Future impact of global warming is worse when grazing animals are considered, scientists suggest

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Research by Post and Pederson found that muskoxen graze more heavily than do caribou in certain areas perhaps due to the sedentary nature of the muskox. Credit: Eric Post Penn State University
Research by Post and Pederson found that muskoxen graze more heavily than do caribou in certain areas, perhaps due to the sedentary nature of the muskox. Credit: Eric Post, Penn State University
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The impact of global warming in the Arctic may differ from the predictions of computer models of the region, according to a pair of Penn State biologists. The team -- which includes Eric Post, a Penn State associate professor of biology, and Christian Pederson, a Penn State graduate student -- has shown that grazing animals will play a key role in reducing the anticipated expansion of shrub growth in the region, thus limiting their predicted and beneficial carbon-absorbing effect. The team's results will be published in the online Early Edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sometime between 18 and 22 August 2008.


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