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Effects of large carnivores, hunter harvest, and climate on the mortality of moose calves in a partially migratory population
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  • Giorgia Ausilio,
  • Hakan Sand,
  • Camilla Wikenros,
  • Malin Aronsson,
  • Cyril Milleret,
  • Kristoffer Nordli,
  • Petter Wabakken,
  • Ane Eriksen,
  • Jens Persson,
  • Erling Maartmann,
  • Karen Mathisen,
  • Barbara Zimmermann
Giorgia Ausilio
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Hakan Sand
Grimsö
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Camilla Wikenros
Grimsö
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Malin Aronsson
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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Cyril Milleret
Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences
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Kristoffer Nordli
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences - Evenstad Campus
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Petter Wabakken
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
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Ane Eriksen
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
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Jens Persson
SLU
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Erling Maartmann
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences - Evenstad Campus
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Karen Mathisen
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences - Evenstad Campus
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Barbara Zimmermann
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences - Evenstad Campus
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Abstract

Survival among juvenile ungulates is an important demographic trait affecting population dynamics. In many systems, juvenile ungulates experience mortality from large carnivores, hunter harvest and climate-related factors. These mortality sources often shift in importance both in space and time. While wolves (Canis lupus) predate on moose (Alces alces) throughout all seasons, brown bear (Ursus arctos) predation and human harvest happen primarily during early summer and fall, respectively. Hence, understanding how the mortality of juvenile moose is affected by predation, harvest and climate is crucial to adaptively managing populations and deciding sustainable harvest rates. We used data from 39 female moose in south-central Scandinavia to investigate the mortality of 77 calves in summer/fall and winter/spring, in relation to carnivore presence (defined as wolf presence and bear density), summer productivity, secondary road density, winter severity and migratory strategy (migratory versus resident) using logistic regressions. Summer mortality varied significantly between years but was not correlated to any of our covariates. In winter, calf mortality was higher with deeper snow in areas with wolves compared to areas without and increased more strongly with an increasing proportion of clearcuts/young forests in the presence of wolves compared to when wolves were absent. Lastly, increasing hunting risk was associated with higher calf mortality, and migratory females had higher calf mortality compared to stationary ones. Our study provides useful insight into mortality rates of moose calves coexisting with two large carnivores and with an intensive harvest pressure. Increasing our understanding of the mechanisms driving calf mortality both in summer and winter will become increasingly important if the populations of wolves and bears continue to expand and the moose population declines, and both summers and winters become warmer.
20 Jun 2023Submitted to Wildlife Biology
21 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Sep 20231st Revision Received
29 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
29 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept