Effects of moose browse on nutrient cycling in Newfoundland, Canada MSc project: Nichola Ellis

Effects of moose browse on nutrient cycling in Newfoundland, Canada

MSc project: Nichola Ellis

• Moose effects can cascade to influence populations of birds, arthropods, and mammals

Research Goal: to examine the impact of moose on plant composition, litter fall quantity and quality (C:N ratio), soil quality (C:N ratio), and decomposition rates.

5 sites in Terra Nova3 sites in Clarenville2 sites on Avalon

Each site includes paired control and exclosure plots.

2 m

2 m

X 4

2) Litter fall traps to collect litter and to be measured for C: N ratio

1)Plants identified in 4m2 plot

3) Soil samples collected and to be measured for C:N ratio

4)Decomposition bags left at site to be measured for rate of decomposition over 4 months

We sampled 10 paired moose exclosures and controls in East and Central Newfoundland

Stay tuned for results!

F. SchmiegelowK. LisgoP. Vernier

S. Cumming

S. Leroux

M. Krawchuk

Designing tools and methods for comprehensive land-use planning in Canada’s

boreal region

Applications across the boreal

Governments (ON, NT, QC, Alaska) industry (FPAC) and NGOs (CBFA) are applying our conservation matrix model and identifying ecological benchmarks

FOR INFO ON METHODS AND TOOLS…

www.beaconsproject.ca

Wiersma lab

Established 2006 Landscape Ecology

ywiersma@mun.ca

Recent projects

• Landscape Scale effects of hyperabundant moose

Stacey Camus, MSc• Predictive model and diet analysis of coyote

Tony McCue, MSc• Island-wide predictive model of boreal felt lichen

Randy Skinner, MSc(Env)• Effects of ATV trails on small mammals and vegetation

Nyssa van Vierssen Trip, MSc and Karla Letto, MSc

• Relationship between protected areas and forest management

Wiersma, SFMN State of Knowledge project

Megan Lafferty, MES

SEEDLINGS SAPLINGS ADULT TREES

CONES GERMINANTS REPRODUCTIVE STANDS

Evaluate what impact moose are having on regeneration trajectories of balsam fir forests?

Emilie Kissler, PhD student

H

L

M

L

H

Newfoundland at 1:250,000 with Research Study Zones

Research Study ZonesAvalon/MMA 33East/MMA 29Terra Nova NPGros Morne NPNorthern

Peninsula/MMA 45

Exclosure Establishment1995 & 20111997/981997/981995 & 20102011

Moose DensitiesH - High M - MediumL - Low

Complete chemical analyses to evaluate why balsam fir are so heavily browsed here in Newfoundland

• Lack of shared co-evolution?• No previous history of large mammalian herbivore?

BROWSE IN RELATION TO PLANT CHEMISTRY?

For more information go on the field trip tomorrow!

Browse in relation to plant chemistry?

“MICRO” LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY

Andrew Roberts, MES student

FOREST RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY…

Acknowledgments (ALL LABS) Logistic Support:

Forestry Districts 1, 2, 15, 16, 17, and 18 (Dept. of Natural Resources)

Terra Nova and Gros Morne National Parks (Parks Canada)

Wildlife Division (Dept. of Environment & Conservation)

Funding:

• Wildlife Division

• Centre for Forest Science and Innovation

• NSERC

• CFI

• RDC

• IBES

• SFMN

• Memorial University

Questions?Thank you!