Browsing by Subject "Moose"

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12
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    Applying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and thermal infrared technology for the detection and surveying of wild ungulates
    (2021-07) McMahon, Michael
    The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for wildlife surveying and research has widely expanded in the past decade, but with varying levels of success. Applying UAS paired with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology to survey forest-dwelling species has been particularly challenging because of unreliable animal detection. There is also little understood about how the novel technology of UAS compares to conventional methodologies for surveying wildlife populations. The goal of this thesis project was to evaluate the efficacy of FLIR-equipped UAS for surveying wild animal populations. We focused on moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as study species for examining the efficacy of UAS for surveying large-bodied, forest-dwelling species. My first chapter presents a background on wildlife population surveying, with a literature review of several methodologies including; fecal pellet counts, remote camera surveys, aerial surveying, thermal infrared sensing, and the relatively new approach of UAS surveys for wildlife. These topics are discussed because they are all widely applied for surveying wildlife and estimating population parameters. My second chapter describes our work using a quadcopter-style UAS and FLIR sensor to detect wild GPS-collared moose and conduct calf counts. We collected environmental variables to model moose detection success in order to improve UAS moose detection rates. We found that UAS thermal detection increased with greater cloud cover, and was hindered by increased forest canopy, and increased vegetative greenness. Overall, we report that FLIR-equipped UAS shows potential for monitoring the reproductive success and survival of wildlife species in densely forested regions. My third chapter reports our application of a FLIR-equipped fixed-wing UAS to estimate the population density of wild white-tailed deer at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. We compared density estimates from UAS methodology to density estimates generated from fecal pellet counts to describe how novel technology compares to conventional approaches of population surveying. We modeled deer counts and detection probabilities, and calculated both point estimates and bootstrapped prediction intervals for deer density from UAS and pellet-group count data. We found that there was overlap for density and abundance estimate values between methodologies; however, UAS surveys were more efficient and required less field effort than conventional pellet count surveys.
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    Are Minnesota moose warming up to climate change? A validation of techniques for remotely monitoring moose behavior and body temperature.
    (2017-04) Herberg, Andrew
    Climate change is causing rapid shifts in species distributions across the globe. Large-bodied endotherms, especially those at the edge of their bioclimatic range, are particularly vulnerable to these changes. It is critical that we understand the physiology, behavior, and energetic needs of these animals to develop effective management and conservation plans. Advancements in biotelemetry devices have greatly improved our ability to collect physiological and behavioral data from free-ranging animals; however, our understanding of how the data can be processed and used is still in its infancy. One species of conservation concern, the moose (Alces alces), experienced a 58% population decline in northeastern Minnesota between 2006 and 2017. To better understand behavioral and physiological responses of this species to increasing ambient temperature, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources deployed two types of biotelemetry devices in moose throughout northeastern MN: 1) rumen boluses, known as mortality implant transmitters (MITs), capable of recording internal body temperatures, and 2) global positioning system (GPS) collars equipped with dual-axis activity sensors that detect and record changes in neck movements. The main goals of my research were to determine the accuracy of MIT-derived core body temperatures and test the efficacy of using dual-axis activity sensors for remotely predicting behavioral states of moose. Ten captive female moose (>2 years old) at the Moose Research Center in Kenai, Alaska with MITs were fit with vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) capable of recording internal body temperature, and GPS collars for 12 months starting in December 2014. A total of 384 hours of behavioral observations were collected during four, two-week windows distributed across seasons. I observed a notable effect of water intake on MIT-derived temperatures and developed an approach for censoring these observations. Using linear mixed-effects models, I predicted moose core body temperature (as measured by VITs) and found that on average, the difference between predicted and observed body temperatures was 0.05°C for winter and 0.33°C for summer, with >90% of prediction intervals containing the observed VIT-derived temperatures. Using a Dirichlet regression approach to analyze the dual-axis activity sensor data, I predicted the proportion of time individual animals spent resting, foraging, and moving during 5-minute intervals; these results were used to understand how behavioral states change as a function of habitat, ambient temperature, and time of day. I demonstrated that combining biotelemetry devices with modern statistical approaches allows researchers to examine the physiological and behavioral responses of moose to increasing ambient temperatures and changing landscapes at finer temporal and spatial scales than previously possible.
