TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA
Sites containing winter browse species utilized by moose on the Copper River Delta of south-central Alaska were mechanically treated (hydraulic-axed) to counteract possible earthquake-related increases in less-preferred forage species, and to measure treatment effects on biomass, height, nutritional...
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ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/152 2023-05-15T13:13:24+02:00 TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA Smythe, Sharon Sanchez, Dana Mata-Gonzalez, Ricardo 2015-10-07 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152/195 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 51 (2015); 135-147 2293-6629 0835-5851 Alaska Alces alces gigas Alnus viridis sinuata biomass Copper River Delta hydraulic-axing Myrica gale nutrition Populus trichocarpa Salix spp info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2015 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:43Z Sites containing winter browse species utilized by moose on the Copper River Delta of south-central Alaska were mechanically treated (hydraulic-axed) to counteract possible earthquake-related increases in less-preferred forage species, and to measure treatment effects on biomass, height, nutritional quality (crude protein, lignin, and tannin), utilization, and snow burial on preferred (willow [Salix spp.]) and less-preferred forage species (sweetgale [Myrica gale], cottonwood [Populus trichocarpa], and alder [Alnus viridis sinuata]) within 3 winter scenarios (mild, moderate, and severe). Sites were treated in 4 winters (1990–1992, 2008, 2010, and 2012) within 5 stand types in 20 sites varying from 0.9–63.4 ha. We found few significant differences in biomass, height, nutritional quality, utilization, and snow burial relative to controls. However, our ability to detect differences may have been limited by sample size (n = 1–9), as visual comparison suggests hydraulic-axing may be an effective method for increasing willow biomass while reducing alder biomass without influencing nutritional quality. However, because treated willows were shorter than untreated willows, treatment may result in less preferred forage for moose in severe winters with deep snow. Our results have implications for habitat management of moose but further research is needed to determine incremental and long-term effects of treatment on willow growth and productivity. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Alaska Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
op_collection_id |
ftjalces |
language |
English |
topic |
Alaska Alces alces gigas Alnus viridis sinuata biomass Copper River Delta hydraulic-axing Myrica gale nutrition Populus trichocarpa Salix spp |
spellingShingle |
Alaska Alces alces gigas Alnus viridis sinuata biomass Copper River Delta hydraulic-axing Myrica gale nutrition Populus trichocarpa Salix spp Smythe, Sharon Sanchez, Dana Mata-Gonzalez, Ricardo TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
topic_facet |
Alaska Alces alces gigas Alnus viridis sinuata biomass Copper River Delta hydraulic-axing Myrica gale nutrition Populus trichocarpa Salix spp |
description |
Sites containing winter browse species utilized by moose on the Copper River Delta of south-central Alaska were mechanically treated (hydraulic-axed) to counteract possible earthquake-related increases in less-preferred forage species, and to measure treatment effects on biomass, height, nutritional quality (crude protein, lignin, and tannin), utilization, and snow burial on preferred (willow [Salix spp.]) and less-preferred forage species (sweetgale [Myrica gale], cottonwood [Populus trichocarpa], and alder [Alnus viridis sinuata]) within 3 winter scenarios (mild, moderate, and severe). Sites were treated in 4 winters (1990–1992, 2008, 2010, and 2012) within 5 stand types in 20 sites varying from 0.9–63.4 ha. We found few significant differences in biomass, height, nutritional quality, utilization, and snow burial relative to controls. However, our ability to detect differences may have been limited by sample size (n = 1–9), as visual comparison suggests hydraulic-axing may be an effective method for increasing willow biomass while reducing alder biomass without influencing nutritional quality. However, because treated willows were shorter than untreated willows, treatment may result in less preferred forage for moose in severe winters with deep snow. Our results have implications for habitat management of moose but further research is needed to determine incremental and long-term effects of treatment on willow growth and productivity. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Smythe, Sharon Sanchez, Dana Mata-Gonzalez, Ricardo |
author_facet |
Smythe, Sharon Sanchez, Dana Mata-Gonzalez, Ricardo |
author_sort |
Smythe, Sharon |
title |
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
title_short |
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
title_full |
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
title_fullStr |
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
title_full_unstemmed |
TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA |
title_sort |
temporal effects of mechanical treatment on winter moose browse in south-central alaska |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152 |
genre |
Alces alces Alaska |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Alaska |
op_source |
Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 51 (2015); 135-147 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152/195 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152 |
_version_ |
1766258124553977856 |