Habitat selection of adult moose Alces alcesat two spatial scales in central Finland

• Published in: Wildlife Biology
• Main Authors: Nikula, Ari, Heikkinen, Samuli, Helle, Eero
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2004
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/wlb.2004.017; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.2981/wlb.2004.017; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2981/wlb.2004.017

The habitat selection criteria of moose Alces alces at several scales are the basic sets of information needed in moose management planning. We studied moose habitat use in central Finland during 1993–1996 using data from radio collared moose, satellite image based forest and land cover data, and applied the principles of compositional analysis. The habitat compositions of 54 home ranges (10 males during summer, six males during winter, 23 females during summer and 15 females during winter) were first compared with the overall landscape. The habitat compositions around moose locations within their home ranges were then compared with the habitat composition of the home range. Seasons and sexes were compared at both scales. In summer, there was only a slight difference between moose home ranges and the overall landscape. Based on tree species composition, home ranges are located in slightly more fertile areas than the overall landscape. Within their home ranges, moose favoured non‐pine dominated habitats and mature forests, and avoided human settlements. In winter, the moose home ranges included significantly more pine‐dominated plantations and other young successional stages than the overall landscape. The role of pine‐dominated peatland forests/ shrub land was especially pronounced in winter. Winter home ranges included less agricultural land and human settlements than the overall landscape, probably due to the more distant location of important winter habitats from man‐made landscapes. Within the home ranges, both sexes used non‐pine dominated habitats more, and mature forests and human settlements less than expected. At the home range scale, there were no statistical differences between the sexes with respect to habitat use in either season. Within their home ranges, males and females used slightly different habitats during both seasons, suggesting spatially segregated habitat use by the individual sexes. The difference is more clear in winter when males tend to use more pine‐dominated, young successional ...