Jeff Werner on Moose

[Cordillera]

This study is one of a bunch that collectively make up a “big science” investigation into moose declines over almost eight years now. The first theories were that wolves were killing too many moose. So they collared moose and studied mortality and discovered that wasn’t it. Then there was the theory that it was unliscenced harvest. Hmm, it took a lot of effort to track populations since moose don’t report why they die,,,but that wasn’t it either. What was really cool was when they found a new type of collar that let them collar calf moose. Until recently you couldn’t do that as the collars would either kill them as they grew, or they would fall off if they were too loose. Anyway this lets them find out that calves that were surviving until they did surveys in March (you need to survey when snow is on the ground) were dying in April. And now when a calf dies they can go to its body and find out that a bunch are dying of starvation...with lots of “food” in the area, and full bellies. Holy crap. Why might they be starving when there is piles of “good” willow and we all “know” more willow equals more moose. So they start looking at nutrition.

I don’t think they actually “know” what has caused declines yet, but they do “know” a lot more about what wasn’t the cause and maybe they will get closer.

But the overall program deserves a lot of thanks for finally doing some level of justice to the complexity of ecosystem and moose population dynamics.

[boxhitch]

Will be interesting to see if ideas change as to what is proper feed and habitat. May need to plant proper willow

"..........one of the important values of science is (and Dr. Werner indicated this) is that it has to potential to self-correct in the wide open because it's impartial and honest......"
".......but they do “know” a lot more about what wasn’t the cause and maybe they will get closer......."

Yet there are doubters that never believe in science

[Downwindtracker2]

Thanks Boxhitch. It Is interesting. Who knew the effect of sunlight on tannin production . But it does male sense from a plants point of view.

[Moose63]

Produce genetically modified willows that are tannin resistant???

Everything in our diet is going GMO why not moose?

[Walking Buffalo]

This study is one of a bunch that collectively make up a “big science” investigation into moose declines over almost eight years now. The first theories were that wolves were killing too many moose. So they collared moose and studied mortality and discovered that wasn’t it. Then there was the theory that it was unliscenced harvest. Hmm, it took a lot of effort to track populations since moose don’t report why they die,,,but that wasn’t it either. What was really cool was when they found a new type of collar that let them collar calf moose. Until recently you couldn’t do that as the collars would either kill them as they grew, or they would fall off if they were too loose. Anyway this lets them find out that calves that were surviving until they did surveys in March (you need to survey when snow is on the ground) were dying in April. And now when a calf dies they can go to its body and find out that a bunch are dying of starvation...with lots of “food” in the area, and full bellies. Holy crap. Why might they be starving when there is piles of “good” willow and we all “know” more willow equals more moose. So they start looking at nutrition.

I don’t think they actually “know” what has caused declines yet, but they do “know” a lot more about what wasn’t the cause and maybe they will get closer.

But the overall program deserves a lot of thanks for finally doing some level of justice to the complexity of ecosystem and moose population dynamics.

I see problems with this starvation analysis...

We learned a long time ago that ungulates under stress from predation suffer in more ways than just direct mortality.

We learned a long ago that the mere presence of wolves increases metabolic rates in prey.
Of course unsuccessful chases by wolves depletes reserves in ungulates...
Wolves can force moose to inhabit and feed in areas of lower quality food...

And we could go on.

I suspect that the wolf component of the moose starvation revelation has been greatly under-valued.