COMBINING PHOTOGRAPHY AND A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MEASURE WINTER BROWSE USE

Authors

  • Roy V. Rea University of Northern BC
  • Jamie D. Svendsen University of Northern BC
  • Hugues B. Massicotte University of Northern BC

Keywords:

browse, clipping, forage, GIS, range, survey, twig, ungulate, willow

Abstract

Browse use surveys such as the twig-length method typically used to assess browsing by ungulates are time-consuming and costly. Here, we describe a modification of the twig-length method that utilizes digital photography and a Geographic Information System (GIS) technique to quantify browse shoot removal. Linear regression analysis indicated that the cumulative shoot length (cm) and biomass removal (g) estimated with our indirect method was similar to direct measurements on Scouler’s willows (Salix scouleriana). Our results suggest that this indirect browse assessment procedure could reduce field time, presumably increase sample size and efficiency, and create a photographic record of each plant for long-term assessment of moose (Alces alces) browsing.

Author Biographies

Roy V. Rea, University of Northern BC

Senior Laboratory Instructor, Ecosystem Science and Management

Jamie D. Svendsen, University of Northern BC

Undergraduate Student, Ecosystem Science and Management

Hugues B. Massicotte, University of Northern BC

Professor, Ecosystem Science and Management

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2017-04-18

How to Cite

Rea, R. V., Svendsen, J. D., & Massicotte, H. B. (2017). COMBINING PHOTOGRAPHY AND A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MEASURE WINTER BROWSE USE. Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose, 52, 67–72. Retrieved from https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/161

Issue

Vol. 52 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.