Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate
Habitat selection and movement are considered important factors for survival of game species when they are hunted by humans. To reduce their risk of predation, animals can adapt their behavior to their most abundant predator over time through experience. To test for learning capabilities in a long-l...
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ftsluppsalast:oai:stud.epsilon.slu.se:16539 2023-05-15T13:13:26+02:00 Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate Graf, Lukas 2021-03-19 application/pdf https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/3/graf_l_210505%20%281%29.pdf sv eng swe eng https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/ urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-16539 https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/3/graf_l_210505%20%281%29.pdf Graf, Lukas, 2021. Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate : learning effects of shooting moose calves?. Second cycle, A2E. Umeå: (S) > Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-251.html> Nature conservation and land resources Second cycle, A2E NonPeerReviewed 2021 ftsluppsalast 2022-09-10T18:12:54Z Habitat selection and movement are considered important factors for survival of game species when they are hunted by humans. To reduce their risk of predation, animals can adapt their behavior to their most abundant predator over time through experience. To test for learning capabilities in a long-lived ungulate, I used GPS-data of 19 male and 84 female moose (Alces alces) in two study areas in southern Sweden from 2008-2018. I matched the GPS-data with reproduction and survival data and analyzed movement rates and habitat selection in a heavily managed moose population. While not being a gregarious species, moose are expected to learn from non-lethal mortality when a female loses her calf to harvest. Hunters were more likely to harvest male moose that moved faster before the moose hunting season began. Female moose where more likely to get harvested when they selected more for open habitats. The results of my study suggest that female moose in my study areas increased their shyness in the next hunting season after losing a calf to harvest. Female moose increased nocturnal activity and increased their avoidance of open habitats. As they aged, female moose decreased their movement rates and avoided open habitats. Using these proxies for shyness indicates that being shyer is beneficial for moose to survive the hunting season. My study suggests that learning effects accumulate as moose age. Furthermore, my results help to understand the influence human hunters impose on behavior of moose in a heavily managed population. Text Alces alces Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
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Swedish English |
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Nature conservation and land resources |
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Nature conservation and land resources Graf, Lukas Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
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Nature conservation and land resources |
description |
Habitat selection and movement are considered important factors for survival of game species when they are hunted by humans. To reduce their risk of predation, animals can adapt their behavior to their most abundant predator over time through experience. To test for learning capabilities in a long-lived ungulate, I used GPS-data of 19 male and 84 female moose (Alces alces) in two study areas in southern Sweden from 2008-2018. I matched the GPS-data with reproduction and survival data and analyzed movement rates and habitat selection in a heavily managed moose population. While not being a gregarious species, moose are expected to learn from non-lethal mortality when a female loses her calf to harvest. Hunters were more likely to harvest male moose that moved faster before the moose hunting season began. Female moose where more likely to get harvested when they selected more for open habitats. The results of my study suggest that female moose in my study areas increased their shyness in the next hunting season after losing a calf to harvest. Female moose increased nocturnal activity and increased their avoidance of open habitats. As they aged, female moose decreased their movement rates and avoided open habitats. Using these proxies for shyness indicates that being shyer is beneficial for moose to survive the hunting season. My study suggests that learning effects accumulate as moose age. Furthermore, my results help to understand the influence human hunters impose on behavior of moose in a heavily managed population. |
format |
Text |
author |
Graf, Lukas |
author_facet |
Graf, Lukas |
author_sort |
Graf, Lukas |
title |
Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
title_short |
Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
title_full |
Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
title_fullStr |
Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
title_full_unstemmed |
Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
title_sort |
non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/3/graf_l_210505%20%281%29.pdf |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_relation |
https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/ urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-16539 https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/16539/3/graf_l_210505%20%281%29.pdf Graf, Lukas, 2021. Non-naivety in a long-lived ungulate : learning effects of shooting moose calves?. Second cycle, A2E. Umeå: (S) > Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-251.html> |
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