Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose)
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EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS ALCES IN SWEDISH MOOSE
Get PDFA total of 961 harvested and 241 unharvested moose (Alces alces) carcasses and parts from throughout Sweden were examined for Elaphostrongylus alces from 1985 to 1989. When available, the central nervous system and skeletal muscles were searched for adult nematodes, and lungs and feces were examined for first-stage larvae. The parasite was distributed throughout Sweden with highest prevalence (56%) in the central region and lowest in the south (13%). Prevalence was highest in calves and old moose (>9 years) and lowest in middle-aged animals (5–9 years), with no statistical difference between sexes, although prevalence trended higher in young males. Body condition and abundance of Elaphostrongylus alces were negatively correlated, and condition was poorer in unharvested than harvested moose. A short (39–73 days) prepatent period was documented, and calves as young as 1.5 months were infected. These results indicate the importance of continued surveillance of Elaphostrongylus alces, particularly because a warming climate will likely increase abundance of intermediate mollusk hosts and possibly cause increased infection of moose
SCAT-DETECTION DOGS SURVEY LOW DENSITY MOOSE IN NEW YORK
Get PDFThe difficulty of collecting occurrence and population dynamics data in mammalian populations of low density poses challenges for making informed management decisions. We assessed the use of scat-detection dogs to search for fecal pellets in a low density moose (Alces alces) population in the Adirondack Park in New York State, and the success rate of DNA extraction from moose fecal pellets collected during the surveys. In May 2008, two scat-detection dog teams surveyed 20, 4-km transects and located 138 moose scats. In 2011 we successfully amplified DNA from 39 scats (28%) and were able to uniquely identify 25 individuals. Improved storage protocols and earlier lab analysis would increase the amplification success rate. Scat-detection dogs proved to be a reasonable, non-invasive method to collect useful data from the low density moose population in the Adirondack Park
BLOOD PROFILES AND ASSOCIATED BIRTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FREE-RANGING MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) NEONATES IN A DECLINING POPULATION IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Get PDFSources of natural variability of blood analytes related to physiological development pose both challenges and opportunities to deriving and interpreting the most useful nutritional and health-related information from blood profiles of free-ranging animals. Preliminary evidence suggests accurate interpretation of blood profiles may be particularly important relative to newborns given their high probability of death. Our goal was to establish hematological and serum reference values for free-ranging moose (Alces alces) neonates. Sixteen neonates (8 females, 8 males) were captured and blood was sampled during 8–12 May 2013. Mean age was 2.9 days old (range = 1.4–6.0); mean body mass and hind foot length were 16.8 kg (13.8–20.5) and 46.8 cm (45.0–49.0). We present mean, 95% confidence interval and range of values for 15 hematological and 24 serum characteristics, including metabolites,chemistries, electrolytes, enzymes, and metabolic and stress hormones. We observed significant (r2 = 0.423–0.747, P ≤ 0.016) positive relationships between body mass and red blood cell and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume. Hind foot length was positively related (r2 = 0.369, P = 0.028) only to red blood cell counts. No serum constituents were affected by body size metrics, but sex influenced (P ≤ 0.052) several whole blood and serum characteristics. At the individual level, blood profiles facilitated discrimination of one individual neonate in poor nutritional condition that was not evident in the original physical examination at capture. As wildlife researchers and veterinarians increasingly assess the nutritional and health status of free-ranging moose and other species by clinical biochemistry and laboratory methods, cumulative banks of blood reference values will aid in data interpretation
RECRUITMENT OF WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN CONTRASTING FOREST HABITATS, ONTARIO, CANADA
Get PDFRecruitment of winter tick larvae (Dermacentor albipictus) was studied in a forest opening and a closed canopy deciduous forest to evaluate their potential as sources of tick infestation to moose (Alces alces). Engorged female ticks were set out in early May at each site and monitored to measure the proportions of females producing larvae and the number of larvae recruited per g of surviving female. Recruitment was higher in the forest during the hotter, drier summer of 1983, primarily due to fewer engorged females producing larvae in the opening, and was much higher (>2 x) in the opening during the cooler, damper summer of 1984. Recruitment in the field was 20–40% of that under laboratory conditions. Desiccation of eggs and/or larvae was the probable cause for the annual variation in recruitment in the opening. Most larvae were recruited earlier in the opening than in the forest site. Neither weight nor date of detachment of engorged female ticks influenced when larvae first ascended vegetation. Weather, especially temperature, and site structure and composition affect abundance of the free-living stages of the winter tick and larvae available for transmission to moose. Open sites should support more winter tick larvae than densely forested sites except in years of particularly hot and dry weather
A NOVEL METHOD OF PERFORMING MOOSE BROWSE SURVEYS
Get PDFWe measured browse availability and use along foraging paths of GPS radio-collared moose (Alces alces) in northeastern Minnesota to estimate diet composition and browse species preference. On foraging paths during summer and winter we counted twigs via traditional methods for comparison with a novel method that attempted to better simulate moose foraging behavior. Twigs were collected and used to develop diameter at point of browsing – biomass regressions for each browse species. These regressions, different under open and closed canopy, were used to estimate biomass consumption on foraging paths and to compare 4 approaches. The average diets were similar to previously measured regional diets, and importantly, our data identified variance among individual seasonal diets. Our field method allowed us to better quantify and compare diet composition and browse selection of individual free-ranging moose directly on foraging paths
EFFECTS OF VARIABLE FIRE SEVERITY ON FORAGE PRODUCTION AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF MOOSE IN WINTER
