The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada
Published version Two interacting disturbances such as stand-level defoliation by spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana ) and subsequent herbivory by moose ( Alces alces ) may affect landscapes differently than if they occurred in isolation. We studied moose ( A. a. andersoni ) browsing on sites...
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ftstmarysunivca:oai:library2:01/30869 2023-05-15T13:13:12+02:00 The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada Moose impacts on forest regeneration Smith, Craig Beazley, Karen Duinker, Peter N. Harper, Karen A. 2010-01-01 application/pdf http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/30869 en_CA eng Alces https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/64/87 0835-5851 2293-6629 http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/30869 Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. Forest regeneration -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Moose -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Spruce budworm -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Balsam fir -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Paper birch -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Text 2010 ftstmarysunivca 2022-06-19T17:31:14Z Published version Two interacting disturbances such as stand-level defoliation by spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana ) and subsequent herbivory by moose ( Alces alces ) may affect landscapes differently than if they occurred in isolation. We studied moose ( A. a. andersoni ) browsing on sites disturbed approximately 25 years ago by a severe spruce budworm outbreak in a region historically dominated by balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ) forest on northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Our objectives were to 1) describe the impact of a large resident moose population on post-budworm regeneration of balsam fir and white birch ( Betula papyrifera ), and 2) to examine the interplay between moose abundance, site conditions, and variation in post-budworm forest regeneration. Fifty-eight ranÂdomly located sites were sampled for composition and structural characteristics, moose browse severity, moose pellet group density, and site conditions. We used univariate general linear modelling (GLM) and multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA) to examine relationships between moose abundance as indicated by pellet-groups, site conditions, and post-budworm regeneration. Approximately 65% of all balsam fir and white birch saplings tallied were severely browsed by moose, exhibiting stunted, abnormal growth forms. Both the GLM and the RDA indicated that moose abundance was the best predictor of variation in the density of post-budworm regeneration of balsam fir and white birch. Site conditions were less useful predictors of variation in regeneration. The relationship between moose abundance and regeneration of balsam fir and white birch was positive, suggesting that moose may be more abundant in areas where regeneration is denser. Sustained, severe browsing in areas regenerating after spruce budworm outbreak may significantly inhibit future forest development and alter the well documented spruce budworm-balsam fir cyclic successional system of northern Cape Breton Island. Text Alces alces Breton Island Saint Mary's University, Halifax: Institutional Repository Canada Breton Island ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Saint Mary's University, Halifax: Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftstmarysunivca |
language |
English |
topic |
Forest regeneration -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Moose -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Spruce budworm -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Balsam fir -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Paper birch -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) |
spellingShingle |
Forest regeneration -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Moose -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Spruce budworm -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Balsam fir -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Paper birch -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Smith, Craig Beazley, Karen Duinker, Peter N. Harper, Karen A. The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
topic_facet |
Forest regeneration -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Moose -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Spruce budworm -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Balsam fir -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) Paper birch -- Cape Breton Highlands National Park (N.S.) |
description |
Published version Two interacting disturbances such as stand-level defoliation by spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana ) and subsequent herbivory by moose ( Alces alces ) may affect landscapes differently than if they occurred in isolation. We studied moose ( A. a. andersoni ) browsing on sites disturbed approximately 25 years ago by a severe spruce budworm outbreak in a region historically dominated by balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ) forest on northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Our objectives were to 1) describe the impact of a large resident moose population on post-budworm regeneration of balsam fir and white birch ( Betula papyrifera ), and 2) to examine the interplay between moose abundance, site conditions, and variation in post-budworm forest regeneration. Fifty-eight ranÂdomly located sites were sampled for composition and structural characteristics, moose browse severity, moose pellet group density, and site conditions. We used univariate general linear modelling (GLM) and multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA) to examine relationships between moose abundance as indicated by pellet-groups, site conditions, and post-budworm regeneration. Approximately 65% of all balsam fir and white birch saplings tallied were severely browsed by moose, exhibiting stunted, abnormal growth forms. Both the GLM and the RDA indicated that moose abundance was the best predictor of variation in the density of post-budworm regeneration of balsam fir and white birch. Site conditions were less useful predictors of variation in regeneration. The relationship between moose abundance and regeneration of balsam fir and white birch was positive, suggesting that moose may be more abundant in areas where regeneration is denser. Sustained, severe browsing in areas regenerating after spruce budworm outbreak may significantly inhibit future forest development and alter the well documented spruce budworm-balsam fir cyclic successional system of northern Cape Breton Island. |
format |
Text |
author |
Smith, Craig Beazley, Karen Duinker, Peter N. Harper, Karen A. |
author_facet |
Smith, Craig Beazley, Karen Duinker, Peter N. Harper, Karen A. |
author_sort |
Smith, Craig |
title |
The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_short |
The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full |
The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_fullStr |
The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
The impacts of moose (Alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_sort |
impacts of moose (alces alces andersoni) on forest regeneration following a spruce budworm outbreak in the cape breton highlands, nova scotia, canada |
publisher |
Alces |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/30869 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) |
geographic |
Canada Breton Island |
geographic_facet |
Canada Breton Island |
genre |
Alces alces Breton Island |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Breton Island |
op_relation |
https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/64/87 0835-5851 2293-6629 http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/30869 |
op_rights |
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. |
_version_ |
1766256646069157888 |