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    Data and R code supporting: Using Piecewise Regression to Identify Biological Phenomena in Biotelemetry Datasets
    (2022-03-31) Wolfson, David W; Andersen, David E; Fieberg, John R; wolfs064@umn.edu; Wolfson, David W
    This repository contains data and R code (along with associated output from running the code) for fitting the example case studies reported in: Wolfson, D.W., D. E. Andersen, and J. R. Fieberg, Using Piecewise Regression to Identify Biological Phenomena in Biotelemetry Data. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.14.472652v1
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    Effect of Temperature on Habitat Use by Moose in Voyageurs National Park in the Summer
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015) Moen, Ronald; Joyce, Michael; Windels, Steven K
    Moose (Alces alces) are an integral part of biological processes and a favorite sight of visitors to Voyageurs National Park (VNP). In the face of global climate change moose may also become a bellwether species for the persistence of northern species in VNP and the surrounding area. Climate change will affect national parks like VNP in many ways, ranging from changes in vegetation and possible loss of wildlife species to altered visitation rates by people. Minnesota is at the southern edge of moose distribution. Climate change predictions are for a 3o to 4o C increase in average summer temperatures by 2100, which would result in an increased number of summer days during which moose would be heat stressed. We deployed GPS collars on moose in VNP to evaluate changes in habitat use and activity as related to fine-scale changes in ambient temperature. We captured and radiocollared 21 moose by aerial darting or net-gunning. We measured black globe temperatures in habitats across VNP. The annual Minimum Convex Polygon home range area was about 15 km2, while seasonal home ranges were about 10 km2. Home range size was slightly less than in adjoining areas of northeast Minnesota. There was no difference in proportional cover type in the home range among annual, winter, and summer home ranges, and cover type use was similar to cover type use by moose in northeast Minnesota. Wet bog and wet marsh/fen cover types were preferred in hot summer temperatures, while open water was not used very much, with less than 1% of locations in water when temperatures were above 30 C. Use of almost all cover types was similar whether temperature, dew point, or heat index were used as the metric. For future analysis of cover type use ambient or black globe temperature should be an adequate metric. Habitats that are of most use to moose in hot temperatures have a wet substrate and some canopy cover during the day. At night moose seemed to be less limited by heat dissipation because of colder temperatures and the lack of solar radiation. Monitoring the population status of moose at Voyageurs National Park is of critical importance in order to make contrasts with the declining moose populations in other regions of Minnesota.
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    Effects of Stand Age on Species Composition and Browse Density in Northeastern Minnesota
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014) Ward, Rachel L; Moen, Ronald
    Large ruminant herbivores like moose spend most of their time foraging and ruminating to acquire and process enough plant biomass to meet energy and nutrient requirements. In northeastern Minnesota, moose forage in a mosaic of forest stands with ages shaped by harvest and other disturbances. Distribution and abundance of browse species varies across the landscape and each browse species has unique growth patterns and a patchy distribution within and among different stand types. We measured browse availability and use along foraging paths of GPS radio-collared moose and within randomly selected regenerating stands in northeastern Minnesota. We measured all sites using traditional methods and a method that simulates moose foraging behavior by measuring large feeding stations. At each site we measured available species composition and available browse density. We tested three hypotheses: (1) the proportion of available browse species common in the diet along foraging paths would be greater than within randomly selected regenerating stands, (2) the density of available browse species would be greater along foraging paths than within randomly selected regenerating stands, and (3) the density of available twigs would be highest in young stands and decrease with stand age. Paper birch, willow, and quaking aspen were common in young stands while hazel, mountain maple, and balsam fir (winter) or juneberry (summer) were common in older stands. Browse density also changed with stand age, but the changes in species composition and browse density were similar along foraging paths and within randomly selected regenerating stands indicating that moose habitat restoration projects can effectively create forage for moose. In areas with and without collared moose the simulated browsing method was an effective tool for measuring browse availability and use.
