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Research article2002Peer reviewed

Browsing damage on pine (Pinus sylvestris and P-contorta) by a migrating moose (Alces alces) population in winter: Relation to habit at composition and road barriers

Ball JP, Dahlgren J

Abstract

In Scandinavia, moose (Alces alces L.) sometimes cause severe browsing damage to economically-import ant pine. Moose-vehicle accidents have spurred construction of fences along roads, and these may interfere with moose migration between summer and winter ranges, or the road alone may be a barrier. If this happens and moose build up along roads, landowners may suffer economically. Therefore, this study investigated whether roads, fences or other factors influence the use of young pine stands by moose. Eighty stands along roads in northern Sweden were evaluated in which individually-browsed branches were counted on 9972 pines. Moose browsing was not significantly related to birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) density, nor did it differ between pines (Pinus contort a Douglas or P. sylvestris L.). However, increased pine density, site productivity and proximity to a highway were associated with increased browsing. Further large-scale studies are needed to understand moose habitat select ion and the effects of roads

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
2002, Volume: 17, number: 5, pages: 427-435
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

      SLU Authors

    • Ball, John

      • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Dahlgren, Jonas

        • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/028275802320435441

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/6120