Article
Forestry
Jean-Francois Desgagn, Robert Schneider, Martin-Hugues St -Laurent
Summary: The increasing moose population density in North America has put pressure on vegetation but also boosted the sports hunting industry. Research shows that different silvicultural treatments do not affect moose habitat use and damage, indicating the importance of considering local variations in providing quality habitat.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Forest P. Hayes, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Eric J. Bergman, Ragan M. Callaway, Chad J. Bishop
Summary: Moose populations are declining in many parts of North America, but they continue to grow in Colorado, USA. Studying successful populations can help with conservation efforts by identifying important habitat features. In this study, researchers found that higher quality willow habitat was associated with higher calving success in moose.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
G. Ausilio, C. Wikenros, H. Sand, P. Wabakken, A. Eriksen, B. Zimmermann
Summary: Landscape characteristics, environmental changes, and daylight conditions influence the spatial and temporal patterns of predation risk for prey. Humans have become super-predators in anthropogenic landscapes. This study investigated the influence of environmental and anthropogenic features on the locations of wolf and hunter kills on moose. The results showed contrasting spatial and temporal patterns of risk for wolves and hunters, indicating that moose can minimize risk exposure by utilizing vacant hunting domains.
Article
Ecology
Joshua Blouin, Jacob DeBow, Elias Rosenblatt, James Hines, Cedric Alexander, Katherina Gieder, Nicholas Fortin, James Murdoch, Therese Donovan
Summary: The decline in moose populations due to winter tick infestation is influenced by habitat selection and elevation, with winter ticks being largely immobile during the fall questing and spring drop-off periods. Habitat selection by adult female moose during the fall questing period impacts the survival of their offspring, with successful mothers choosing different habitats from those whose calves perish. These findings provide important insights for management strategies aimed at reversing declining moose populations.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tomas Janik, Wibke Peters, Martin Salek, Dusan Romportl, Miloslav Jirku, Thomas Engleder, Martin Ernst, Jiri Neudert, Marco Heurich
Summary: The study revealed a progressive increase in moose observations after 1958, with peaks in the 1990s and around 2010, followed by a relatively steep drop after 2013. Mortality within the moose population was mainly due to human interactions, such as wildlife-vehicle collisions and illegal killings. The habitat model indicated that higher altitudes with wetlands, broad-leaved forests, and natural grasslands are preferred habitats for moose, while steep slopes and human activity areas are avoided.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
A. A. D. McLaren, B. R. Patterson
Summary: Moose demonstrate varying levels of site fidelity in different seasons and regions, with anthropogenic disturbance affecting fidelity significantly. Fidelity is weakest in winter, but similar in other seasons, and is independent of maternal age and the presence of a calf.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael C. McMahon, Mark A. Ditmer, Edmund J. Isaac, Seth A. Moore, James D. Forester
Summary: The study shows that using UAS and FLIR technology to detect GPS-collared moose and their calves in the densely forested areas of northeastern Minnesota is feasible. By adjusting their methodology based on detection model findings, the researchers significantly increased adult moose detection success from 25% to 85% and calf detection from 27% to 79%. The results contribute to improving monitoring of moose calving success, twinning rate, and calf survival in forested regions.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William J. Severud, Sergey S. Berg, Connor A. Ernst, Glenn D. DelGiudice, Seth A. Moore, Steve K. Windels, Ron A. Moen, Edmund J. Isaac, Tiffany M. Wolf
Summary: Given the recent decline in the abundance of moose, this study reconstructed the population trends and demographics of moose in northeastern Minnesota from 2005 to 2020 using statistical population reconstruction. The analysis confirmed the sharp decline in abundance in 2013 and predicted a modest decline in the next 10 years.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoliang Zhi, Hairong Du, Minghai Zhang, Zexu Long, Linqiang Zhong, Xue Sun
Summary: In this study, remote sensing and machine learning methods were used to explore the habitat associations and suitability of moose in Northeast China. Results showed that human disturbance and heat stress were the main drivers of moose occurrence, and high suitability areas were mainly distributed in the eastern and northern parts of the Greater Khingan Mountains.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alexandra L. Francis, Chris Procter, Gerald Kuzyk, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: The decline of moose populations in western North America since 2010 is believed to be related to climate and landscape change, particularly disturbances to forests from a mountain pine beetle outbreak and associated salvage logging infrastructure. Research has shown that the impacts of winter, spring, and summer forage availability, as well as risks associated with salvage logging infrastructure, play a significant role in female moose habitat selection across seasons. Further studies on predator densities, space use, and calf survival in relation to salvage logging infrastructure are needed to address the declining moose populations.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hadi Atashi, Anise Asaadi, Miel Hostens
Summary: This study investigated the association between age at first calving and various parameters in Holstein heifers in Iran. The results showed that age at first calving can affect lactation performance, calving interval, calf birth weight, and risk of dystocia in heifers. Controlling age at first calving is important for better management practices and outcomes in dairy farming.
