Paul D. Arneson

Browse quality and the Kenai moose population

The quality of moose (Alces alces) forage on the northwestern Kenai Peninsula, Alaska was evaluated by determining digestibility (as in vitro dry matter disappearance) and levels of fiber, protein, and minerals for 1 winter and 2 summer collections. There were significant changes in all parameters between summer and winter in the major browse species-paper birch (Betula papyrifera), aspen (Populus tremuloides), willow (Salix sp.), alder (Alnus sp.), and lowbush cranberry (Vaccinium vitisidaea) and significant differences among species within seasons. Considering all factors, alder and.willow ranked as the best summer browse plants and lowbush cranberry as the poorest; in winter, aspen and lowbush cranberry ranked best and paper birch poorest. However, since the different species provide different nutrients, sufficient quantities of all 5 species could better meet the needs of moose than any 1. The northern Kenai moose range, once multispecies habitat, is now dominated by paper birch; this is relatively poor winter forage, and the moose population is declining. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 41(3):533-542 The quality of plants that wild ungulates eat has been given little scrutiny. Yet, on both summer and winter range, quality is as important as quantity in maintaining healthy populations. In a study of moose forage Cowan et al. (1950) recognized the relationships between range quality, carrying capacity, and the successional stage of the forest. They noted specifically that fats (ether extracts), total carbohydrates, and proteins in the vegetation of a 6and a 20to 30-year-old forest were superior to those of a 70 plus-year-old forest; and that the most nutritious forage was found in the younger forests. Klein (1970) discussed the relationships between quantity of highquality plants and deer growth rate and body size, productivity and survival, and changes in age and sex ratio; he concluded that high-quality range is necessary for healthy deer populations. Dietz (1970) defined a high-quality plant as one that is palatable to the animal, has adequate levels of necessary nutrients in the proper ratios, has a high apparent digestibility, produces desirable proportions of volatile fatty acids, has adequate levels of minerals and vitamins, and is converted efficiently into components required by the consuming animal. Some researchers have looked at one or several of these components of quality, but no one has looked at all of them with respect to wild ungulates. This paper presents data we have collected to compare and define the quality of the important browse plants eaten by moose in summer and winter on Alaskas Kenai Peninsula. The characteristics we used to describe browse quality were: in vitro dry-matter disappearance (IVDMD), fiber content, protein content, and the concentration of 18 mineral elements. The study took place on the Kenai National Moose Range at the Kenai Moose Research Center, a cooperative research project of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Center is located in the northwestern lowlands of the Kenai Peninsula. About 40 percent of the lowlands were burned during a 125,455-ha fire in 1947. The land is rolling and covered by podsol soils that are glacially scoured and dotted with numerous lakes and bogs. Mature white J. Wildl. Manage. 41(3):1977 533 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.92 on Wed, 22 Jun 2016 05:11:59 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 534 KENAI MOOSE BROWSE QUALITY -Oldemeyer et al. spruce (Picea glauca), paper birch, and aspen remain as islands within the burn. Regrowth consists mostly of black spruce (P. mariana), paper birch, willow and aspen, with paper birch producing over 80 percent of the annual browse production. The major shrubs of the unburned stands are aspen saplings and highbush cranberry (Viburnum edule). Ground vegetation in both the burned and unburned stands is dominated by lowbush cranberry, bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), rose (Rosa acicularis), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). Although woody browse is poorest in quality of the years food supply, it is the mainstay of the mooses winter diet. LeResche and Davis (1973) studied food selection by moose at the Kenai Moose Research Center and found that paper birch and lowbush cranberry were by far the most important species eaten during the winter on normally browsed range. Willow, aspen, alder, and dwarf birch (B. nana) are sparse and thus are not as important here as in interior Alaska (Coady 1973) or other parts of the range of moose (Peek 1974). We wish to thank V. L. Burton for in vitro and fiber analyses and G. R. Smith for crude protein determinations done at the Palmer Research Center of the University of Alaska, Institute of Agricultural Science. Parts of the study were financed by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-17-R. A. Loren Ward, Ann H. Jones, and Charles P. Stone critically reviewed the manuscript.

