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1. Differences in botanical diet compositions among a large number of moose faecal samples collected during winter correlated with the nutritional differences identified in the same samples (Mantel r = 0.89, p = 0.001), but the nutritional differences were significantly smaller (p 0).3. Available protein (AP) and total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) were significantly correlated in observed diets but not in hypothetical diets based on food availability.4. The level of Acetoacetate in moose serum (i.e. "starvation') was weakly negatively associated with digestibility of diets (p = 0.08) and unrelated to increasing AP:TNC and AP:NDF ratios in diets (p > 0.1).5. Our study is the first to demonstrate complementary feeding in free-ranging moose to attain a nutritional target that has previously been suggested in a feeding trial with captive moose. Our results add support to the hypothesis of nutritional balancing as a driver in the nutritional strategy of moose with implications for both the management of moose and food resources.

Instrumentation and sample collection for wildlife research and management may require chemical immobilisation of animals, which may entail physiological and behavioural effects on them. It is therefore important to evaluate the immobilisation protocols to reduce the risk of mortality and morbidity of the handled animals and their populations. Using a multi-sensor approach, we assessed the short-term (< 10 days) thermal and behavioural responses of 10 adult female moose (Alces alces) equipped with ruminal temperature loggers and GPS collars with accelerometers to helicopter-based chemical immobilisations. We investigated the body temperature (T-b), movement rates, and resting time before, during, and after recapture. Chemical immobilisations on average increased maximum T-b by 0.71 degrees C during the capture day, and imposed longer travel distances during the capture day and the two following days (3.8 and 1.8 km, respectively), compared to a 10-day reference period before the immobilisation. The probability of resting was 5-6% lower on the capture day and the two following days compared to the reference period, and females with offspring had a higher probability of resting than females without. Maximum T-b, movement rate, and resting time returned to pre-capture levels on an individual level 2 h, 3 days, and 3 days after the immobilisation, respectively. Chemical immobilisation of moose from a helicopter increases the energy expenditure deduced through movement and T-b rise lasting for hours to days. Ecological and physiological studies aimed at inferring general patterns may encounter bias if including sensor and tracking data from tagged animals without accounting for potential post-capture effects.

Hunting is a widespread but often overlooked land-use activity, providing major benefits to society. Hunting takes place in most landscapes, yet it remains unclear which types of landscapes foster or dampen hunting-related services, and how hunting relates to other land uses. A better understanding of these relationships is key for sustainable land-use planning that integrates wildlife management. This is particularly urgent for Europe, where wildlife populations are increasing. Focusing on Sweden, we explored the spatial associations among hunting, agriculture, and forestry to identify archetypical combinations of these land uses. Specifically, we combined indicators on the extent and intensity of agriculture and forestry, with data on hunting bags for 63 game species using self-organizing maps, a non-parametric clustering approach. We identified 15 typical bundles of co-occurring land uses at the municipality level across Sweden. The harvest of forest grouse, bears, and moose co-occurred with forestry in northern Sweden, whereas the harvest of small game, different deer species, and wild boar co-occurred with agriculture across southern Sweden, reflecting species’ biology, environmental factors, and management. Our findings also highlight the strength of associations among hunting and other land uses. Importantly, we identified large areas in central Sweden where harvest of game was below average, possibly indicating that intensity of hunting is out of balance with that of agriculture or forestry, potentially fostering conflict between wildlife and land use. Collectively, our results suggest that (1) hunting should be considered a major land use that, in Sweden, is more widespread than agriculture and forestry; (2) land-use planning must therefore integrate wildlife management; and (3) such an integration should occur in a regionalized manner that considers social-ecological context. Our approach identifies a first spatial template within which such context-specific land-use planning, aiming at aligning wildlife and diverse land uses, can take place.

Gestation and lactation have high energetic requirements. Up to three-fourths of the gestation period in moose (Alces alces) overlaps with the food-scarce period in winter. During this period, moose deal with the limited forage resources available through hypometabolism with decreased heart rate and body temperature (Tb). Body temperature is also an indicator of oestrus, pregnancy and parturition, which is well documented in several domestic species. In this study, we sought to determine if moose displayed a similar Tb pattern during pregnancy and parturition to domesticated ruminants, and if we could detect parturition by combining Tb and activity data. We studied the Tb pattern of 30 free-ranging adult female moose (>= 1.5 years old), equipped with ruminal temperature loggers and GPS collars. We documented a 0.13-0.19 degrees C higher Tb in pregnant compared to non-pregnant moose, depending on the study area with the Tb difference increasing along a south-north gradient, and a drop in Tb and in activity when parturition was imminent. Detection of parturition was highly successful when combining Tb and activity data with an accuracy of 91.5%. Our findings demonstrate that Tb responses to pregnancy and parturition in a wild capital-breeding ruminant are similar to those of domesticated ruminants.

