Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose)
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GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN THE MATING AND CALVING PERIODS OF MOOSE
No full textIn some ungulates, variations in the timing of mating and calving periods are related to environmental conditions. It has been suggested that such an adjustment of the timing of reproductive events to local conditions would maximise calf survival as the calf benefits from abundant high quality forage during the early stages of lactation. Published data were analyzed to assess the existence of temporal variations in reproductive events for moose (Alces alces). Dates corresponding to mating (n = 19) and calving (n = 18) periods (median, beginning, end, and duration) were correlated to latitude, longitude and climatic parameters (temperature, precipitation, timing of the growing season) obtained from weather stations. Most mating occurred over a 15-day period, form 23 September to 8 October. Most births were recorded over 19 days, between 19 May and 8 June. The only significant correlation found (P < 0.01) relates the beginning of the mating period to mean total snowfall. Results suggest that variations in the timing of the reproductive events among moose populations are weak and independent from the influence of environmental conditions. Comparisons with other species suggest that the low variability in environmental conditions encountered by the populations studied could, in part, explain this finding
ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF MOOSE AND WHITE-TAILED DEER AT VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINNESOTA
No full textWe examined the status and recent trends in numbers and distribution of moose and white-tailed deer along with the prevalence of meningeal worm in both species at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. Aerial counts indicated deer occurred at a winter density of 8.37/km2 throughout the park in 1992 while moose occurred at a density of 0.23/km2 with a more limited distribution. Meningeal worm larvae occurred in 80% of the deer pellet groups examined in 1978 and 76% of the pellet groups examined in 1988 and 1989. Adult meningeal worms were found in 80% of the deer heads examined. A single dorsal-spined larva was recovered from 1 of 22 moose fecal samples. We conclude that white-tailed deer and moose have occured sympatrically and VNP through at least the 1980s. There is no direct evidence that meningeal worm is a mortality factor in adult moose at the park
GPS COLLARS FOR MOOSE TELEMETRY STUDIES: A WORKSHOP
No full textThis paper provides outlines of presentation made during a special session devoted to GPS-based telemetry systems at the 32nd North American Moose Conference and Workshop, Banff, Alberta, April 20 - 24, 1996. The intent of this session was to provide an overview of GPS technology and to relate early experiences with GPS-based telemetry systems. Performance of these new systems under both controlled and field situations were discussed. Consideration was given to issues of data management and analysis, including estimation of home range characteristics using existing software packages and integration of GPS location data with remotely sensed digital habitat data in a Geographic Information System. Future directions of GPS-based telemetry systems were also discussed.. This special session demonstrated that GPS-based animal location systems have the potential to set new standards for habitat-resource utilization studies of large animals over the next 5-10 years
SEASONAL VARIATION IN WEIGHT OF FUNCTIONAL SEGMENTS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND ITS CONTENTS IN YOUNG MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)
No full textQuantitative seasonal variation of bio mass among segments of the gut wall and associated contents of moose has not been previously reported. From a sample of 6- to 13-month old moose collected in southcentral Sweden, gastrointestinal tracts were divided into nine functionally distinct segments. Each segment was measured for live weight and length of the wall, and wet and dry weight of the contents. Dry matter digesta was greater in winter than in summer with all segments except the small intestine. Live weight of the wall and its weight relative to other segments was significantly greater in the rumenoreticulum and abomasum during summer than in winter. Weight variations by season and among segments of the tract are discussed in terms of nutritional strategies and adaptations
MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD CELLS OF MOOSE IN SWEDEN
No full textIn order to interpret the morphologic changes of blood cells in diseased moose (Alces alces) with any validity, it is first necessary to obtain sufficient reference material to establish normal morphology. Blood was collected from 74 apparently healthy chemically immobilized moose in northern Sweden. Blood smears were prepared, then stained with May-Grünewald Giesma stain. Morphologic characteristics of the peripheral blood cells were studied using light microscopy, and described. Cattle cells were used for purposes of comparison. Moose neutrophils showed prominent basophilic granules in the cytoplasm and a four to six lobed nucleus. The cytoplasmic granules of the eosinophils were very small. The morphology of lymphocytes and monocytes was similar to that of cattle. A slight to moderate amount of basophilic stippling and Howell-Jolly bodies was common in erythrocytes from both yearlings and adults. A generally high erythrocyte sedimentation rate was observed, but rouleaux formation was rare in blood smears
FERTILITY OF FEMALE MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) IN RELATION TO AGE AND BODY COMPOSITION
