THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND
Multiple fecundity (i.e., >2 fetuses or calves per female) is a rare and poorly known phenomenon in moose (Alces alces). In this paper I: (1) report the frequency of multiple fecundity of moose in Finland; (2) study the frequencies of multiple fecundity in different years and areas; (3) discuss t...
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ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/467 2023-05-15T13:13:30+02:00 THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND Nygrén, Tuire 2003-01-01 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467/549 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 39 (2003): Alces Vol. 39 (2003); 89-107 2293-6629 0835-5851 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2003 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:46Z Multiple fecundity (i.e., >2 fetuses or calves per female) is a rare and poorly known phenomenon in moose (Alces alces). In this paper I: (1) report the frequency of multiple fecundity of moose in Finland; (2) study the frequencies of multiple fecundity in different years and areas; (3) discuss the viability of litters with different numbers of progeny; and (4) discuss the possible fecundity effects of selective harvest and the evolutionary aspects of multiple fecundity. The embryo numbers of harvested cows were counted during 1980-89 (n = 2,347) and the proportion of single, twin, and triplet calves were determined from the 1986-99 moose observation material recorded in the field by hunters during the hunting season (n = 585,149). The material includes 4 sets of quadruplet calves, 1 set of stillborn sextuplets, and a moose female with 5 sets of triplet calves; a total of 30 calves in 15 years. In Finland, 60.38 % of pregnant moose cows had one, 39.37% two, 0.21% three, and 0.04% four embryos. In the observation material, 61.79% of the cows had one calf, 38.18% twin calves, and 0.03% triplet calves. The proportion of multiple cases decreased from south to north. The viability of single and twin calves was found to be very high, but only 15% of the sets of triplet calves seemed to survive up to the first fall. Calf survival rate was clearly higher in 1980-99 than in 1963-66, possibly depending on the different age structures of the female populations. According to the literature, the frequency of multiple fecundity in moose appears to be lower in North American than European moose populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
op_collection_id |
ftjalces |
language |
English |
description |
Multiple fecundity (i.e., >2 fetuses or calves per female) is a rare and poorly known phenomenon in moose (Alces alces). In this paper I: (1) report the frequency of multiple fecundity of moose in Finland; (2) study the frequencies of multiple fecundity in different years and areas; (3) discuss the viability of litters with different numbers of progeny; and (4) discuss the possible fecundity effects of selective harvest and the evolutionary aspects of multiple fecundity. The embryo numbers of harvested cows were counted during 1980-89 (n = 2,347) and the proportion of single, twin, and triplet calves were determined from the 1986-99 moose observation material recorded in the field by hunters during the hunting season (n = 585,149). The material includes 4 sets of quadruplet calves, 1 set of stillborn sextuplets, and a moose female with 5 sets of triplet calves; a total of 30 calves in 15 years. In Finland, 60.38 % of pregnant moose cows had one, 39.37% two, 0.21% three, and 0.04% four embryos. In the observation material, 61.79% of the cows had one calf, 38.18% twin calves, and 0.03% triplet calves. The proportion of multiple cases decreased from south to north. The viability of single and twin calves was found to be very high, but only 15% of the sets of triplet calves seemed to survive up to the first fall. Calf survival rate was clearly higher in 1980-99 than in 1963-66, possibly depending on the different age structures of the female populations. According to the literature, the frequency of multiple fecundity in moose appears to be lower in North American than European moose populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nygrén, Tuire |
spellingShingle |
Nygrén, Tuire THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
author_facet |
Nygrén, Tuire |
author_sort |
Nygrén, Tuire |
title |
THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
title_short |
THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
title_full |
THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
title_fullStr |
THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
title_full_unstemmed |
THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE FECUNDITY OF MOOSE IN FINLAND |
title_sort |
potential for multiple fecundity of moose in finland |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 39 (2003): Alces Vol. 39 (2003); 89-107 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467/549 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/467 |
_version_ |
1766258738484740096 |