A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ON THE INFLUENCE OF HABITAT COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE ON MOOSE DENSITY IN CLEARCUTS OF NORTH-WESTERN QUÉBEC

Authors

  • Réhaume Courtois
  • Aldée Beaumont

Abstract

Aerial survey data were used to describe moose density changes in relation to habitat composition and structure in clear-cut areas, and to infer the impact of these variables on limiting factors. We hypothesized that moose density would be lower in cut areas due to increased hunting and predation. Four habitat types (food and cover stands, cover stands, cuts, and other habitats) and 7 fragmentation indices were used in our analyses. Aerial surveys conducted in seven 35-112-km2 blocks showed that moose density was related to the proportion of deciduous and mixed (food and cover) stands within each block and edge between food and cover and resinous stands (cover). Density, productivity, and harvest rate were not significantly influenced by clear-cuts. Our results suggest that habitat models should consider food and food-cover border over other habitat components.

Downloads

Published

2002-01-01

How to Cite

Courtois, R., & Beaumont, A. (2002). A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT ON THE INFLUENCE OF HABITAT COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE ON MOOSE DENSITY IN CLEARCUTS OF NORTH-WESTERN QUÉBEC. Alces, 38, 167–176. Retrieved from https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/517

Issue

Vol. 38 (2002): Alces Vol. 38 (2002)

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.