Moose foraging patterns

ABSTRACT Moose (Alces alces) foraging on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) might reduce economical profit in forestry due to deteriorated log quality and biomass loss. Different indices are used to quantitatively estimate browsing effect on this tree species. I wanted to compare the relationship...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Lindqvist, Sara
Formato: Second cycle, A2E
Lenguaje:sueco
Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/5103/
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author Lindqvist, Sara
author_browse Lindqvist, Sara
author_facet Lindqvist, Sara
author_sort Lindqvist, Sara
collection Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
description ABSTRACT Moose (Alces alces) foraging on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) might reduce economical profit in forestry due to deteriorated log quality and biomass loss. Different indices are used to quantitatively estimate browsing effect on this tree species. I wanted to compare the relationship between two commonly applied survey methods for assessing browsing: the Moose Damage and the Browsing Pressure surveys. Furthermore a variety of factors influencing browsing intensity have been identified, yet moose selectivity for apical or lateral shoots of Scots pine has never been tested. Data on damage and browsing pressure was collected in young Scots pine stands (n=60 stands) within the southern boreal zone in Sweden. Logistic models were fitted to test the relationship between the indices and other factors possibly influencing the relation: pine density and mean stand height. Moose browsed the same relative proportions of apical and lateral shoots in relation to availability and there was no significant difference in selectivity towards either of the shoot categories, suggesting that moose forage shoots proportionally to what is available. The relationship between the two browsing indices was significant but the fit was not statistically perfect. Damage and browsing pressure most often coincided but browsing pressure did not always equate to stem damage. The Moose Damage survey could be used in favor of Browsing Pressure survey although both pine density and mean stand height also significantly affected the relationship between the methods. Hence using stem damage to predict browsing pressure (and vice versa) should be done with caution.
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spelling RepoSLU51032012-12-04T14:27:00Z https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/5103/ Moose foraging patterns Lindqvist, Sara Forest injuries and protection Animal ecology ABSTRACT Moose (Alces alces) foraging on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) might reduce economical profit in forestry due to deteriorated log quality and biomass loss. Different indices are used to quantitatively estimate browsing effect on this tree species. I wanted to compare the relationship between two commonly applied survey methods for assessing browsing: the Moose Damage and the Browsing Pressure surveys. Furthermore a variety of factors influencing browsing intensity have been identified, yet moose selectivity for apical or lateral shoots of Scots pine has never been tested. Data on damage and browsing pressure was collected in young Scots pine stands (n=60 stands) within the southern boreal zone in Sweden. Logistic models were fitted to test the relationship between the indices and other factors possibly influencing the relation: pine density and mean stand height. Moose browsed the same relative proportions of apical and lateral shoots in relation to availability and there was no significant difference in selectivity towards either of the shoot categories, suggesting that moose forage shoots proportionally to what is available. The relationship between the two browsing indices was significant but the fit was not statistically perfect. Damage and browsing pressure most often coincided but browsing pressure did not always equate to stem damage. The Moose Damage survey could be used in favor of Browsing Pressure survey although both pine density and mean stand height also significantly affected the relationship between the methods. Hence using stem damage to predict browsing pressure (and vice versa) should be done with caution. 2012-11-30 Second cycle, A2E NonPeerReviewed application/pdf sv https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/5103/1/lindqvist_s_121130.pdf Lindqvist, Sara, 2012. Moose foraging patterns : implications for the use of browsing indices. Second cycle, A2E. Grimsö and Uppsala: (NL, NJ) > Dept. of Ecology <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-415.html> urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-1893 eng
spellingShingle Forest injuries and protection
Animal ecology
Lindqvist, Sara
Moose foraging patterns
title Moose foraging patterns
title_full Moose foraging patterns
title_fullStr Moose foraging patterns
title_full_unstemmed Moose foraging patterns
title_short Moose foraging patterns
title_sort moose foraging patterns
topic Forest injuries and protection
Animal ecology
url https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/5103/
https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/5103/