A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales
We developed a habitat suitability index (HSI) model for moose (Alces alces) in the boreal forest. The model used two components: a suitability index for food (SI food ) and another for the interspersion between cover and food (SI edge ). We used forest maps as the input data source, and the value o...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Forest Research |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x05-310 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x05-310 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/x05-310 2024-06-23T07:45:12+00:00 A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales Dussault, Christian Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre 2006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x05-310 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x05-310 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Forest Research volume 36, issue 5, page 1097-1107 ISSN 0045-5067 1208-6037 journal-article 2006 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/x05-310 2024-05-30T08:13:48Z We developed a habitat suitability index (HSI) model for moose (Alces alces) in the boreal forest. The model used two components: a suitability index for food (SI food ) and another for the interspersion between cover and food (SI edge ). We used forest maps as the input data source, and the value of each stand type in terms of cover and food was based on field surveys. To validate the model, the habitat preference of moose equipped with global positioning system telemetry collars was assessed at both landscape and home-range scales. We expected the habitat-preference index to correlate with suitability indices determined using the global model and each of its two components. Habitat suitability was assessed in evaluation plots of 500, 100, and 10 ha. Unexpectedly, the habitat-preference index correlated better with SI food and SI edge than with the global model. The suitability indices also performed better when assessed in large plots. Selection of 500 ha plots related mostly to SI edge , but SI food was more important when smaller evaluation plots were used, especially for males. Females preferred plots with intermediate SI food values. At the fine scale, SI edge was not as attractive to moose as was previously observed, presumably because snow conditions prevailing in our study area were relatively moderate. We recommend utilizing the model with SI edge in large plots (ca. 500 ha) and SI food in smaller plots. Our model could be adapted and applied to other areas by using empirical data to adjust the relative value of stand types in terms of cover and food. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36 5 1097 1107 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
We developed a habitat suitability index (HSI) model for moose (Alces alces) in the boreal forest. The model used two components: a suitability index for food (SI food ) and another for the interspersion between cover and food (SI edge ). We used forest maps as the input data source, and the value of each stand type in terms of cover and food was based on field surveys. To validate the model, the habitat preference of moose equipped with global positioning system telemetry collars was assessed at both landscape and home-range scales. We expected the habitat-preference index to correlate with suitability indices determined using the global model and each of its two components. Habitat suitability was assessed in evaluation plots of 500, 100, and 10 ha. Unexpectedly, the habitat-preference index correlated better with SI food and SI edge than with the global model. The suitability indices also performed better when assessed in large plots. Selection of 500 ha plots related mostly to SI edge , but SI food was more important when smaller evaluation plots were used, especially for males. Females preferred plots with intermediate SI food values. At the fine scale, SI edge was not as attractive to moose as was previously observed, presumably because snow conditions prevailing in our study area were relatively moderate. We recommend utilizing the model with SI edge in large plots (ca. 500 ha) and SI food in smaller plots. Our model could be adapted and applied to other areas by using empirical data to adjust the relative value of stand types in terms of cover and food. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dussault, Christian Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre |
spellingShingle |
Dussault, Christian Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
author_facet |
Dussault, Christian Courtois, Réhaume Ouellet, Jean-Pierre |
author_sort |
Dussault, Christian |
title |
A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
title_short |
A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
title_full |
A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
title_fullStr |
A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
title_full_unstemmed |
A habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
title_sort |
habitat suitability index model to assess moose habitat selection at multiple spatial scales |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x05-310 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x05-310 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Forest Research volume 36, issue 5, page 1097-1107 ISSN 0045-5067 1208-6037 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/x05-310 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Forest Research |
container_volume |
36 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1097 |
op_container_end_page |
1107 |
_version_ |
1802638088412856320 |