No full textWe determined the fertility of female moose in central British Columbia, Canada, by examining a sample of 1198 reproductive tracts (183 of those with associated kidney mass and kidney fat mass measurements) from moose that had been shot by hunters between 22 Nov and 10 Dec, 1977 to 1995. we determined body composition by assuming kidney fat mass was an index of body fat and kidney mass was an index of body mass. Logistic regression indicated that the probability of becoming pregnant was related to kidney fat mass and age but not to kidney mass. Pregnancy rate was 19% for yearlings and greater than 73% for cows 2 to 10. The probability of having twins was related to kidney fat mass, age and kidney mass. The twinning rate was 14% in 2-year-old or older females. Fertility declined after age 13. Cows required 1.68 kg of kidney fat to achieve a 50 % probability of conceiving twins but only 0.257 kg to achieve a 50 % probability of conceiving a single fetus. Young females required greater fat reserves for pregnancy than did older females and the pregnancy threshold was inversely related to moose size. A higher fat threshold for pregnancy in young female moose may be an adaptation to increase their probability of surviving through the winter and producing a viable offspring. Variation in fertility among populations was more likely related to variation in the fat-fertility threshold than to variation in fat reserves
NUTRTIONAL QUALITY OF GLYPHOSATE-INJURED BROWSE FOR MOOSE IN MAINE
No full textLive deciduous vegetation on regenerating clearcuts previously treated with the herbicide glyphosate frequently exhibits evidence of injury, which may affect the nutritional value of this vegetation for browsing herbivores such as moose. We compared the nutritional quality of glyphosate-injured and uninjured twigs (current annual growth) from red maple (Acer rubrum) and white birch (Betula papyrifera), two abundant and commonly used winter foods of moose in Maine, at 17 months posttreatment. For red maple, neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF) concentrations were 18% less (P < 0.001), and lignin-cutin was 8% greater in injured than uninjured twigs. Predicted digestible dry matter (DDM) and digestible energy (DE) values were 7% greater (P = 0.003-0.014) in injured than uninjured twigs. Crude protein concentrations were low in red maple overall, but were greater (P < 0.001) in injured than uninjured twigs. In contrast, for paper birch, NDF and ADF concentrations were 6 and 8% greater (P = 0.002-0.011) and DDM and DE values were 8-11% less (P = 0.001-0.014) in injured than uninjured twigs. Lignin-cutin concentration was greater in injured than uninjured twigs. Crude protein content was not affected by injury (P = 0.97) in paper birch. Differences in the nature and magnitude of effects on nutritional quality for these two browse species demonstrates that there is not a generalized response to glyphosate injury. While measurable effects on nutritional quality of browse exist, absolute differences were generally small and may not represent important effects on diet quality of moose
ABORIGINAL OVERKILL AND THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF MOOSE IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA
No full textAt historical contact, moose (Alces alces) were rare or absent throughout much of western North America but since ca. 1990 moose have increased dramatically. Several hypotheses have been advanced to explain the historical distribution and recent spread of moose in western North America. These include, (1) European settlement modified the original climax forests, which were poor moose habitat, and created seral vegetation types moose prefer. (2) Predators such as wolves (Canis lupus) once limited moose but near the extermination of native carnivores allowed moose to extend their range. (3) Moose has insufficient time to colonize the areas since the last glaciation. (4) Climatic variation -- the Little Ice Age and associated severe winter weather limited moose populations ca. 1700-1880. And (5) disease once limited moose numbers. None of these hypotheses, though, is supported by the available evidence. Instead, I propose that moose biogeography was controlled primarily by native hunting. An Aboriginal Overkill hypothesis is presented and discussed. That analysis indicates that moose were extremely vulnerable to predation by Native Americans and that native peoples had no effective conservation practices. Native Americans were the ultimate keystone predator
PREDICTING MOOSE BROWSE PRODUCTION USING THE NORTH-WESTERN ONTARIO FOREST ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION
No full textHigh browse production is a key factor for quality moose habitat, and in this study we test the utility of a forest ecosystem classification system to predict the density and biomass of browse in standing timber, and the regrowth response of browse species following timber harvest. The 38 vegetation- and 22 soil-types of the Northwestern Ontario Forest Ecosystem Classification were grouped a priori into Treatment Units (TUs) according to their expected ability to produce browse, and we tested the hypothesis that all groups produced browse equally, before and after harvest. We sampled for browse density using a nearest-neighbour, plotless sampling technique, and extrapolated current annual growth by using regressions of plant dimensions to clipped annual growth dry weight. We ranked each TU according to observed density and inferred preference of browse species, and also tested if existing and commonly available forest resource inventory (FRI) data could successfully assign forest stands to Tus without the need for on-ground data collection. TU 1 (hardwood and mixedwood) and TU 2 (balsam fir-white spruce conifer and mixedwood) has highest browse density (P < 0.0001), current annual growth (P < 0.001), and overall browse habitat suitability. The magnitude of response of browse density to timber harvest differed across TUs, with browse density in TUs 1 and 2 increasing 2-3 times following harvest, but increasing little or not at all for other TUs. Substantial congruence between the field-determined TUs and airphoto-based FRI estimated TU classifications (83% overlap), although the classifications did differ (P = 0.018). Some TUs could not be differentiated because of the absence of information on understory vegetation in the FRI data
FLEHMEN IN CAPTIVE MOOSE CALVES (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA)
No full textA total of 256 instances of Flehmen was recorded for 12 (6 male/female pairs) captive moose calves (Alces alces americana). All calves displayed Flehmen and urine appeared to be the primary stimulus for the behaviour. Male calves displayed higher frequencies of Flehmen than did females (11.0 Flehmen/100 urinations versus 1.5 Flehmen/100 urinations). Males showed a seasonal pattern in the occurrence of Flehmen, with peak frequencies during mid-December to mid-February. Most Flehmen were performed in response to an animal's own urine with male and female calves showing the same relative frequency of self-directed Flehmen