Get PDFThe increasing frequency and extent of wildfires in Alaska over the last half century has spurred increased interest in understanding the role of post-fire succession on vegetation establishment. Our primary goal was to examine how wildfire affects production and distribution of winter forage for moose (Alces alces) in interior Alaska, and how these changes in forage availability control forage offtake. Fire severity classification was based on post-fire depth of residual soil organic matter. We used a browse survey protocol to estimate the biomass of current year production (kg/ha) and overwinter offtake (kg/ha) by moose. Under the assumption of homogenous effects of fire severity on regeneration, we estimated that moose consumed 36% of all forage (current annual growth) across the study area. However, we found that moose exhibited significantly higher browse consumption relative to browse production in high fire severity sites than in low severity sites (P < 0.05). When we adjusted our estimates of forage production and consumption by accounting for the significant differences in browse consumption between severity classes and their distribution across the burn, moose consumed approximately 49% of available forage. Assessments of fire severity and its spatial distribution through remote sensing techniques and on-the-ground sampling provides improved projections of vegetation regeneration pathways following wildfires, and thus refined estimates of future browse production and habitat quality for moose
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA
Get PDFSites containing winter browse species utilized by moose on the Copper River Delta of south-central Alaska were mechanically treated (hydraulic-axed) to counteract possible earthquake-related increases in less-preferred forage species, and to measure treatment effects on biomass, height, nutritional quality (crude protein, lignin, and tannin), utilization, and snow burial on preferred (willow [Salix spp.]) and less-preferred forage species (sweetgale [Myrica gale], cottonwood [Populus trichocarpa], and alder [Alnus viridis sinuata]) within 3 winter scenarios (mild, moderate, and severe). Sites were treated in 4 winters (1990–1992, 2008, 2010, and 2012) within 5 stand types in 20 sites varying from 0.9–63.4 ha. We found few significant differences in biomass, height, nutritional quality, utilization, and snow burial relative to controls. However, our ability to detect differences may have been limited by sample size (n = 1–9), as visual comparison suggests hydraulic-axing may be an effective method for increasing willow biomass while reducing alder biomass without influencing nutritional quality. However, because treated willows were shorter than untreated willows, treatment may result in less preferred forage for moose in severe winters with deep snow. Our results have implications for habitat management of moose but further research is needed to determine incremental and long-term effects of treatment on willow growth and productivity
DISTRIBUTION OF WINTER BROWSING BY MOOSE: EVIDENCE OF LONG-TERM STABILITY IN NORTHERN SWEDEN
Get PDFPredicting spatial distribution of large herbivore foraging is important for successful management, but accurate predictions remain elusive against a background of multiple causes modified by environmental stochasticity. Moose (Alces alces) might prefer to browse areas with high plant density, but if snow depth co-varies with plant density, this could restrict access to these sites and force use of sites with lower plant density and snow depth. Moose browsing was measured in 72 plots distributed within the subarctic birch (Betula spp.) forest landscape at Abisko in northern Sweden in 1996. In 2010, the same plots were revisited and the measurements repeated. A generalized linear model predicted moose browsing on birch in 2010 from the browsing pattern on birch measured in 1996. The model suggested that neither total density of willow and birch stems nor snow depth were influential of foraging distribution of birch at multiple spatial scales. The spatial scale at which clustering of browsing on birch occurred, coincided with the scale of clustering of birch and willow (Salix spp.) stems at distances of 1000-2500 m; at lesser distance browsing was distributed randomly. We concluded that moose demonstrate stability in spatial browsing patterns after 14 years which corresponds to 3-4 generations of moose, and that plant density represents a cue for moose only at certain scales. Predictability of feeding sites is valuable for long-term moose and forest management, and conservation planning
SHOOT GROWTH RESPONSES AT SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING STATIONS FOR MOOSE IN NORWAY
Get PDFMoose browsing pressure in the vicinity of supplementary winter feeding stations eventually declines over time. It is believed that continual winter browsing over multiple years causes locally reduced shoot growth and forage availability for moose (Alces alces). We tested this hypothesis by comparing the size of annual shoots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), downy birch (Betula pubescens), and Norway spruce (Picea abies) along a distance gradient from supplementary feeding stations. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that shoot size was larger at feeding stations than at distances out to 1500 m. This increase in shoot size was probably not related directly to browsing, but to higher nutrient and light availability associated with moose activity at feeding stations. Increased use of Norway spruce, yet reduced browsing overall at feeding stations, probably reflects the overall decline in abundance of preferred Scots pine and downy birch in a local environment substantially altered by an artificially and abnormally high density of moose
MOOSE MOVEMENT PATTERNS IN THE UPPER KOYUKUK RIVER DRAINAGE, NORTHCENTRAL ALASKA
Get PDFUnderstanding movement patterns of moose (Alces alces) is critical to understanding their ecology and sound management. Our study was prompted by concern that the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area (DHCMA), where the Dalton Highway facilitates access for non-local hunting, may be a population sink for moose that also reside in more remote and protected areas like Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (GAAR) and Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR). We did not detect substantial migrations between DHCMA and GAAR or KNWR. However, we estimated that 14–60% of moose in our study area were migratory depending on sex, location within our study area, and methodology utilized to differentiate migratory behavior. A quarter of the animals displayed mixed-migratory strategies where migration is exhibited by a single individual in some years but not others. The percentage of moose that were migratory in our study population, and the distances they migrated, were lower than reported from studies elsewhere in interior Alaska. We hypothesize this may be related to their very low density (∼ 0.1 moose/km2) and/or higher terrain ruggedness in part of the study area. Winter severity did not appear to impact migration, but home range sizes were smaller in severe winters