Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape
Abstract Habitat alteration by humans may change the supply of food and cover for wild ungulates, but few studies have examined how these resources are utilised over time by individuals of different sex and reproductive status. We examined circadian and seasonal variation in habitat utilisation with...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.2981/10-073 |
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crwiley:10.2981/10-073 2024-05-19T07:27:52+00:00 Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape Bj⊘rneraas, Kari Solberg, Erling Johan Herfindal, Ivar Moorter, Bram Van Rolandsen, Christer Moe Tremblay, Jean‐Pierre Skarpe, Christina Sæther, Bernt‐Erik Eriksen, Rune Astrup, Rasmus Norges Forskningsråd 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.2981/10-073 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Wildlife Biology volume 17, issue 1, page 44-54 ISSN 1903-220X 1903-220X journal-article 2011 crwiley https://doi.org/10.2981/10-073 2024-04-25T08:27:48Z Abstract Habitat alteration by humans may change the supply of food and cover for wild ungulates, but few studies have examined how these resources are utilised over time by individuals of different sex and reproductive status. We examined circadian and seasonal variation in habitat utilisation within a moose Alces alces population in central Norway. Our study area covers forests and open habitats, both influenced by human alterations (e.g. forestry and agriculture). We expected moose to select habitats with good forage and cover in all seasons, but to select open foraging habitats mainly during night‐time. Moose selected good foraging habitats, such as young forest stands and cultivated land during night, whereas the utilisation of older forest stands providing cover increased during daytime. This circadian pattern changed throughout the year, seemingly related to variation in hours of daylight and provision of forage. Young forest stands provided higher density of preferred food plants compared to older stands and were highly selected from spring until autumn. Relative to young forest, the selection for older forest stands increased towards winter, likely due to provision of higher plant quality late in the growing season, and to reduced accumulation of movement‐impeding snow during winter. Selection of cultivated land varied among seasons, being highest when crop biomass was high. We also found some indications of state‐dependent habitat selection as reproducing females avoided open, food rich areas in the first months after their calves were born, whereas males and females without young selected these areas in spring and summer. Our results clearly show that moose exploit the variations in cover and food caused by forestry and agriculture. This is particularly relevant for moose in Norway as current changes in forestry practice lead to a reduction in young, food‐rich forest stands, possibly aggravating the already declining body conditions and recruitment rates of moose. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Wiley Online Library Wildlife Biology 17 1 44 54 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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language |
English |
description |
Abstract Habitat alteration by humans may change the supply of food and cover for wild ungulates, but few studies have examined how these resources are utilised over time by individuals of different sex and reproductive status. We examined circadian and seasonal variation in habitat utilisation within a moose Alces alces population in central Norway. Our study area covers forests and open habitats, both influenced by human alterations (e.g. forestry and agriculture). We expected moose to select habitats with good forage and cover in all seasons, but to select open foraging habitats mainly during night‐time. Moose selected good foraging habitats, such as young forest stands and cultivated land during night, whereas the utilisation of older forest stands providing cover increased during daytime. This circadian pattern changed throughout the year, seemingly related to variation in hours of daylight and provision of forage. Young forest stands provided higher density of preferred food plants compared to older stands and were highly selected from spring until autumn. Relative to young forest, the selection for older forest stands increased towards winter, likely due to provision of higher plant quality late in the growing season, and to reduced accumulation of movement‐impeding snow during winter. Selection of cultivated land varied among seasons, being highest when crop biomass was high. We also found some indications of state‐dependent habitat selection as reproducing females avoided open, food rich areas in the first months after their calves were born, whereas males and females without young selected these areas in spring and summer. Our results clearly show that moose exploit the variations in cover and food caused by forestry and agriculture. This is particularly relevant for moose in Norway as current changes in forestry practice lead to a reduction in young, food‐rich forest stands, possibly aggravating the already declining body conditions and recruitment rates of moose. |
author2 |
Norges Forskningsråd |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bj⊘rneraas, Kari Solberg, Erling Johan Herfindal, Ivar Moorter, Bram Van Rolandsen, Christer Moe Tremblay, Jean‐Pierre Skarpe, Christina Sæther, Bernt‐Erik Eriksen, Rune Astrup, Rasmus |
spellingShingle |
Bj⊘rneraas, Kari Solberg, Erling Johan Herfindal, Ivar Moorter, Bram Van Rolandsen, Christer Moe Tremblay, Jean‐Pierre Skarpe, Christina Sæther, Bernt‐Erik Eriksen, Rune Astrup, Rasmus Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
author_facet |
Bj⊘rneraas, Kari Solberg, Erling Johan Herfindal, Ivar Moorter, Bram Van Rolandsen, Christer Moe Tremblay, Jean‐Pierre Skarpe, Christina Sæther, Bernt‐Erik Eriksen, Rune Astrup, Rasmus |
author_sort |
Bj⊘rneraas, Kari |
title |
Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
title_short |
Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
title_full |
Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
title_fullStr |
Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
title_full_unstemmed |
Moose Alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
title_sort |
moose alces alces habitat use at multiple temporal scales in a human‐altered landscape |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2981/10-073 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.2981/10-073 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Wildlife Biology volume 17, issue 1, page 44-54 ISSN 1903-220X 1903-220X |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2981/10-073 |
container_title |
Wildlife Biology |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
44 |
op_container_end_page |
54 |
_version_ |
1799469473639432192 |