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    The Giant Liver Fluke: A Review, Intermediate Host Habitat, and Infection in a White-tailed Deer Population in Minnesota
    (2016-05) Vannatta, Jonathan
    Fascioloides magna is a potential contributing factor to moose mortality across North America. Although the effect of this parasite on moose populations is debated, there is little evidence that F. magna infection alone will cause mortality. However, F. magna prevalence is increasing, and the additional parasite burden may be important in combination with other factors. F. magna has four primary life cycle stages with different developmental requirements that limit the habitats in which cervids can become infected. The least understood aspect of F. magna infection risk to cervids is the ecology of its snail intermediate hosts. Which snails are most important for F. magna transmission is not fully known. The habitat requirements and fine-scale distribution of these snails is also not well understood. However, snail hosts must overlap with cervid feeding or drinking in aquatic habitats for transmission of F. magna to occur. Moose feed on aquatic vegetation, but aquatic feeding in white-tailed deer and elk, the primary hosts of F. magna, is not well understood. Differences in aquatic feeding habits of moose and deer may generate different infection risks. Habitat use, population density, and age structure of sympatric deer and elk likely contribute to infection risk for moose. We suggest future research should focus on F. magna as a contributing factor, and not the direct cause of mortality in cervids. Examining the energetic cost and fitness losses associated with F. magna infection, followed by a comprehensive risk assessment using known habitat requirements of F. magna, lymnaeid snails, and cervid hosts would elucidate the risks and impacts of F. magna in North America.
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    The habitat of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) in the moose (Alces alces) range of Northeast Minnesota
    (2015-03) Terry, Juliann
    Winter ticks occur throughout moose range south of 60º N, but little is known about how habitat influences tick density in Minnesota. Adult female winter ticks drop off moose in the spring to lay eggs and larvae attach to moose in the fall. The habitat that a tick drops off into could increase or decrease either survival or reproduction. Moose select different cover types for foraging and for bedding. We used locations of moose wearing GPS collars to identify tick sampling locations. Moose GPS locations could be identified as either movement or bedding. Targeted sampling at moose GPS locations allowed us to evaluate flag and walking surveys for winter tick collection. Bed sites and movement paths were identified from the 2013 and 2014 spring tracks to assess the effect of moose behavior and habitat characteristics on tick density. Moose GPS locations had more ticks than random sites (p = 0.001). Tick densities at moose sites were higher in 2013 (10.8 ± 2.9 ticks/m2) than in 2014 (2.8 ± 1.2 ticks/m2; p=0.0003). Ticks were found at 52% of 2013 sites and at 27% of 2014 sites. More movement paths than bed sites had ticks in 2013 (p = 0.01), but tick densities were similar in bed sites (11.2 ± 6.3 ticks/m2) and movement paths (10.7 ± 7.5 ticks/m2). In both years, tick density was higher in areas with litter depths < 3 cm (p < 0.06) and with canopy closures < 50% (p < 0.008). A high percentage of sites in lowland conifer, mixedwood, and regenerating forests had ticks present, but no upland conifer sites had ticks present (p = 0.0001). Spring locations from GPS collared moose were converted to paths. These paths were areas where ticks would have dropped off of moose. We created paths of moose in the fall by connecting GPS locations. Fall paths were overlaid with spring movement paths to identify areas where moose could acquire ticks. Overlaps of the 2011-2012 spring and fall path accounted for 6 and 13% (3.1 ± 0.4 ha and 2.2 ± 0.5 ha) of the paths. All moose overlapped with their own path in the fall for about 4% of their spring paths (1.1 ha). The greatest areas of overlap occurred in mixedwood and wet cover types (p = 0.0002). Mixedwood and wet cover types, especially with open canopies and shallow litter depths, have the highest potential to produce high larval tick densities. Mixedwood and wet cover types also have the greatest area of overlap between spring and fall paths and could be the areas with the highest tick transfer.Tick densities estimated from walking surveys and tick densities estimated from flag surveys were similar (p=0.9). Walking surveys with chaps allowed us to identify the height of winter ticks on the vegetation. The largest clumps of ticks were found at 38.2 ± 3.4 cm, but ticks were found from 0-100 cm. When more ticks were collected with walking surveys, ticks were generally found below 66 cm. When more ticks were collected with flag surveys, ticks were found above 66 cm and were likely higher than chap height.
