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Abstract
Moose browsing on tree saplings in young forests was examined in relation to the surrounding landscape at three spatial scales: stand (mean±SE 8.6±0.8 ha), winter home range of moose (10 km2) and annual home range of moose (25 km2). Landscape patterns at winter and annual home range scales were similar, but annual home range scale was the most important in relation to browsing on birch, aspen and rowan. Browsing on birch was positively related to pine volume and mean patch size of young forest, whereas browsing on aspen was negatively related to the same variables. Browsing on rowan was highest where the volume of deciduous food and overall young forest area were low. In contrast to other studies, no difference in browsing intensity on Scots pine was found among study plots. The results from this study imply that landscape patterns at broad spatial scales can be informative for predicting browsing at smaller scales, and emphasize the need to incorporate landscape characteristics into studies of moose habitat use and in moose and forest management.
Funding was provided by the Environmental Research Group “MiljöFocus” and the Biology Department at Karlstad University. GIS data were provided by the Regional Board of Forestry in Värmland, and information about the moose population was provided by the Jägareförbundet. We thank Jan-Olov Andersson for guiding the GIS work, Björn Arvidsson for statistical counsel, and Lars Edenius, Jeff Larkin and Per Widén for valuable comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.