TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA

Authors

  • Sharon Smythe Oregon State University
  • Dana Sanchez
  • Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez

Keywords:

Alaska, Alces alces gigas, Alnus viridis sinuata, biomass, Copper River Delta, hydraulic-axing, Myrica gale, nutrition, Populus trichocarpa, Salix spp.

Abstract

Sites containing winter browse species utilized by moose on the Copper River Delta of south-central Alaska were mechanically treated (hydraulic-axed) to counteract possible earthquake-related increases in less-preferred forage species, and to measure treatment effects on biomass, height, nutritional quality (crude protein, lignin, and tannin), utilization, and snow burial on preferred (willow [Salix spp.]) and less-preferred forage species (sweetgale [Myrica gale], cottonwood [Populus trichocarpa], and alder [Alnus viridis sinuata]) within 3 winter scenarios (mild, moderate, and severe). Sites were treated in 4 winters (1990–1992, 2008, 2010, and 2012) within 5 stand types in 20 sites varying from 0.9–63.4 ha. We found few significant differences in biomass, height, nutritional quality, utilization, and snow burial relative to controls. However, our ability to detect differences may have been limited by sample size (n = 1–9), as visual comparison suggests hydraulic-axing may be an effective method for increasing willow biomass while reducing alder biomass without influencing nutritional quality. However, because treated willows were shorter than untreated willows, treatment may result in less preferred forage for moose in severe winters with deep snow. Our results have implications for habitat management of moose but further research is needed to determine incremental and long-term effects of treatment on willow growth and productivity.

Author Biography

Sharon Smythe, Oregon State University

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Master's student, Wildlife Science (completion: March 2015)

My current project is investigating variations on nutritional carrying capacity models for moose on the Copper River Delta, Alaska as well as the effects of hydraulic-axing on winter moose forage.

 

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Published

2015-10-07

How to Cite

Smythe, S., Sanchez, D., & Mata-Gonzalez, R. (2015). TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON WINTER MOOSE BROWSE IN SOUTH-CENTRAL ALASKA. Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose, 51, 135–147. Retrieved from https://www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/152

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