Det är alltid lika spännande att börja studera älgar i ett nytt studieområde! Vissa observationer liknar vad vi ser i andra studieområden, andra skiljer sig åt. Som förväntat ser vi skillnader mellan olika älgindivider och resultaten liknar vad vi sett i andra delar av landet - en del älgar har helt skilda sommar- och vinterområden, andra har områden som inte ligger så långt ifrån varandra, och ett fåtal verkar ha i stort sett helt överlappande områden. De flesta (25/30, 83%) av de GPS-märkta älgarna är vandringsälgar i Harads området. I medel förflyttade sig älgarna 7.5 mil mellan sitt vinter- och vår/sommarområdet vilket är ett relativt långt avstånd. Vandring hade ett tydligt huvudstråk som pekade nordväst. Många älgar lämnade älgförvaltningsområdet (ÄFO 4) de märktes i under sommaren och uppehöll sig i ÄFO 2, men del gick ännu längre norrut till ÄFO1. Det stora vandringsavståndet medförde att älgarnas årshemområden (där själva vandringen ingår) är stora i medel. Själva säsongsområdena är betydligt mindre. Enligt förändringar i älgkornas rörelsemöster, kalvade 19 av de 20 kor vi kunde följa under kalvningssäsongen. I medel kalvade korna innan de hade kommit fram till sitt vår/sommarområde (29:e maj jämfört med 6:e juni som var medelankomstdagen). Älgarna rörde sig i många olika livsmiljöer. Under vintertid höll sig älgarna mycket till tallskog och hyggen medan under vår/sommarperioden var blandskog och våtmarker de dominerande habitattyperna. En viktig orsak till att försökspopulationen i Harads fungerar så bra är det nära samarbetet med alla intresserade. Intresset är mycket stort, många olika användare är inne på hemsidan www.slu.se/alg-forskning. Författarna ansvarar ensamma för innehållet i rapporten.

Det är alltid lika spännande att börja i ett nytt studieområde! Vissa observationer liknar vad vi ser i andra studieområden, andra skiljer sig åt. Studieområdet i Ljusdal är speciellt i två avseenden som berör älgar direkt och därmed skiljer sig åt från andra studieområden: brandfältet och en hög täthet av brunbjörnar. Som förväntat ser vi skillnader mellan olika älgindivider och resultaten liknar vad vi sett i andra delar av landet - en del älgar har helt skilda sommar- och vinterområden, andra har områden som överlappar delvis, och ett fåtal verkar ha i stort sett helt överlappande områden. Drygt hälften av älgarna är stationära där några älgar har förflyttat sig en bara kort sträcka mellan sitt vinter- och vår/sommarområde. Den andra halvan hade klart avskilda säsongsområden där merparten höll sig inom 25 km radie till sitt vinterområde. Drygt hälften av de GPS-märkta älgarna kunde vi lokalisera i brandfältet under året. Hur länge älgarna uppehöll sig inom brandområdet varierade mellan individerna. Stationära älgkor återfanns fler dagar inom området jämfört med vandringskorna. Älgarna nyttjade brandfältet framförallt under vår/sommarsäsongen där många älgar rörde sig i brandområdets ytterkanter. Alla kor, förutom F1924, kalvade och vid 35% av kalvningarna föddes tvillingkalvar. Medelkalvningsdagen var 17:e maj. Sommaröverlevnaden av de årskalvar som föddes under kalvningssäsongen 2020 var mellan 13 och 17% fram till jaktstarten. Det är betydligt lägre jämfört med områden utan större rovdjur. I studieområdet i Ljusdal utsätts årskalvar för predation framförallt av björn. För hälften av årskalvarna misstänker vi björnpredation under sommarperioden, vilket också verifierades i flera fall. Insamlingen av prover under jakten resulterade i över 100 käkar och 40 kompletta reproduktionsorgan från hondjuren. Medelåldern hos de bedömda fällda hondjuren var 6,8 år och hos tjurar 5 år, och de respektive slaktvikterna låg på ca 181 och 218 kg. Fetthalten i benmärgen var i medel 80% och hos tjurar 70%. Reproduktionsundersökningarna visade att majoriteten (76%) av de provtagna hondjuren var kor. Hos hondjur fällda i september sågs att de var på väg mot brunst, och från oktober hade de passerat brunst. Hos de djur som hade brunstat (kvigor och kor) sågs en ovulationsfrekvens på 1,9 (antalet lossade ägg per hondjur). En viktig orsak till att försökspopulationen i Ljusdal fungerar så bra är det nära samarbetet med alla intresserade. Intresset är mycket stort, många olika användare är inne på hemsidan www.slu.se/alg-forskning.

