Birth-Site Selection by Alaskan Moose: Maternal Strategies for Coping with a Risky Environment

Bowyer, R. Terry; Ballenberghe, Victor Van; Kie, John G.; Maier, Julie A. K.

doi:10.2307/1383161

Cited by 161 publications

(182 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Both social and habitat segregation, as well as the segregation difference between reproducing and nonreproducing females, dropped dramatically the month after calving, long before females stop lactating, which is supposed to last for at least six months in red deer (Clutton-Brock et al 1982). In addition, reproductive females in charge of their offspring have been shown to use low-quality habitat in several different species (Edwards 1983;Bowyer et al 1999). Therefore the sexual-segregation peak we observed in spring in both populations (figure 2) cannot be accounted for by sexual differences in forage selection or activity budget caused by lactation alone, and is likely to be related to the antipredator behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Bonenfant

Loe

Mysterud

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Sexual segregation outside the mating season occurs in most species of sexually dimorphic ungulates and has been extensively described in the literature, but the mechanisms causing segregation are still debated. The detailed pattern of sexual segregation throughout the year has rarely been presented for mammals, and no study, to our knowledge, has used latitudinal-related variation in breeding phenology to shed light on the underlying mechanisms. Recent methodological developments have made it possible to quantify separate components of segregation (social, habitat) and activity synchrony in animal groups, but these major improvements have so far been little used. We observed European red deer year round at two widely different latitudes (France and Norway) and tested three different mechanistic hypotheses of segregation related to: (i) predation risk; (ii) body-size-related forage selection; and (iii) activity budget. Habitat segregation peaked during calving in both populations and dropped rapidly after calving. Females with calves were more segregated from males than were females without calves, pointing to a key role of antipredator behaviour even though large predators are absent in France and extremely rare in Norway. However, at both sites individuals also grouped with their own sex within habitat types (i.e. social segregation), and individuals in mixed-sex groups were less synchronized in activity type than individuals in either unisex male or unisex female groups, suggesting that differences in activity budgets are involved. Social segregation peaked during calving and was lowest during the rut (indicating aggregation) in both populations; these activities occurred one month later in the Northern populations, corresponding well with known differences in breeding phenology. We conclude that latitude-dependent breeding phenology shapes the seasonal pattern of sexual segregation and that sexual segregation in ungulates has multiple causes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Bonenfant

Loe

Mysterud

et al. 2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…Caribou nursery site selection and response to predators is thus more similar to that of moose (Alces alces). Bowyer et al (1999) identified greater forage abundance, a southeasterly aspect and better visibility as being the key variables at Alaskan moose birth sites. Although we did not find any relationship between aspect and nursery site selection, greater forage abundance and visibility were also important to female caribou nursery site selection in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Caribou nursery site habitat characteristics in two northern Ontario parks

Carr

Rodgers

Walshe

2007

Ran

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Abstract:To prevent further range recession, habitat features essential to the life-history requisites of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) such as calving and nursery sites need to be protected for the persistence of the species. Woodland caribou may minimize predation risk during calving by either spacing out or spacing away from predators in the forest to calve on islands, wetlands, or shorelines. Our objective was to determine the characteristics of shoreline habitats used as calving and nursery sites by female woodland caribou in northern Ontario. Detailed vegetation and other site characteristics were measured at nursery sites used by cow-calf pairs in Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks for comparison with shoreline sites that were not used by caribou within each park. Differences in habitat variables selected by female caribou in the two study areas reflect broad ecoregional differences in vegetation and topography. In Wabakimi Provincial Park, understorey tree density and ground detection distance played key roles in distinguishing nursery sites from sites that were not used. In Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, groundcover vegetation and shrub density were important in the selection of nursery sites by female caribou. Generally, female caribou in both parks selected nursery sites with greater slope, lower shrub density but thicker groundcover vegetation, including greater lichen abundance, and higher densities of mature trees than shoreline sites that were not used. The identification of these important features for caribou nursery sites provides a basis for improving their protection in future management policies and legislation.

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“…Like males, female moose also selected for elevation in most seasons, except during Calving and Summer when strategies varied among individuals. Oehlers et al (2011) reported moose calving at lower elevations in southeast Alaska, which contrasted with female moose in interior Alaska that chose high-elevation birth sites (Bowyer et al 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…These are times o f the year when the reproductive roles o f males and females are most distinct. During the Calving season, prior to giving birth, females may reduce predation risk by making unusual movements (Bowyer et al 1999). After parturition, movements o f females are limited by newborn calves that have limited mobility in their first month.…”

Section: Movements Of Moosementioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat use and selection by male and female moose (Alces alces) in a boreal landscape.

McCulley¹

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Birth-Site Selection by Alaskan Moose: Maternal Strategies for Coping with a Risky Environment

Cited by 161 publications

References 49 publications

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Multiple causes of sexual segregation in European red deer: enlightenments from varying breeding phenology at high and low latitude

Caribou nursery site habitat characteristics in two northern Ontario parks

Habitat use and selection by male and female moose (Alces alces) in a boreal landscape.

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