The Effect of Goose Grazing on Decomposition Processes in the Arctic

Decomposition plays a key role in the nutrient cycle, and is one of the main factors limiting plant growth. In addition it can substantially influence species composition.

Goose numbers have increased dramatically over the past 50 years mainly due to land use changes and a reduced hunting pressure in their wintering grounds. To understand fully the consequences of these changes, studies on ecosystems processes on the breeding grounds in the high arctic are indispensable. In this project we investigated how geese influence the nitrogen cycle by changing decomposition processes.