Impacts of winter climate change on northern forest understory carbon dioxide exchange determined by reindeer grazing
Impacts of Winter Climate Change on Northern Forest Understory CO₂ Exchange Determined by Reindeer Grazing Basic Meaning This study examines how winter climate changes (like warming and altered snow patterns) affect the carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange in the understory (the layer of vegetation beneath tree canopies) of northern forests , and how this process is influenced by reindeer grazing . Introduction Boreal forests cover vast northern areas and play a major role in regulating the Earth’s carbon cycle by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. The forest understory contributes significantly to this CO₂ exchange through photosynthesis and respiration. However, with climate change , winters are becoming milder , snow cover is changing, and soil conditions are being altered. At the same time, reindeer , common herbivores in these regions, feed on understory vegetation, which may further influence how much CO₂ is taken in or released. This study explores the combined effects of th...