Abstract

We experimentally tested the impact of browsing, defecation and urination corresponding to four different levels of moose population density on abundance and number of eco-morphological groups of soil mesofauna in a Swedish boreal forest. The study was carried out in three fenced exclosures representing different levels of productivity (from nutrient-rich to nutrient-poor). Moose impact on soil communities was evaluated by analysing abundance, richness and diversity of mesofaunal groups, and by means of a multi-taxa index based on ecomorphological groups, the Biological Soil Quality index (QBS). There was a negative impact of high moose densities on the abundance and richness of soil mesofauna. Furthermore, low-moderate moose densities had a positive impact on abundance and number of eco-morphological groups. We conclude that moose can have a large impact on soil-living mesofauna, and therefore probably soil decomposition processes and biological soil quality, in young boreal forest stands.

Published in

Entomologica Fennica
2010, Volume: 21, number: 3, pages: 168-180
Publisher: ENTOMOLOGICA FENNICA

SLU Authors

• Bergström, Roger

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Skogforsk

• Danell, Kjell

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Persson, Inga-Lill

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology
Ecology


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60858