MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM
We review the processes by which moose (Alces alces) interact with vegetation at the module (leaf and shoot) and genet (individual plant) levels of organization, and show the consequences of these interactions for plant population, community, ecosystem, and landscape dynamics. Moose forage selective...
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Lakehead University
2003
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ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/477 2023-05-15T13:13:17+02:00 MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM Pastor, John Danell, Kjell 2003-01-01 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477/559 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 39 (2003): Alces Vol. 39 (2003); 177-192 2293-6629 0835-5851 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2003 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:46Z We review the processes by which moose (Alces alces) interact with vegetation at the module (leaf and shoot) and genet (individual plant) levels of organization, and show the consequences of these interactions for plant population, community, ecosystem, and landscape dynamics. Moose forage selectively on photosynthetic and meristematic tissues of a few preferred species. These species respond with compensatory growth and often tissues of higher forage quality, leading to a positive feedback at the module and genet level. However, height growth of browsed genets is often reduced or even curtailed by browsing, leading to higher levels of mortality and eventual replacement of browsed species by unbrowsed ones. These unbrowsed species (predominantly conifers) grow more slowly and have litter of low nutrient content that decomposes slowly. Consequently, even though moose browsing stimulates growth and browse availability at module and genet levels, ecosystem productivity and nitrogen cycling decline. Such feedbacks eventually lead to spatial patterns in the landscape. Genotypic and phenotypic differences within forage species modify these responses somewhat, and plant responses to moose browsing all differ somewhat along productivity gradients. Other herbivores, notably invertebrates, are also affected by these changes in vegetation. We conclude by suggesting some unanswered questions and new directions for future research. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces 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 |
description |
We review the processes by which moose (Alces alces) interact with vegetation at the module (leaf and shoot) and genet (individual plant) levels of organization, and show the consequences of these interactions for plant population, community, ecosystem, and landscape dynamics. Moose forage selectively on photosynthetic and meristematic tissues of a few preferred species. These species respond with compensatory growth and often tissues of higher forage quality, leading to a positive feedback at the module and genet level. However, height growth of browsed genets is often reduced or even curtailed by browsing, leading to higher levels of mortality and eventual replacement of browsed species by unbrowsed ones. These unbrowsed species (predominantly conifers) grow more slowly and have litter of low nutrient content that decomposes slowly. Consequently, even though moose browsing stimulates growth and browse availability at module and genet levels, ecosystem productivity and nitrogen cycling decline. Such feedbacks eventually lead to spatial patterns in the landscape. Genotypic and phenotypic differences within forage species modify these responses somewhat, and plant responses to moose browsing all differ somewhat along productivity gradients. Other herbivores, notably invertebrates, are also affected by these changes in vegetation. We conclude by suggesting some unanswered questions and new directions for future research. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pastor, John Danell, Kjell |
spellingShingle |
Pastor, John Danell, Kjell MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
author_facet |
Pastor, John Danell, Kjell |
author_sort |
Pastor, John |
title |
MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
title_short |
MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
title_full |
MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
title_fullStr |
MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
title_full_unstemmed |
MOOSE-VEGETATION-SOIL INTERACTIONS: A DYNAMIC SYSTEM |
title_sort |
moose-vegetation-soil interactions: a dynamic system |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477 |
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); 177-192 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477/559 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/477 |
_version_ |
1766257426686803968 |