Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose)
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THE EFFECTS OF SALT STONES ON MOOSE BROWSING IN MANAGED FORESTS IN FINLAND
No full textForest trees mainly used by moose are known to contain relatively small amounts of sodium. Young Scots pine stands are an important food source for moose in winter, and are often used for several years after the risk of stem damage is over. The lateral twigs of advanced pine saplings represent considerable browse reserves. The availability of sodium can gradually decrease in areas that are permanently subjected to high-density moose browsing. Sodium losses can be compensated by providing salt stones. The provision of salt stones was studied in relation to winter browsing during 1995-96 in central Finland. In autumn 1994 and 1995, a 10 kg stone was placed in each of 17 advanced young Scots pine stands. Experimental stands were selected according to the accessibility of food on the pines estimated on the basis of the height of the lowest living twigs. Each stand was inspected after winter in 1995 and 1996 using 17 plots (50 m2) centered around the stones. In 1996, 10 control stands without stones were also included. During the first winter, on average, 8.3 kg/ha of pine twigs were consumed by moose in stands with low twig accessibility and 72 kg/ha in those with high twig accessibility. The total consumption from saplings of different tree species was respectively 10.9 kg/ha and 79.3 kg/ha (P < 0.05) and the number of pellet groups 113 and 429 per ha (P < 0.05). During the second winter the amount of pine consumed was 7.1 kg/ha and 45.3 kg/ha (P < 0.05), respectively. In the control stands twig accessibility was also relatively high and the consumption (14.1 kg/ha) was significantly less than in salt stone stands with high twig accessibility (P < 0.01). The total consumption per ha was 11.7 kg, 53.3 kg, and 17.2 kg, (P < 0.01), respectively, and the corresponding number of pellet groups per ha was 71,205, and 106 (P < 0.01). The average weight of the salt stones by the end of the winter was 4.8 kg in the low-consumption stands and 2.3 kg (P < 0.01) in the high-consumption stands. Twig biomass consumption correlated negatively with the weight of the salt stones (r = -0.67, P < 0.01). The amount of pine consumed by moose decreased with increasing distance from the salt stones. Using salt to direct moose browsing in winter could be used to increase the residence time in habitats with a high food availability and thus reduce the risk of damage in young stands
AGE AND SEX STRUCTURE OF HUNTER HARVESTED MOOSE UNDER TWO HARVEST STRATEGIES IN NORTHCENTRAL ONTARIO
No full textWe examined moose age and sex structure from 38,870 moose harvest records voluntarily submitted by northcentral Ontario hunters for the period 1971-72, a sample representing a ca. 60% of actual estimated harvest. Several parameters were compared between the unlimited non-selective (1971-82) and the limited selective harvest strategy (1983-92) periods, including adult sex ratio’s, mean age (> 1.5 yrs) and five arbitrary age classes. Mean adult sex ratio’s in the harvest increased from 1.45:1 female to 2.34 males:1 female (P < .0001) following implementation of the selective harvest strategy. The decrease in mean age of bulls age (> 1.5 yrs) from 3.8 to 3.7 was not significant (P = 0.245), but the decrease in mean cow age from 4.6 to 3.9 was (P = 0.0036). hunter submitted calf harvests were consistently higher (up to 100%) than those estimated from district mail surveys initiated in 1983. Two indices of population density (aerial census; animals seen by hunters) increased 11% and 36% respectively, subsequent to implementation of selective harvest (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0019). an age-sex structure profile contrasting pre- and post-selective harvest of a moose population is presented. The value of hunter-submitted kill data to facilitate management is discussed
AERIAL SURVEYS OF MOOSE POPULATIONS IN SMALL CENSUS ZONES
No full textWe developed a simple, precise and relatively inexpensive technique to estimate moose (Alces alces) populations in small census zones (< 1500-2000 km2) such as parks and wildlife reserves. A two-phase sampling plan was adopted. In phase 1, we used fixed-wing aircraft to survey the entire area using flight lines spaced 500 m apart in order to locate track networks, draw them on 1:50,000 topographic maps, and determine their area. In phase 2, a sample of the identified track networks was intensively searched by helicopter to count moose. total population was estimated by extrapolating the mean number of moose per track network to the total number of networks counted in phase 1. We compared three approaches to estimate the mean number of moose per track network and its variance: a direct estimation using the arithmetic mean per track network, and two methods that accounted for the size of track networks (quotient and regression estimations). The regression estimation model provided the most precise estimates. A confidence interval of 20% (α = 0.10) can be achieved by counting moose on 30 to 50 % of the track networks. This two-phase approach can reduce survey costs by 25-35 percent as compared to the usual total count preciously used in small census zones
REACTION OF MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) TO SNOWMOBILE TRAFFIC IN THE GREYS RIVER VALLEY, WYOMING
No full textUnderstanding how human activities influence wildlife populations is increasingly important as recreational demands on critical habitat increase. We studied the effects of snowmobile traffic on wintering moose (Alces alces) in the Greys River drainage, Wyoming from January through February, 1994. Based on 736 moose-hours of direct observations on large willow flats, (6 females, 8 males, and 3 juveniles) were active 41.7% and inactive 58.3% of the observation time. Bedding activity lasted on average 118.7 min (range: 1-444 min) and feeding averaged 32.1 min (range: 1-274 min). Standing, walking, and running occurred frequently only for short periods of time, less than 7 min on average. Moose bedding within 300 m and feeding within 150 m of passing snowmachines altered their behavior in response to the disturbance. The frequency of snowmobile traffic did not seemingly affect the average percent of moose active, or the number of moose present in the study areas. Moose appeared to move away from the active snowmobile trail as the day progressed. Consequently, snowmobile traffic, although it did not appear to alter moose activity significantly, did influence the behavior of moose positioned within 300 m of a trail and did displace moose to less favorable habitats
BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES, OSTEOPOROSIS, AND FRACTURE POTENTIAL OF METATARSAL TRABECULAR BONE FROM MOOSE IN ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK
No full textWe investigated relationships between trabecular bone mechanical properties in bone mineral density of metatarsal bones from moose (Alces alces) of known age, sex, and cause of death in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. Bone density mineral equivalent values were determined using quantitative computed tomography scans (QCT) of 10 mm cross-sections of cancellous bone from the distal metatarsus. Cylindrical specimens were taken from the same anatomic position as the region of interest in the scan. Each specimen was weighed, measured, and photographed for trabecular microstructure under transmitted light microscopy. Using compression tests to failure, we found that modulus of elasticity of trabecular bone was significantly correlated with bone mineral density (r2 = 0.91, P = 0.0005). There were also significant relationships between both apparent density and volume fraction of bone (r2 = 0.75, P = 0.0001) and bone mineral density on QCT. Loss of bone mineral occurs as the result of environmental, nutritional, hormonal, and/or genetic causes and increases fracture risk. This study has implications for the understanding of moose bone fragility related to mechanical and geometric properties such as elasticity and trabecular microstructure in routine activities of daily living (forging, ambulating, and bedding-down) as well as when subjected to stressors such as kicking predators, running, and falling
CRANIAL MORPHOLOGY OF SOUTH-URAL MOOSE
No full textCranial morphology of most populations in the South-Ural region of Russia were studied from collections taken from 1972-1985. Nine different skull measurements were examined for each time period for differences. Interorbital width, skull length, and skull width varied through time. More favorable ecological conditions in the 1960’s than in the 1970’s, caused larger dimensions. Comparison with eastern Siberia moose and other populations are made
MOOSE-PREDATOR RELATIONSHIPS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT NEEDS
No full textSince the 1984 Swedish Moose Symposium our knowledge of moose (Alces alces)-predator relationships has substantially improved. Wolves (Canis lupus), brown or grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (U. americanus), and recently, cougars (Puma concolor) have been identified as major predators of moose. During the past 2 decades, a number of studies have identified the role of predation as either limiting or regulating moose population growth. However, confusion over misuse-use to terminology has hindered out understanding of these relationships. Regulating factors are composed solely of density-dependent factors which keep populations in equilibrium or cause them to return to equilibrium. Whether a wolf functional response (i.e., per capita kill rate) is, in fact, related to moose density has come under scrutiny. There may be no biological justification for using a functional response in modeling exercises as wolf kill rates appear rather constant over a wide range of moose densities. Wolf numerical and functional responses are curvilinear relative to moose density and may be prey species specific. Knowledge of bear predation is inadequate to accurately model moose population trends. Whether predation regulates or limits moose population growth may be academic if reductions in predator numbers allow managers to increase moose populations and harvest yields. Managers currently have the biological tools to effectively manage moose-predator relationships
MOOSE BROWSING ON FELTLEAF WILLOW: OPTIMAL FORAGING IN RELATION TO PLANT MORPHOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
No full textMoose bite-size selection on feltleaf willow during the winter shows remarkably low variance, despite the large range of bite diameters available on current annual growth twigs. We hypothesized that this apparent selectivity is based on the compromise moose make in their foraging behavior, between the constraints of digestion and rate of food intake. We developed a model of optimal bite diameter based on morphometric and chemical characteristics of current annual growth twigs of feltleaf willow, An important browse species throughout interior Alaska. The model closely predicted the observed bite-size selection of moose, and further showed how differences in twig morphology, spatial density, and forage chemistry affect optimal bite diameter and energy gain per time unit. Twig digestibility, twig volume, clipping rate, and rumen turnover time are all important factors that govern the choice of bite diameter. Numerical analyses showed that, within the plausible range of variation in the field of these parameters, optimal bite diameter is more sensitive to twig morphology and clipping rate rather than twig chemistry. However, twig chemical characteristics are most important in determining daily energy and nitrogen gain
IONIC HOMEOSTASIS IN RETICULO-RUMEN OF MOOSE AS A FACTOR OF ALIMENTARY ADAPTATION
No full textIn this study the results obtained on the daily mineral intake by moose and on the concentration of mineral elements in the reticulo-rumen liquid of moose in summer and in winter months are compared to previous data on reindeer. In both species a great difference in seasonal nutrient consumption is not followed by variation in total mineral elements of the reticulo-rumen liquid. Nutrient homeostasis, particularly of sodium, potassium, phosphates, and nitrogen in reticulo-rumen content in winter is maintained by intensive excretion with saliva and by transepithelial shortchain fatty acid-bicarbonate exchange. The stable level of mineral elements in the reticulo-rumen liquid in winter is necessary for microorganisms and for enteric ion homeostasis. Na+/H+ and K+/H+ Exchange through the rumen wall is a function of alkalinization of the epithelium. It is concluded that the reticulo-rumen in winter is a significant organ for nutrient deposition and its metabolism is a factor in wild ruminant seasonal adaptability