© Forfatterne/Høgskolen i Innlandet, 2021 Et nøkkelspørsmål innen økologi er hvordan menneskelig aktivitet påvirker atferd og fysiologi hos viltlevende dyr. Utvikling av biologgere har muliggjort studier av ville dyr i deres naturlige miljø. Biologgere er sensorer som festes til dyret og som registrerer data om fysiologi, atferd, bevegelser og miljø. Ved å kombinere ulike biologgere, kan man øke kunnskapen og forståelsen av biologi, økologi og fysiologi hos viltlevende dyr og hvordan de tilpasser seg omgivelsene. Fra 2010 har vi brukt biologgere i flere studier på ulike viltarter, inkludert bever (Castor fiber), brunbjørn (Ursus arctos), elg (Alces alces) og jerv (Gulo gulo). Vi har anvendt biologgere både i basal og anvendt forskning, inkludert å etablere normalverdier for kroppstemperatur, hjertefrekvens, bevegelser og aktivitet, avdekke sesongmessige variasjoner i disse parameterne og studere hvilken effekt menneskelig aktivitet har på dyrenes fysiologi og atferd. Hovedfokus i denne rapporten var å vurdere hvordan jakt og andre menneskelige forstyrrelser påvirker fysiologi og atferd hos elg. Elgene ble instrumentert med GPS-halsbånd og biologgere for å registrere bevegelser, aktivitet, hjertefrekvens og/eller kroppstemperatur. Vi studerte effekten av eksperimentelle og reelle jaktsituasjoner med løshund, hvordan elgene reagerte på en skiløper, en person med hund i bånd, en person som sjekket kalvingsstatus og bedøvelse fra helikopter. Vi fant at vellykkete eksperimentelle jaktsituasjoner med løshund (avstand elg-hund mindre enn 240 meter i mer enn 10 minutter) resulterte i høyere maksimal kroppstemperatur (0,88 °C høyere) og en gjennomsnittlig økning i hjertefrekvens på 24 slag per minutt sammenlignet med dagen etter jaktsituasjonen. Elgene hvilte i gjennomsnitt mer enn 90 minutter lengre dagen etter jakten. Resultatene viser at jakt med løshund øker individets energiforbruk og hviletid (og reduserer dermed også tilgjengelig tid for beiting). Helikopterfangst resulterte også i økt kroppstemperatur samme dag, mens det ikke ble registrert noen økning i kroppstemperaturen når elgen ble forstyrret av en skiløper. Vi fant at elgen beveget seg raskere og lenger den dagen de ble bedøvet fra helikopter og etter forstyrrelser av løshund og skiløper, sammenlignet med dagen etter. Noe av denne forskjellen skyldes økt hviletid dagen etter forstyrrelsen. Summary: How human activity affects the behaviour and physiology of free-ranging animals in their natural environment is a key question in physiology. The development of biologging techniques has enabled researchers to collect data from free-ranging animals under undisturbed conditions. Biologgers are animal-attached sensors obtaining data about the physiology, behaviour, movement and/or environmental conditions of animals. Combination of different types of biologgers can increase our knowledge and understanding of the biology, ecology and physiology of free-ranging animals, and how they adapt to their environment. Since 2010, we have used biologgers in several studies in different wildlife species including beavers (Castor fiber), brown bears (Ursus arctos), moose (Alces alces) and wolverines (Gulo gulo). We have used biologgers in both basic and applied sciences; obtaining body temperature, heart rate, movement and activity data to establish baseline values, and to study how it varies among different seasons and life events, with metabolic rate, and to assess how human activity affects physiology and behaviour. The main focus of this report was to assess how hunting activity and other human disturbance affects the physiology and behaviour of moose. Each moose was instrumented with a GPS collar, heart rate logger and body temperature logger for simultaneous collection of data on movement, activity, heart rate and body temperature. We studied the effect of experimental and real hunting approaches with dogs, ski approaches, dog-on-leash approaches and two types of research activity, calf checks and chemical immobilisation from a helicopter. We found that successful experimental hunting approaches (moose and dog were within 240 m for > 10 min) resulted in higher maximum body temperature (0.88°C higher) and a mean increase in heart rate of 24 beats per minute at the day of the approach compared to the day after. The moose rested on average > 90 min longer the day after the approach compared to the day of the approach. These results demonstrate that hunting with dogs increased moose energy expenditure and resting time (and consequently decreased time available for foraging) on an individual level. Captures from a helicopter also resulted in increased body temperature the day of the approach, while there was no significant increase in body temperature during ski approaches. We demonstrated higher maximum speed and longer travel distance on the day of captures, hunting and ski approaches compared to the day after. Some of this might be due to increased resting time the day after an approach, as demonstrated in successful hunting approaches.

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