The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario
Moose (Alces alces) populations were studied in parts of Ontario where they cohabit with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. Trend data on changes in cervid numbers for the period 1980–1992, current population density estimates, and records of moose s...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1994
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z94-111 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z94-111 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z94-111 2024-06-23T07:45:11+00:00 The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario Whitlaw, Heather A. Lankester, Murray W. 1994 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z94-111 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z94-111 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 72, issue 5, page 819-825 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1994 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z94-111 2024-05-24T13:05:52Z Moose (Alces alces) populations were studied in parts of Ontario where they cohabit with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. Trend data on changes in cervid numbers for the period 1980–1992, current population density estimates, and records of moose sickness were obtained from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources managers; presence and abundance of P. tenuis were determined by examining winter deer feces for dorsal-spined larvae. Moose and deer coexist in 45 of 83 Ontario Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) surveyed and have persisted there for at least the past 12 years. Cervid populations in most of these WMUs are presently believed to be stable or increasing. Moose density was inversely related to deer density and was greatest where the latter was <4/km 2 . In addition, moose densities were lowest in areas with the highest mean intensity of P. tenuis larvae in deer feces. Nonetheless, the documented persistence of moose in numerous areas with infected deer, and case studies of recent moose declines, suggest that the effect of this parasite on moose populations is more subtle than was previously believed, and further study is required to separate and measure its importance relative to other mortality factors known to act on moose populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 72 5 819 825 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Moose (Alces alces) populations were studied in parts of Ontario where they cohabit with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. Trend data on changes in cervid numbers for the period 1980–1992, current population density estimates, and records of moose sickness were obtained from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources managers; presence and abundance of P. tenuis were determined by examining winter deer feces for dorsal-spined larvae. Moose and deer coexist in 45 of 83 Ontario Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) surveyed and have persisted there for at least the past 12 years. Cervid populations in most of these WMUs are presently believed to be stable or increasing. Moose density was inversely related to deer density and was greatest where the latter was <4/km 2 . In addition, moose densities were lowest in areas with the highest mean intensity of P. tenuis larvae in deer feces. Nonetheless, the documented persistence of moose in numerous areas with infected deer, and case studies of recent moose declines, suggest that the effect of this parasite on moose populations is more subtle than was previously believed, and further study is required to separate and measure its importance relative to other mortality factors known to act on moose populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Whitlaw, Heather A. Lankester, Murray W. |
spellingShingle |
Whitlaw, Heather A. Lankester, Murray W. The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
author_facet |
Whitlaw, Heather A. Lankester, Murray W. |
author_sort |
Whitlaw, Heather A. |
title |
The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
title_short |
The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
title_full |
The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
title_fullStr |
The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
title_full_unstemmed |
The co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Ontario |
title_sort |
co-occurrence of moose, white-tailed deer, and parelaphostrongylus tenuis in ontario |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1994 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z94-111 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z94-111 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 72, issue 5, page 819-825 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z94-111 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
72 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
819 |
op_container_end_page |
825 |
_version_ |
1802638000596713472 |