Lietuvos briedžių populiacijos būklė ir valdymo ypatumai

• Main Author: Burbaitė, Lina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Moose population; Population management; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://vu.lvb.lt/VU:ELABAPDB3737858&prefLang=en_US

Since 2003 the moose (Alces alces) hunting is forbidden in Lithuania because of a critical status of the population. So the creation of moose population management and hunting strategy is a very urgent question. The aim of this work is to overview moose number dynamics, their reasons and the peculiarities of moose management in Lithuania. Official moose survey data were analyzed and modeling of the population was done with the MOOSE software. The influence of bag structure and possible influence of incorrect surveys were modeled. In 1957-2004 moose numbers in Lithuania varied in great extent. Modeling of the population proved, that numbers are mainly influenced by female hunting. Ceiling numbers are limited by carrying capacity of the environment. Hunting bag maximum varies according to sex/age groups, and reaches 5% for females, 25% for juveniles and 30% for males if the growth of the population is to be maintained. Rational population management is cardinally influenced by survey errors and poaching in Lithuania. Thus, MOOSE model is a valuable tool calculating the dynamics of moose abundance with a possibility of very certain population parameters. It allows assessing and controlling the influence of various factors, which change the number of individuals in real populations. Insufficiencies of the survey should be modified by survey better methods; also we need to project moose population management.