Article
Zoology
Edward M. Addison, Daniel P. Thompson, Robert F. McLaughlin, Douglas J. H. Fraser
Summary: Heavy infestations of winter ticks have resulted in increased mortality rates of moose. This study investigated the effects of ticks and ambient temperatures on the behavior of moose calves. The duration of recumbency increased over the winter, regardless of tick infestation levels. Warm temperatures decreased the probability of rumination in infested moose, while colder temperatures increased the likelihood of head down postures. The highest impact was observed in moose with high tick infestations during the coldest ambient conditions.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Levente Kovacs, Ferenc Pajor, Mikolt Bakony, Hedvig Febel, Joan E. Edwards
Summary: Butyrate is commonly used as a feed additive to support gut health in pigs, poultry, and young ruminants. However, the effects of precalving butyrate supplementation on dairy cows and their calves have not been extensively studied. This on-farm study found that prepartum magnesium butyrate (MgB) supplementation enhanced colostrum yield and improved various parameters in dairy cows, such as lactation performance, calving ease, fertility, and body condition score. The calves in the MgB-supplemented group also showed increased vitality at birth. These findings highlight the wide range of benefits provided by prepartum MgB supplementation for dairy cows and their newborn calves.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claire S. Teitelbaum, Alexej P. K. Siren, Ethan Coffel, Jane R. Foster, Jacqueline L. Frair, Joseph W. Hinton, Radley M. Horton, David W. Kramer, Corey Lesk, Colin Raymond, David W. Wattles, Katherine A. Zeller, Toni Lyn Morelli
Summary: Research shows that habitat suitability for moose will decline with climate change, but moose in different regions exhibit variation in climate and habitat use, indicating potential adaptive capacity. Additionally, behavioral responses to climate change have been observed, as moose increase their use of forested wetland habitats in warmer locations and/or times.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
William J. Severud, Tyler R. Obermoller, Glenn D. Delgiudice, John R. Fieberg
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2019)
Article
Ecology
William J. Severud, Glenn D. DelGiudice, Joseph K. Bump
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Glenn D. DelGiudice, Mohsen Ahmadkhani, Veronique St-Louis, William J. Severud, Tyler R. Obermoller
Summary: Research on moose behavior using GPS collar technology shows that maternal investment impacts the survival and development of calves, with spatial proximity between mother and calf reinforcing the maternal bond and investment.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
L. Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos, Seth A. Moore, William J. Severud, James D. Forester, Edmund J. Isaac, Yvette Chenaux-Ibrahim, Tyler Garwood, Luis E. Escobar, Tiffany M. Wolf
Summary: Research shows that spring migratory movements of cervid hosts increase parasite spillover risk from deer to moose, which is influenced by the presence of wolves and landscape configuration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fredrick Lala, Patrick Chiyo, Patrick Omondi, Benson Okita-Ouma, Erustus Kanga, Michael Koskei, Lydia Tiller, Aaron W. Morris, William J. Severud, Joseph K. Bump
Summary: This study assessed the influence of various factors on underpass use by large and medium-sized mammals and found that different species have different preferences for underpasses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William J. Severud, David Wolfson, John Fieberg, David E. Andersen
Summary: In this study, the first summer survival of sandhill crane colts was monitored, and the daily survival probabilities were estimated. The study found that the survival probabilities increased as the colts grew older and fledged. Published estimates of colt survival rates for sandhill cranes are scarce and vary by study site.
JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William J. Severud, Sergey S. Berg, Connor A. Ernst, Glenn D. DelGiudice, Seth A. Moore, Steve K. Windels, Ron A. Moen, Edmund J. Isaac, Tiffany M. Wolf
Summary: Given the recent decline in the abundance of moose, this study reconstructed the population trends and demographics of moose in northeastern Minnesota from 2005 to 2020 using statistical population reconstruction. The analysis confirmed the sharp decline in abundance in 2013 and predicted a modest decline in the next 10 years.
Article
Forestry
William J. Severud, Matt Petz Giguere, Tyler Walters, Tyler J. Garwood, Kim Teager, Katherine M. Marchetto, L. Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos, Seth A. Moore, Tiffany M. Wolf
Summary: Landscape management has an impact on the distribution, abundance, and diversity of terrestrial gastropods, which are intermediate hosts of parasites of ungulates. The study investigated the effects of forest management disturbance on the community of terrestrial gastropods, particularly hosts of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, a parasitic nematode affecting moose populations in Minnesota. The results emphasize the importance of management disturbance in regulating gastropod populations and reducing P. tenuis infection in moose.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William J. Severud, Todd M. Kautz, Jerrold L. Belant, Seth A. Moore
Summary: Discrete landscape features can concentrate animals in time and space, affecting their interactions and the transmission of parasites. The parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis requires an intermediate host of a terrestrial gastropod and can be deadly to certain hosts. This study presents evidence of potential transmission from infected deer to moose through shared use of mineral licks.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Madeline Struck, William J. Severud, Yvette M. Chenaux-Ibrahim, Edmund J. Isaac, Janine L. Brown, Seth A. Moore, Tiffany M. Wolf
Summary: Pregnancy determination is important for wildlife management and population dynamics. A study was conducted to refine the threshold for indicating moose pregnancy using serum progesterone levels. The optimal threshold was found to be 1.115 ng/ml with high specificity and sensitivity. This method allows for efficient assessment of moose pregnancy rates without extensive palpation and calf monitoring.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ellen M. Candler, Stotra Chakrabarti, William J. Severud, Joseph K. Bump
Summary: Recolonization of predators to their former ranges is becoming more common. We investigated the response of white-tailed deer populations with different levels of exposure to wolves to wolf olfactory cues. We found that habitat conditions influenced deer vigilance, rather than the presence of wolf olfactory cues.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ellen M. Candler, William J. Severud, Dean E. Beyer, Brian Frawley, Joseph K. Bump
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness of remote camera use by hunters to monitor species, finding that hunter-reported camera observations were comparable to observations from established bait sites. Adding questions to hunter surveys could provide valuable data on community composition and presence/occurrence indices for multiple species of interest.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fredrick Lala, Patrick Chiyo, Erustus Kanga, Patrick Omondi, Shadrack Ngene, William J. Severud, Aaron W. Morris, Joseph Bump
Summary: Roadkill is a significant issue in the Tsavo Conservation Area, with small to medium-sized mammals and birds being the most frequently impacted species. Roadkill hotspots were identified near shrub vegetation and rivers, indicating a spatial distribution pattern. Efforts to reduce wildlife mortality should focus on these areas and consider the specific habitat and seasonality factors that contribute to roadkill incidents.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bradley D. Smith, Glenn D. Delgiudice, William J. Severud
Summary: The incorporation of quick fix pseudoranging (QFP) technology into GPS collars has the potential to increase location-fix success for terrestrial species, with positive results observed in free-ranging deer studies. The addition of QFP capabilities effectively increased fix-success of GPS collars on free-ranging deer by 11%, showing the value of this technology for wildlife movement, distribution, and habitat selection studies.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Keren B. Tischler, William J. Severud, Rolf O. Peterson, Joseph K. Bump