Marrow Fat in Alaskan Moose Femurs in Relation to Mortality Factors

Fat content in femur marrow was analyzed by the dry-weight method from 181 Alaskan moose (Alces alces). Samples were classified as adults or calves, cause of death, and month sampled. Marrow fat values from adults killed by wolves (Canis lupus) or by various accidental means (road-kill, shot, and drug) were not significantly different from each other, but both were significantly higher than those from suspected starved moose. Marrow fat values from wolf-killed calves were not significantly different from those of calves dying accidentally; however they were significantly higher than those of suspected winter-killed (starved) calves. Marrow fat values from suspected winter-killed adults and calves were not significantly different. Only 3 of 97 marrow fat values from suspected winter-kills were above 10 percent. Wolves were not selective for moose with marrow fat values below 10 percent, but took both cows and calves with marrow fat means not significantly different from accidental mortalities. The effect of severity of winter on fat values is discussed. Femur marrow fat values provide a method for comparing mortality factors and a means of identifying winter-killed (starved) moose. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 40(2):336-339 Femur marrow fat content as determined by alcohol-ether extraction has been correlated with condition in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Cheatum 1949). Color and consistency of marrow were used by Riney (1955) to estimate marrow fat content in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Bischoff (1954) indicated marrow characteristics have limitations in assessing conditions of black-tailed deer (0. hemionus columbianus), and consistency of marrow was the only adequate measure of its condition. Greer (1968) reported a compression method as an index of fat content in elk (C. canadensis) femur marrows. Neiland (1970) reported the dry-weight method for determining fat in barrenground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) femurs, and Verme and Holland (1973) utilized a reagent-dry assay of marrow fat in white-tailed deer. The marrow fat indices utilizing color and consistency as a basis for evaluation have subjective error potential. Extraction procedures are relatively accurate but timeconsuming. All methods may be subject to variation based upon handling of femurs prior to analysis. Femur marrows frozen for extended periods of time may have 5 to 10 percent higher fat content than a fresh sample (Greer 1968:750). With consistency in collection, handling, and procedure each method has validity for comparative purposes. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has utilized Neilands (1970) dry-weight method for several years. This paper reports the use of the method for moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Sampling was done to document the level of marrow fat ordinarily associated with various types of mortality in Alaskan moose. We are grateful to J. Davis, D. Johnson, R. LeResche, and P. LeRoux, who collected many of the femurs, and to C. Lucier and his staff at the Game Division Laboratory in Anchorage for the analyses. J. Coady, K. Neiland, D. McKnight, and K. Schneider read the manuscript and provided helpful suggestions. J. Oldemeyer 1 This work was supported, in part, by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-17-R. 336 J. Wildl. Manage. 40 (2) :1976 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.147 on Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:46:34 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms MARROW FAT IN MOOSE FEMURS ? Franzmann and Arneson 337 provided assistance with statistical analyses. The Kenai Moose Research Center is a cooperative project of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Moose Range.

Alaskan moose hair element values and variability

1. 1. Hair from 1250 moose (Alces alces gigas) collected from 12 regions in Alaska were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for four essential macro-elements (Ca, K, Mg, and Na), four essential micro-elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn), and two nonessential micro-elements (Cd and Pb). 2. 2. Analysis of variance detected significant differences among monthly regional samples in 90 of 120 comparisons which may provide basis for identification and forensic application. 3. 3. Low essential mineral element hair values provided basis for delineating potential mineral deficient areas.

MOOSE MILK AND HAIR ELEMENT LEVELS AND RELATIONSHIPS1

Milk was collected from 21 Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas) at the Kenai Moose Research Center (MRC), Soldotna, Alaska and analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn. Hair samples were collected from 100 moose at the MRC to correspond with the lactation period and serve as a metabolic indicator of mineral elements stored in tissue. Published analyses of bovine milk were compared to moose milk; Al, Fe, Se and Zn were higher in moose milk by factors of 1.6 to 290. Elements potentially influenced by nutrition and those determined genetically were also considered. Elements in moose milk and hair values were compared, since mineral element levels in hair potentially reflect the availability and intake of these elements. Calcium and Mg were the only values in hair lower than the values in milk (factors of 4.2 and 1.5 respectively). Moose, as well as domestic cattle, apparently are subjected to lactation stress by the genetically determined levels of Ca and Mg in milk.