Body Condition and Adjustments to Reproductive Effort in Female Moose (Alces alces)

Testa, J. Ward; Adams, Gregg P.

doi:10.2307/1383026

Cited by 106 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Rump Maxfat values in freeranging moose in northeastern Minnesota were consistent with values reported for moose elsewhere; they did not range as high as in captive Alaskan moose but, on average, were greater than in smaller ungulates ( Table 2). As would be expected, in free-ranging females of southcentral Alaska mean Maxfat values in autumn generally were greater (Testa and Adams, 1998) than in our females (1.6-2.9 cm) and males (1.0-1.8 cm) during early February-early March (Table 2, Fig. 3).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…mean estimated IFBF in free-ranging females with and without calves in autumn was 11.6-14.2% (Testa and Adams, 1998). Estimated IFBF of adult females in our study (annual mean 9.4-11.5%, overall range #5.6-15.0%) was similar to that (also estimated from Maxfat) of adult female elk (annual mean 8.9-10.1%; overall range 1.8-16.0%) during early February-mid-March on Yellowstone National Park's northern range (Cook et al, 2004a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The poorest condition of collared females occurred in midwinter 2003, including four with no rump fat (two assessed by ultrasonography and BCS F , two by BCS F alone; estimated IFBF #5.6%), coincident with the lowest winter (0.93) and spring (0.92) survival (Lenarz et al, 2010) and with a pregnancy rate of only 53% versus 89-100% during 2004 and 2005. This indicates that fertility may have been compromised by poor summer-autumn nutrition and condition (Heard et al, 1997;Testa and Adams, 1998;Cook et al, 2004a, b). Precipitation during summer 2002 was normal compared to longterm (1971-2000) values, but was 35-45% below normal during September to November (Midwestern Regional Climate Center, 2002-2005, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because winter nutrition of moose and other northern ungulates has been strongly associated, directly and indirectly, with mortality and reproduction (Houston, 1968;Heard et al, 1997;Testa and Adams, 1998;Cook et al, 2004a), assessments of the condition of individuals may be particularly informative to understanding the dynamics of populations and other influential factors (e.g., habitat, parasites).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Practical techniques for assessing the condition of large ungulates in the field have included body condition scoring (BCS) and measurement of rump fat where it is thickest (Maxfat) by ultrasonography (Franzmann, 1977;Gerhart et al, 1996;Stephenson et al, 1998;Testa and Adams, 1998;Cook et al, 2001aCook et al, , 2001bCook et al, , 2004a. Stephenson et al (1998) demonstrated a strong relationship between Maxfat and ingesta-free body fat (IFBF) in moose to the point where rump fat is depleted, whereupon IFBF is about 5.6%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Winter Body Condition of Moose (Alces Alces) in a Declining Population in Northeastern Minnesota

DelGiudice

Sampson

Lenarz

et al. 2011

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Assessments of the condition of moose (Alces alces) may be particularly informative to understanding the dynamics of populations and other influential factors. During February-March 2003 to 2005, we assessed the nutritional condition of 79 moose (39 females, 40 males) in northeastern Minnesota by body condition scoring (BCS F , scale of 0-10); 67 of these by were assessed by ultrasonographic measurements of rump fat (Maxfat), which was used to estimate ingesta-free body fat (IFBF) in all but two of the females. Scores of the BCS F were related (r 2 50.34, P,0.0001) to Maxfat. Body condition scores were not affected by sex3capture-year, capture-year, or age-at-capture, but the mean body condition score of males (6.560.2 [SE], n540) was less (P#0.009) than that of females (7.460.2, n539). Overall, Maxfat ranged from 0.0 to 4.6 and 0.3 to 2.8 cm in females and males, respectively, and was unaffected by age-at-capture. There was a sex3capture-year effect (P50.021) on Maxfat; mean values were stable for males during the winters of 2003 to 2005 but in females were lowest during 2003, consistent with the lowest pregnancy rates and lowest winter and spring survival compared to 2004 and 2005. Based on estimates of percent IFBF, late winter-early spring survival in 2003 of at least 11% of the collared animals assessed by Maxfat, 21% of the adult females, specifically, may have been seriously challenged directly by poor condition. Data from this study provide reference values and assessments of body condition of moose that will be an essential component of the additional, comprehensive research needed to better understand the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on the performance of this viable, but declining, population. For future research, we will concentrate on developing a more-reliable BCS which would allow IFBF estimation once rump fat is depleted.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Winter Body Condition of Moose (Alces Alces) in a Declining Population in Northeastern Minnesota

