MOOSE ARE DRIVERS OF CHANGE INFLUENCING ADAJACENT STREAM ECOSYSTEMS

Moose have altered the direction of forest regeneration following spruce budworm outbreak and created vast areas of spruce-moose savannah – particularly in Cape Breton Highlands National Park (see above picture). We conducted a field study to investigate whether the direct effect of hyperabundant moose, as measured as the percentage of moose-mediated savannah in a watershed, can cascade to influence adjacent stream ecosystem functioning. We found evidence that moose influence headwater stream temperature, conductivity, nutrients, and macroinvertebrates. Our work will contribute to moose management and forest and stream restoration protocols in the Cape Breton Highlands and other areas with hyperabundant moose populations. 

The authors through Jessica MacSween and Shawn Leroux

Comments