Moose browsing and forage availability: a scale-dependent relationship?

Månsson, Johan; Andrén, Henrik; Pehrson, Åke; Bergström, Roger

doi:10.1139/z07-015

Cited by 63 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar results have been reported by Månsson et al (2007a), who investigated total browsing and coverage (all species) at different spatial scales, and Bergström et al (1995), who investigated browsing to Scots pine in relation to coverage of different species. Per unit cover, the amount of biomass available for browsing is approximately five times bigger for Scots pine compared to birch or RAW (Broman 2005) and, hence, Scots pine may be expected to have a stronger influence on moose habitat use compared to birch or RAW.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…At small spatial scales (e.g. tree, patch or stand), moose population density is often an important predictor of browsing pressure, whereas environmental factors such as site productivity and amount of young forest suitable for browsing becomes increasingly important as spatial scale increases (Bergström et al 1995;Månsson et al 2007a). In some cases, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests – effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity

Bergqvist¹,

Bergström²,

Wallgren³

2014

Silva Fenn.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests -effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity Bergqvist G., Bergström R., Wallgren M. (2014). Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests -effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity. Silva Fennica vol. 48 no. 1 article id 1077. 13 p. Highlights• Moose damage was most common on aspen and least common on Scots pine.• Damage to Scots pine increased when the amount of pine browse decreased, moose index and site index increased and when birch was overtopping pine.• Damage to birch increased when moose index increased and damage to aspen increased when the amount of pine and birch browse decreased. AbstractMoose browsing damage from the winter preceding the study (recent damage) on Scots pine, birch and aspen was examined in relation to forage availability, an index of moose population density and site productivity in young forests in the hemiboreal zone. Recent damage was observed for 4.1 ± 0.54% (mean ± SE; Scots pine), 16.8 ± 1.89% (birch) and 67.6 ± 13.76% (aspen) of the trees. A multiple regression with five independent variables explained 19% (Scots pine) 14% (birch) and 33% (aspen) of the variation in recent damage. Cover of Scots pine browse was the most important variable for predicting damage to Scots pine and accounted for 44% of the explained variation. When birch was overtopping pine there was a significant increase in damage to pine. Moose index was the only significant variable to explain recent damage to birch, and accounted for 64% of the explained variation. For aspen, damage was negatively correlated to coverage of Scots pine and birch browse, each variable accounting for 38% of the explained variation. For Scots pine, increasing the number of pines ha -1 and performing pre-commercial thinning in such a way that pines are not overtopped may be efficient ways of reducing damage proportions, whereas birch needs to be protected from moose (by a reduction of the moose population or otherwise) in order to escape damage. Increased amounts of Scots pine browse and birch browse may also reduce damage levels to aspen, according to this study.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests – effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity

Bergqvist¹,

Bergström²,

Wallgren³

2014

Silva Fenn.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The plots were placed 20 m from the centre point of each stand, in each cardinal direction (N, S, E, and W). In all plots at both scales, moose pellet groups from the previous winter were counted (Månsson et al, 2007a). Within each plot at the landscape scale, all trees taller than 0.5 m were counted and measured, but in the local scale study, one tree with an average height and canopy diameter per plot was measured.…”

Section: Field Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term effects of supplementary feeding of moose on browsing impact at a landscape scale

Mathisen¹,

Milner²,

Beest

et al. 2014

Forest Ecology and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Supplementary feeding of wildlife is a common management practice, increasingly used to reduce or divert herbivore impact from sensitive habitats, forestry or agriculture. The landscape-scale spatial distribution of herbivory in relation to supplementary or diversionary feeding stations is of particular relevance to wildlife and land management, yet has never been quantified. We considered multiple hypotheses, based on central-place foraging theory, to investigate how landscape-scale browsing impact changed as a function of distance from feeding stations and thereby test the effectiveness of diversionary feeding. We assessed the landscape-scale browsing impact of moose by quantifying browsing patterns and moose density in commercially-valuable young Scots pine stands in an area of south-east Norway with a long history of winter feeding. We also used positions from GPS-collared female moose to investigate the spatial distribution of individuals across the landscape. Moose density and browsing impact at a fine spatial scale (<1km) followed an exponential decrease with distance from diversionary feeding stations. However, at a landscape scale (1-10 km), browsing impact did not show any relationship with distance to feeding stations. Leader stem browsing on Scots pine trees was high at both the local (< 1 km; 68 ± 12 %) and landscape (1-10 km; 56 ± 7 %) scales. In addition, browsing on commercially valuable Norway spruce, which is normally avoided by moose, was locally high around feeding stations. As currently practiced, long-term diversionary feeding of moose was ineffective in diverting browsing impact from young pine stands at the landscape scale. Browsing on commercially-important tree species was sufficiently high that economic consequences could be expected. To avoid further conflict, we suggest a combination of reducing the moose density and increasing the availability of natural or more attractive supplementary forage.

show abstract

“…Moose are known to exhibit high variability in habitat use (Osko et al 2004, Mansson et al 2007, Poole et al 2007, Leblond et al 2010. Striking seasonal changes that occur in boreal systems, as well as cyclical demands o f reproduction, strongly influence individual survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

McCulley¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Moose browsing and forage availability: a scale-dependent relationship?

Cited by 63 publications

References 40 publications

Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests – effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity

Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests – effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity

Long-term effects of supplementary feeding of moose on browsing impact at a landscape scale

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

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About