Home Range Analysis of Cow Moose (Alces alces andersoni) in Maine using Geographical Information System Spatial Analysis Processes.

• Main Author: Bloomfield, Becky J
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Encompass 2016
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/106; https://encompass.eku.edu/context/swps_undergraduategallery/article/1105/type/native/viewcontent

This project is a spatial analysis of collared female moose (Alces alces) home ranges in ArcGIS using the Kernel Home Range Estimate method. This is a sophisticated method of defining and analyzing home range size and use. Along with spatial dimensions you are also able to estimate the areas within the home range in which the animal spends most of its time. This project provides critical insight of average home range size of cow moose and what type of habitat is utilized within their home ranges. This type of knowledge is used by wildlife managers when determining what type of habitat to protect while managing for a moose population that meets the demands of both consumptive and non-consumptive investors. This data is useful when determining where to introduce moose in new locations to either reestablish populations or to supplement an existing population. Without quality habitat, females cannot meet the energetic demands of pregnancy and lactation. When the females are in poor health calf survival drops and the population will not continue to have recruitment. My methods included: acquiring satellite GPS locations of the cows for a one year period, gathering land type data on the state of Maine, running the Kernel Home Range Estimate analysis on each cow, calculating the average home range area and perimeter (hectares), and calculating the type of vegetation percentages of each home range. All of the females had a definite home range which overlapped with other females home ranges. https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1105/thumbnail.jpg