A study published in Polar Biology in April 2026 identifies a direct link between declining lichen availability and caribou survival , lichen availability, which is a primary winter food source , is a critical threat to caribou also known as Rangifer tarandus, populations in the Arctic…
Researchers from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) determined that caribou in lichen-abundant areas were up to nine times more likely to survive the winter than those in lichen poor regions..
The Lichen-Snow Dynamic
- The benefit of abundant lichen is most pronounced at intermediate snow depths (20–30 cm).
- Very deep snow having snow depth over 50 cm , can negate the nutritional benefits of lichen because caribou expend more energy digging for it than they gain from eating it.
- Warming trends cause more frequent rain on-snow events, which create thick ice layers that make lichen completely inaccessible, often leading to mass starvation..
Lichen is a slow growing composite organism that can take decades to recover after being damaged. Several stressors are currently reducing its Arctic biomass such as
- Warmer temperatures favor the growth of taller shrubs and grasses, which outcompete and shade out ground-dwelling lichens.
- Tundra and boreal fires are becoming more frequent; burned areas may remain unsuitable for caribou for up to 55 years due to the slow regeneration of lichen…
The decline in lichen is one factor in a widespread population crash. For example, the Bathurst herd in Canada has declined by over 95% from its historic highs. While caribou are resilient , possessing unique traits like UV-sensitive eyes to spot lichen through snow the cumulative stress of habitat fragmentation, industrial development, and shifting food supplies has led the IUCN to classify them as Vulnerable…
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