YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES
Moose (Alces alces), as a focal species in many northern communities, are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic activities. We studied range use by moose (males and females with and without calves) to enable more effective land-use planning in south-central Yukon. We detected seasonal differences...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lakehead University
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Alces |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/174/259 |
| _version_ | 1811316766591156224 |
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| author | Alice M. McCulley Katherine L. Parker Michael P. Gillingham |
| author_facet | Alice M. McCulley Katherine L. Parker Michael P. Gillingham |
| author_sort | Alice M. McCulley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Moose (Alces alces), as a focal species in many northern communities, are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic activities. We studied range use by moose (males and females with and without calves) to enable more effective land-use planning in south-central Yukon. We detected seasonal differences in range sizes, movement rates, and use of elevation and land cover by global positioning system (GPS)-collared individuals, reflecting the responses of individuals to changing resource availability that is characteristic of boreal landscapes. During winter, moose in the South Canol area generally used smaller ranges at lower elevations and moved at lower rates within them, presumably limited by snow depths. They moved up in elevation throughout summer, reaching maximum elevations during rut and early winter. Moose used conifer stands, which were prevalent on the landscape, more than any other land-cover class throughout the year. Their use of upland and lowland shrub classes varied with season, with highest combined use of shrub-dominated land cover in early and late winter, likely reflecting the importance of shrubs as winter forage. We were unable to identify significant differences between the sexes or relative to reproductive status (i.e., calf presence). Differences between these groups in meeting requirements for forage and cover may be more discrete at the finer scale of microsite characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:55:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b0e9dec9b544eb68f86adc03936b9b2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0835-5851 0835-5851 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:55:16Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Lakehead University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Alces |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b0e9dec9b544eb68f86adc03936b9b22022-12-22T02:47:56ZengLakehead UniversityAlces0835-58510835-58512017-01-0153137157YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALESAlice M. McCulley0Katherine L. Parker1Michael P. Gillingham2Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9 Canada Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9 Canada Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9 Canada Moose (Alces alces), as a focal species in many northern communities, are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic activities. We studied range use by moose (males and females with and without calves) to enable more effective land-use planning in south-central Yukon. We detected seasonal differences in range sizes, movement rates, and use of elevation and land cover by global positioning system (GPS)-collared individuals, reflecting the responses of individuals to changing resource availability that is characteristic of boreal landscapes. During winter, moose in the South Canol area generally used smaller ranges at lower elevations and moved at lower rates within them, presumably limited by snow depths. They moved up in elevation throughout summer, reaching maximum elevations during rut and early winter. Moose used conifer stands, which were prevalent on the landscape, more than any other land-cover class throughout the year. Their use of upland and lowland shrub classes varied with season, with highest combined use of shrub-dominated land cover in early and late winter, likely reflecting the importance of shrubs as winter forage. We were unable to identify significant differences between the sexes or relative to reproductive status (i.e., calf presence). Differences between these groups in meeting requirements for forage and cover may be more discrete at the finer scale of microsite characteristics.http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/174/259Alcesborealhabitat usehome rangekernelMCPmovement rates |
| spellingShingle | Alice M. McCulley Katherine L. Parker Michael P. Gillingham YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES Alces Alces boreal habitat use home range kernel MCP movement rates |
| title | YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES |
| title_full | YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES |
| title_fullStr | YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES |
| title_full_unstemmed | YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES |
| title_short | YUKON MOOSE: II. RANGE SIZES, MOVEMENT RATES, AND USE OF ELEVATION AND LAND COVER BY MALES AND FEMALES |
| title_sort | yukon moose ii range sizes movement rates and use of elevation and land cover by males and females |
| topic | Alces boreal habitat use home range kernel MCP movement rates |
| url | http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/174/259 |
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