HABITAT CHANGES IN MOOSE RANGES: EFFECTS ON MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR, SITE FIDELITY AND SIZE OF SUMMER HOME-RANGE

• Main Author: Andersen, Reidar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1991
• Subjects: Norway; Oppland; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1101

Due to hydro electric development in a forested area in Oppland County, Norway, a 9.5 km2 artificial lake was created. The area was previously used as both a migratory and summer area for moose (Alces alces). By following radio-collared moose cows and their calves prior to, and after the habitat alteration, we were able to investigate how this affected their migratory behavior, the size of their summer home-ranges and their site fidelity. The habitat alteration has so far caused only minor changes in migratory behavior. Most moose migrate along the same routes, crossing the artificial lake at the same place as they previously crossed the river. it is hypothesized that in years with unfavourable ice conditions on the lake, irregular mortality will increase. Although summer home-range size for 7 adult (>1.5 yr.) moose cows increased from 1.403 ha (N=14) prior to the habitat alteration to 1.594 ha (N=17) in the years after, this difference was not significant. While distances between activity centers did not change during the study, there was a significant change in summer home-range overlap. Prior to habitat alteration, home-ranges for individual cows overlapped by 61.4 %, while the same figure for the years after was 36.9 % ([t=2.4], P<0.05). Two of the adult cows totally or partly abandoned the area and moved to other summer ranges. The effects of man made habitat alterations are discussed.