VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Cladonia (Cladina) spp. | Reindeer Lichen 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Terrestrial lichens are important in the winter diet of caribou.  In the
forest zones of Ontario, the winter diet of caribou is made up almost
exclusively of reindeer lichens [2].  In some places these lichens
constitute over 50 percent of the caribou diet [2,21].  The winter diet
of Newfoundland caribou is made up mostly of Cladonia mitis and C.
rangiferina and to a lesser extent C. alpestris.  Within the range of
the Newfoundland caribou C. mitis seems to be the most important
food-lichen.  In Norway reindeer seem to prefer pastures with plenty of
C. rangiferina to those with plenty of C. alpestris [41].  Reindeer
lichens are also eaten by caribou throughout the summmer, although to a
lesser extent [2].


PALATABILITY : 
Reindeer lichens are highly palatable to both barren ground and woodland
caribou [2].  Cladonia rangiferina contains bitter fumarprotocetraric
acid while C. alpestris and C. mitis do not contain this acid.  It is
questionable whether this difference in reindeer lichens affects their
palatability to reindeer [41].



NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritive value of reindeer lichens is rather poor.  The protein
content, calcium and phosphorous levels, and vitamin content are very
low.  The calcium/phosphorous ratio is rated as poor [2,34].  The crude
fat in reindeer lichens is mainly lichen acids, which are largely
indigestible.  However, the nitrogen-free extract of these lichens is
thought to be highly digestible.  Crude fiber content is high.  Reindeer
lichens are high in digestible carbohydrates, mostly in the form of
complex starches, and therefore are a good source of energy [17,34].
Ahti [2] listed the percent chemical composition of Cladonia species as
follows:

        Carbohyrates= 93.4 to 94.4 percent
        minerals= 1.1 to 1.5 percent
        protein= 2.6 to 2.9 percent
        fat= 1.8 to 2.2 percent

Although caribou can survive the winter on an exclusive reindeer lichen
diet, the deficiency of protein usually results in a sharp decrease in
body weight as the animal breaks down its own muscular tissue to
compensate for the protein deficiency [30,34].  Caribou appear to be
able to balance the low protein content of the reindeer lichens by
including in their diet a portion of the nitrogen-fixing lichens of the
genera Stereocaulon and Peltigera which have relatively high protein
contents [18].  Additionally, caribou can digest reindeer lichens more
efficently than other ruminants can [17].  The crude fiber is broken
down by rumen bacteria and protozoa which liberate large amounts of
energy [34].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Reindeer lichen growth is so slow that it should not be regrazed by
caribou for 2 to 5 years if the grazing is moderate, or 10 to 15 years
if the grazing is intense.  Under intense grazing the ground may be
almost totally depleted of reindeer lichens, with only the basal part of
the podetia (upright growing branches) remaining [30].  At the Taltson
River Region in the Northwest Territories, Cladonia alpestris had an
average annual growth rate of 0.11 inch (3.4 mm) per year while C.
rangiferina had an average annual growth rate of 0.14 inch (4.1 mm) per
year [31].  C. alpestris has many lateral branches compared with C.
rangiferina or C. mitis, and could produce more forage annually even
though the annual linear growth rate may be less [25].  C. alpestris,
however, can not withstand heavy grazing and trampling.  Therefore, it
can be the main reindeer lichen food only in areas with a comparatively
small caribou population [41].

High relative humidity is especially important for reindeer lichens.
Studies have shown that a 9-month fully dry period is lethal to Cladonia
rangiferina, but under natural conditions much shorter periods are
critical [2].

Related categories for Species: Cladonia (Cladina) spp. | Reindeer Lichen