Moose (Alces alces) reacts to high summer temperatures by utilizing thermal shelters in boreal forests – an analysis based on airborne laser scanning of the canopy structure at moose locations

Abstract

The adaptation of different species to warming temperatures has been increasingly studied. Moose (Alces alces) is the largest of the ungulate species occupying the northern latitudes across the globe, and in Finland it is the most important game species. It is very well adapted to severe cold temperatures, but has a relatively low tolerance to warm temperatures. Previous studies have documented changes in habitat use by moose due to high temperatures. In many of these studies, the used areas have been classified according to how much thermal cover they were assumed to offer based on satellite/aerial imagery data. Here, we identified the vegetation structure in the areas used by moose under different thermal conditions. For this purpose, we used airborne laser scanning (ALS) data extracted from the locations of GPS-collared moose. This provided us with detailed information about the relationships between moose and the structure of forests it uses in different thermal conditions and we were therefore able to determine and differentiate between the canopy structures at locations occupied by moose during different thermal conditions. We also discovered a threshold beyond which moose behaviour began to change significantly: as day temperatures began to reach 20 °C and higher, the search for areas with higher and denser canopies during daytime became evident. The difference was clear when compared to habitat use at lower temperatures, and was so strong that it provides supporting evidence to previous studies, suggesting that moose are able to modify their behaviour to cope with high temperatures, but also that the species is likely to be affected by warming climate.

Landscapes as a moderator of thermal extremes: a case study from an imperiled grouse

“…Therefore, temperature regulation or amelioration of thermal extremes can be an important landscape function (Matala et al 2013). Despite this, thermal ecology has received much less research focus than other facets of wildlife ecology.…”

“…Ecological processes that impact vegetation structure and composition are likely to affect v www.esajournals.org microclimates for organisms inhabiting these systems (Matala et al 2013). A conservation species of concern in the central United States that is potentially impacted by alterations in thermal regimes is the Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido; hereafter prairie-chicken).…”

Airborne Lidar for Woodland Habitat Quality Monitoring: Exploring the Significance of Lidar Data Characteristics when Modelling Organism-Habitat Relationships

“…For example, two recent studies have investigated forest dwelling bats and the impacts of forest structure on their foraging activities [22,23], demonstrating species-specific relationships in habitat use. In addition, the selection of specific forest structure has been demonstrated for providing sheltering habitats for roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) both from predators [24] and during low winter temperatures [25], and for moose (Alces alces) during high summer temperatures [26].…”

Geographic Cline in the Shape of the Moose Mandible: Indications of an Adaptive Trend

“…We likely have managed only to scratch the surface of the true quantity of the morphological variation and plausible adaptive potential possessed by this species. These features together with the very flexible behavior (e.g., Bjørneraas et al 2011Bjørneraas et al , 2012Eldegard et al 2012;Melin et al 2014) would give at least a partial explanation for the success and extensive range of the moose. …”