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    Identifying Woody Species Browsed by Moose in Northeastern Minnesota
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014) Ward, Rachel L; Moen, Ronald
    Identifying tree and shrub species that herbivores consume in northeastern Minnesota can be challenging due to the number of woody species in the region. However, it is an important skill for many researchers studying the boreal forest. Researchers can use a dichotomous key or tree identification book to learn species identification. However, these often are state-wide resources and therefore include species that are not common in the northeastern part of the state. This report describes how to identify the common woody species available in northeastern Minnesota in both summer and winter seasons. This report has information specific to moose browsing, but the information about the woody plants is relevant for anyone trying to identify woody species in the arrowhead region.
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    Moose movement in Minnesota and the use of known moose movement to evaluate the random encounter model
    (2021-12) Hinojoza-Rood, Valerie
    Abstract. Moose (Alces alces) are cold-adapted ruminants with a relatively low tolerance for warmer temperatures. The movement and activity of free-ranging moose can be recorded simultaneously through GPS locations and activity sensors to analyze the effects of season, temperature, and bout duration on the movement and bedding behavior of moose. Nine adult moose were fitted with GPS collars and dual-axis activity sensors in the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. GPS locations were recorded every 20 minutes and synchronized with activity counts. Intervals with activity counts of 0 were considered inactive while intervals with activity counts greater than 0 were considered active. Short 20-minute bouts were the most frequent across all seasons and periods where moose moved less than an average of 0.5 m/minute for an hour were more common in bouts over 2 hours long. Activity and distance moved during each 20-minute interval peaked at the middle of each active bout. This pattern may be caused by the smaller comfort movements that characterize the beginning and end of active bouts or by increasing rumen fill during the latter half of active browsing bouts. The duration of inactive bouts decreased as temperature increased while the duration of active bouts increased until reaching a maximum. The percent of each day spent active varied by season with moose spending more time active from Julian day 100 in spring to Julian day 250 in late summer. The male moose had an additional spike at the beginning of rut lasting from Julian day 215 to Julian day 247. Daily moose movement and activity was crepuscular, peaking about 2 hours after sunrise and sunset. Moose activity also increased slightly 1 to 4 hours before sunset in all seasons except winter. Activity and travel distances during daily maximums were highest during summer when nocturnal activity and movement also increased. The maximum bout duration for female moose occurred at a higher temperature than the maximum for the male. The effect of temperature on distance moved was more pronounced during the warmer months where average travel distance stopped increasing around 12 C during spring and decreased around 18 C in summer. Moose modified their activity and movement during warmer temperatures, suggesting feeding behavior during spring and summer may be affected by higher temperatures brought about by climate change.These frequent recordings of moose locations using GPS telemetry were also used to quantify moose populations. Reliable estimates of animal population densities are vital to many wildlife studies and management recommendations. The random encounter model (REM) uses data from field cameras and concepts from the ideal gas model to estimate population densities with less study effort than traditional mark-recapture studies. REM accuracy and precision was assessed using GPS telemetry from moose recorded at 15-minute and 20-minute intervals since these known movements were more realistic approximations of animal movement than computer simulations. REM estimates of moose density had a 5.1 ± 3.3 percent error on average when using daily velocities calculated from all available moose telemetry data. Estimates of moose density had a 0.95 ± 0.78 percent error when using velocities specific to the times and individual moose used within the camera survey. However, precision was low for both surveys with only about 51.3 ± 32 percent of moose densities calculated using the general velocity and 52.2 ± 33 percent of moose densities calculated using the specific velocities within a 25 percent error of the actual population density. When only cameras from forested habitats were used in the survey, accuracy decreased to a 6.8 ± 4.1 percent error and precision decreased so that only 50 ± 31 percent of calculated densities was within a 25 percent error. For all surveys, accuracy increased with study area size, study duration, and percent of the study area within the camera frame of view of a camera. REM precision was most strongly affected by the percent of a study area covered by a camera view so field studies should either increase the camera coverage within the study area or perform replicate REM surveys to increase the accuracy and precision of calculated population densities.
