RADIOTELEMETRY LOCATIONS, HOME RANGES, AND AERIAL SURVEYS IN MINNESOTA

Authors

  • Ron Moen University of Minnesota Duluth

Keywords:

Alces, home range, cover type, survey, stratification

Abstract

Home ranges of radiocollared moose can be used to establish habitat requirements and areas used by moose. Home range data could also be useful in the implementation of aerial surveys. The area to be surveyed is usually stratified into low, medium, or high moose density blocks before the survey.  Radiocollared moose can provide data to improve the stratification procedure because home range cover type composition could help stratify survey blocks. VHF radiotelemetry locations and home range data can also be used to evaluate survey results. High moose density survey blocks contained more conifer forest and less wet bog than was present in moose home ranges or VHF telemetry locations. Proportionately more moose were seen in mixed forest and regenerating forest during the aerial survey, even though VHF telemetry locations indicated moose were using the wet bog cover type. This bias could be corrected by the Sightability Correction Factor used in the survey, or the survey may underestimate the population size if moose are undetected. Further evaluation of survey data and increased resolution of moose locations is required to resolve this issue.

Downloads

Published

2012-02-03

How to Cite

Moen, R. (2012). RADIOTELEMETRY LOCATIONS, HOME RANGES, AND AERIAL SURVEYS IN MINNESOTA. Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose, 47, 101–112. Retrieved from https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/85

Issue

Section

Articles