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Multivariate study of moose browsing in relation to phenol pattern in pine needles
K Sunnerheim-Sjöberg1, M Hämäläinen
1Department of Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7016, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Journal of Chemical Ecology
|November 21, 2013
Summary
Scots pine and lodgepole pine needle phenols vary by species and habitat. Moose (Alces alces) food choice strongly correlated with these pine phenols, but not pine growth rate.
Area of Science:
- Plant Chemistry
- Animal Ecology
- Forestry
Background:
- Phenolic compounds in pine needles (Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus contorta Doug.) can indicate environmental conditions and influence herbivore diets.
- Understanding these chemical variations is crucial for predicting plant-herbivore interactions and forest health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the phenolic profiles of Scots pine and lodgepole pine needles from different soil types.
- To investigate the relationship between pine phenolic patterns, habitat, and moose (Alces alces) feeding preferences.
- To explore the correlation between phenolic patterns and pine growth rates.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection was used to analyze needle extracts.
- Multivariate analysis was applied to discern patterns in phenolic compounds.
- Correlations between phenolic profiles, soil type, habitat, moose food choice, and pine growth rate were assessed.
Main Results:
- Phenolic patterns differed significantly between pine species and habitats (fertile vs. poor soil).
- Moose food choice was highly correlated with the phenolic profiles of Scots pine grown on both soil types.
- Pine growth rate information could be extracted from phenolic patterns, but moose food choice did not correlate with growth rate.
Conclusions:
- Habitat and species significantly shape the phenolic composition of pine needles.
- Phenolic profiles are strong indicators of moose feeding preferences in Scots pine.
- While phenolic patterns reflect growth conditions, they are not directly linked to moose dietary selection based on growth rate.
