Moose Alces alces bite diameter selection in relation to twig quality on four phenotypes of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris

The bite diameter selection by moose in relation to twig quality on four phenotypes of Scots pine was studied on the basis of a field cafeteria experiment. Comparison of twig quality was made among: 1) phenotypes, 2) different twig diameters, and 3) mean moose bite diameters. Chemical and morphologi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wildlife Biology
Main Authors: Jia, Jingbo, Niemelä, Pekka, Danell, Kjell
Other Authors: Kansainvälisen Liikkuvuuden ja Yhteistyön Keskus, Academy of Finland
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1995
Subjects:
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Alces alces
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/wlb.1995.009
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.2981/wlb.1995.009
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2981/wlb.1995.009
Description
Summary:The bite diameter selection by moose in relation to twig quality on four phenotypes of Scots pine was studied on the basis of a field cafeteria experiment. Comparison of twig quality was made among: 1) phenotypes, 2) different twig diameters, and 3) mean moose bite diameters. Chemical and morphological analyses of the trees indicated that twig fibre and tree/shoot size strongly affected moose bite diameter choice. Sight and chewing sensation are suggested to be the main browsing strategies used by moose. Moose adjusted the bite diameter among phenotypes on the criterion of similar food quality. The factors involved may play a multiple role in affecting moose foraging. Quantitative features of trees had no significant effects on moose bite diameter selection.

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