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    Statistical Analysis of Moose Habitat Behaviors Using Bayesian Hierarchical Model with Spatially Varying Coefficients
    (2017-06) Kroc, Matej
    In the past few years interest in statistical modeling has rapidly increased for scientists in many different fields. With new technologies and the ability to collect larger amounts of data they sought a tool which would help them to get a better understanding, and eventually, prediction of behavior of subjects in their range of study. For biologists and ecologists habitat data is necessary to develop effective conservation and management strategies, and help determine what is behind the change in the population of different species. Our research is focused on the moose habitat behavior statistics. Moose, Alces alces, are the largest of all deer species. Male moose are recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread up to 6 feet wide. Because of their tall body, they prefer to browse higher shrubs and their typical habitat is a dense mixed boreal forest in North America, including the northern United States, Canada, Alaska, and in Scandinavia and Russia. Despite their large bodies, moose are good swimmers and are often seen in lakes and rivers feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. One of the reasons why moose habitat behavior is the subject of study by many biologists is recent changes in population in North America. Since the 1990's, the moose population in northern Minnesota has decline significantly. Based on a moose population survey from 2017, the population in northeastern Minnesota has dropped from about 8; 000 moose to a stable population of just under 4; 000 moose over the last 4 years. Meanwhile, the northwestern Minnesotan population practically disappeared after declining from 4; 000 to fewer than 100. The reason behind this steep drop is unknown. Many scientists believe that it could be caused by climate change. Shorter winters and longer falls give more time for parasites, especially winter ticks, to find a host. For purposes of research, moose wore GPS collars, which allow biologists to track their location and collect essential data for future work. In some cases, moose received a tiny transmitter which monitored their heart rate and temperature and notified biologists when the moose died. This work intends to utilize the Bayesian hierarchic model with spatially varying coefficients to obtain better insights into moose habitat behavior in Northern Minnesota.
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    Techniques to Monitor Road Crossings and Animal-Vehicle Collisions
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2009) Moen, Ronald
    Motor vehicle accidents caused by deer and moose cause property damage and deaths each year. The most recent estimate of the number of deer-vehicle collisions across the U.S. was more than 1 million, with costs of deer-vehicle collisions nationwide are more than $3.5 billion dollars. We developed and tested a self-powered video camera observation system to monitor roadways and wildlife crossing areas. We contrast use of a video system to use of trail cameras. The data collected with this system will enable identification of animal species crossing roads, the frequency of road crossings, animal behavior on and near roads, and vehicle (human) response to potential animal dangers.
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    Temporal changes in spatial patterns of moose browse, causes and consequences.
    (2010-03) Hodgson, Angela Lynne
    Ecologists determine mechanisms by observing spatial and temporal patterns of abundance and distribution in natural systems. While there has been a long history of research on techniques for describing temporal patterns of abundance, and their causes and consequences, there is still a need for ecological research to focus on the causes and consequences of spatial patterns. Progress on this goal, though, has been hindered by the lack of long-term data on spatial patterns in natural ecosystems. I present findings from one of the first long-term studies of changes in spatial patterns of plants in response to herbivory, and discuss causes and consequences. My research was conducted in the southern boreal forest on Isle Royale, Michigan, and focused on temporal changes in the spatial pattern of woody browse species that are consumed by a large herbivore (moose). I concluded that browsed woody sapling biomass is aggregated within moose feeding stations and the degree of aggregation has changed over a 20-year period. The cause of this fluctuating pattern of aggregation is due to the competing influences of inverse density dependent browsing by moose, causing an increase in aggregation, and inverse density dependent growth, causing a decrease in aggregation. Annual changes in aggregation are determined by the relative contribution of consumption and growth to changes in spatial pattern in any given year. Next, I developed a simulation model to determine the consequence of aggregation of browse on the intake rate of large herbivores. I found that the spatial aggregation of browse within feeding stations can decrease the intake rate up to 30% for herbivores feeding on low density browse (<15 g/m2). Both density and the spatial arrangement of browse, therefore, is important to consider when determining the functional response of large herbivores. Finally, I used long-term data on consumption and spatial pattern of browse to test whether a mechanistic modified contingency model could predict observed moose diet selection. This model assumes that moose select their diet in order to maximize short-term intake rate. Model predictions were consistent with observed diet selection during both summer and winter in two study sites.