Open AccessHabitat selection of adult moose Alces alces at two spatial scales in central Finland
Author(s) -
Nikula Ari,
Heikkinen Samuli,
Helle Eero
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
wildlife biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.566
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1903-220X
pISSN - 0909-6396
DOI - 10.2981/wlb.2004.017
Subject(s) - habitat , geography , home range , range (aeronautics) , ecology , human settlement , shrub , land cover , physical geography , land use , biology , archaeology , materials science , composite material
The habitat selection criteria of moose Alces alces at several scales are the basic sets of information needed in moose management planning. We studied moose habitat use in central Finland during 1993–1996 using data from radio collared moose, satellite image based forest and land cover data, and applied the principles of compositional analysis. The habitat compositions of 54 home ranges (10 males during summer, six males during winter, 23 females during summer and 15 females during winter) were first compared with the overall landscape. The habitat compositions around moose locations within their home ranges were then compared with the habitat composition of the home range. Seasons and sexes were compared at both scales. In summer, there was only a slight difference between moose home ranges and the overall landscape. Based on tree species composition, home ranges are located in slightly more fertile areas than the overall landscape. Within their home ranges, moose favoured non‐pine dominated habitats and mature forests, and avoided human settlements. In winter, the moose home ranges included significantly more pine‐dominated plantations and other young successional stages than the overall landscape. The role of pine‐dominated peatland forests/ shrub land was especially pronounced in winter. Winter home ranges included less agricultural land and human settlements than the overall landscape, probably due to the more distant location of important winter habitats from man‐made landscapes. Within the home ranges, both sexes used non‐pine dominated habitats more, and mature forests and human settlements less than expected. At the home range scale, there were no statistical differences between the sexes with respect to habitat use in either season. Within their home ranges, males and females used slightly different habitats during both seasons, suggesting spatially segregated habitat use by the individual sexes. The difference is more clear in winter when males tend to use more pine‐dominated, young successional habitats than females. Compared to the situation in the summer, winter ranges are located in slightly more pine‐dominated habitats with fewer settlements and agricultural fields. The shift in habitat use between the two seasons is more pronounced with respect to habitat use within the home range. Our results indicate that moose habitat selection criteria vary among different hierarchical levels of selection. We stress the importance of multi‐scale assessment of the habitat and other resource selection of animals.