Behavioral modifications by a large-northern herbivore to mitigate warming conditions

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Wildlife Management

Background:

• Arctic-boreal regions are warming rapidly, posing significant challenges to heat-sensitive moose (Alces alces).
• Moose play a vital role as ecosystem engineers, influencing forest dynamics, nitrogen cycling, and predator-prey interactions.
• Previous research on moose behavioral thermoregulation was limited to European or southern North American ranges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how ambient temperature influences habitat selection in high-latitude North American moose populations.
• To identify specific habitat features utilized by moose for behavioral thermoregulation during summer.
• To understand the implications of climate change on moose populations in rapidly warming arctic-boreal systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a step-selection function approach with Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry data from 169 Alaska moose across four populations (2008-2016).
• Assessed habitat selection patterns in relation to ambient temperature during summer months (June-August).
• Employed quasi-likelihood under independence criterion and leave-one-out cross-validation to evaluate model fit.

Main Results:

• Moose, both male and female, consistently selected for denser forest canopies as ambient temperatures increased.
• The selection for dense canopies showed a nonlinear response, with stronger preference above approximately 50% canopy density.
• Selection intensity varied by population and sex, with females in some populations and individuals in more southerly/northerly regions exhibiting stronger responses.

Conclusions:

• Climate change-induced landscape alterations, such as increased wildfire activity, can significantly impact the thermal environment for wildlife.
• Understanding moose habitat selection for thermoregulation is essential for identifying critical thermal refugia.
• This research provides foundational knowledge for managing moose and other species vulnerable to climate change in arctic-boreal ecosystems.