built on permafrost. Harder than concrete, when it thaws the permafrost can destroy houses, roads, and other infrastructure.
The permafrost is vital to the Arctic landscape. It is any ground that remains frozen—0°C (32°F) or colder—for at least two years.
For more than 20 different indigenous communities in the Arctic, reindeer herding provides an income. Across nine countries, around 100,000 people are involved in herding.
Indigenous communities have traditionally also used reindeer as a form of transport, as well as to make cold-resistant clothing and for food.
While the results are small if viewed on a global scale, they have far-reaching implications for the future of the Arctic itself, long under threat.
While there are many parts of the world where extra tree and shrub cover would be considered desirable, this isn't the case in the Arctic.
The beneficial effects of reindeer on the environment in studies reflect long-held, traditional Sámi herding practices. Moderate numbers of reindeer give resilience to the ecosystem, in a culture that recognizes reindeer and the community as intertwined.
Sources: (BBC Future) (The Washington Post) (Time) (International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry) (AAAS)
When open landscape gradually turns into taller, woodier plants, slowly turning the area into a forest, the process is known as "shrubification."
Permafrost is made of a combination of soil, rocks, and sand that are held together by ice. The soil and ice in permafrost stay frozen all year long.
As permafrost thaws, plant material in the soil called organic carbon, that is unable to decompose, releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
However, in the tundra, a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons, the impact of reindeer grazing is significant.
Reindeer trample lichen on the Finnish side of the border in summer, when temperatures are between 20-25°C (68-77°F).
The way the reindeer graze in summer prevents shrubs from growing taller and protruding through the snowpack later in the yearly cycle. As a result, the snow melts later here in the springtime.
Deep in the bitter cold of the Arctic Circle, you will find a habitat teeming with dynamic flora and fauna. Here, the temperature is warming faster than on any other part of the Earth. The effects of climate change are reflected by mercury rising at three times the rate of the rest of the world. Despite this, there is some good news. Evidence suggests that the area's native reindeer are helping to mitigate the effects of the change. You might be more familiar with their work helping Santa Claus, but these majestic mammals are also helping to maintain the open landscapes of the tundra and boreal forests!
Curious? Click on to learn about how reindeer are helping to fight climate change.
Can reindeer help fight climate change?
They're not just Santa's heroes!
LIFESTYLE Global warming
Deep in the bitter cold of the Arctic Circle, you will find a habitat teeming with dynamic flora and fauna. Here, the temperature is warming faster than on any other part of the Earth. The effects of climate change are reflected by mercury rising at three times the rate of the rest of the world. Despite this, there is some good news. Evidence suggests that the area's native reindeer are helping to mitigate the effects of the change. You might be more familiar with their work helping Santa Claus, but these majestic mammals are also helping to maintain the open landscapes of the tundra and boreal forests!
Curious? Click on to learn about how reindeer are helping to fight climate change.