DelGiudice

Sampson

Lenarz

et al. 2011

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Field Use of Ultrasonography to Characterize the Reproductive Tract and Early Pregnancy in a Phocid, the Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Shero

Adams

Burns

2015

The Anatomical Record

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The utility of transrectal ultrasonography was tested in a field setting to characterize the reproductive tract and detect early pregnancy (embryonic vesicles < 3 mm in diameter) in 17 multiparous female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). Female Weddell seals give birth in October/November each year, followed by the breeding season (December) and embryonic diapause. Transrectal ultrasonography was attempted in January/February 2014 to examine the entire reproductive tract (uterine horns and body, ovaries with follicles and corpora lutea) using a 5-10 MHz linear-array probe with a 70 cm-long extension. A single pregnancy was detected in 14 of 17 seals (82.4%) as a circular or guitar-pick shaped nonechogenic (black) vesicle with a clearly visible echogenic border within the lumen of the uterus. The stage of embryonic development (ostensibly the gestational age) varied markedly among individuals, ranging from a vesicle with no embryo proper to a large fetus with an ocular orbit, nose/mouth, limb buds, spinal column, umbilical cord, and prominent vasculature. Two of the pregnant seals were reexamined 3-6 days after the initial examination to obtain longitudinal growth rates. Images of one or both ovaries were obtained in nine and seven of the 19 examinations, respectively. Numerous ovarian follicles (3 to 12 mm diameter) were detected and animals typically had a single well-perfused corpus luteum (determined by Doppler color-flow) ipsilateral to the uterine horn containing the pregnancy. We conclude that real-time transrectal ultrasonography is an effective tool for characterizing reproductive events in phocids including ovarian dynamics, and for elucidating the nature of embryonic diapause. Anat Rec, 298:1970Rec, 298: -1977Rec, 298: , 2015. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Key words: embryo; diapause; corpus luteum; ovary; pinniped; pregnancy; reproductive tract; ultrasonographyAbbreviations used: CL(s) 5 corpus luteum (corpora lutea); CRL 5 crown-rump-length; EP 5 embryo proper; EV 5 embryonic vesicle.

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Habitat–performance relationships of a large mammal on a predator‐free island dominated by humans

Allen

Dorey

Malmsten

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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The demographic consequences of changes in habitat use driven by human modification of landscape, and/or changes in climate, are important for any species. We investigated habitat–performance relationships in a declining island population of a large mammal, the moose (Alces alces), in an environment that is predator‐free but dominated by humans. We used a combination of demographic data, knowledge of habitat selection, and multiannual movement data of female moose (n = 17) to understand how space use patterns affect fecundity and calf survival. The calving rate was 0.64 and was similar to calving rates reported in other populations. Calf survival was 0.22 (annually) and 0.32 (postsummer), which are particularly low compared to other populations where postsummer survival is typically above 0.7. Home ranges were mainly composed of arable land (>40%), and selection for arable land was higher in winter than in summer, which contrasts with previous studies. Females that spent more time in broadleaf forest in the summer prior to the rut had higher fecundity rates, while more time spent in arable land resulted in lower fecundity rates. Females that spent more time in thicket/scrubland habitats during winter had lower calf survival, while females that had higher use of mixed forests tended to have higher calf survival. The dominance, and subsequent use, of suboptimal foraging habitats may lead to poor body condition of females at parturition, which may lower calf body weights and affect the mother's ability to lactate. In addition, our results indicated that the growing season has advanced significantly in recent decades, which may be causing a mismatch between parturition and optimal resource availability. These effects may exacerbate the female's ability to meet the energetic demands of lactation. Therefore, the observed low calf survival appears to be caused by a combination of factors related to current land use and may also be due to changing vegetation phenology. These results have important implications for the management of species in human‐dominated landscapes in the face of climate change, and for an increased understanding of how species may adapt to future land use and climate change.

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Body Condition and Adjustments to Reproductive Effort in Female Moose (Alces alces)

Cited by 106 publications

References 35 publications

Winter Body Condition of Moose (Alces Alces) in a Declining Population in Northeastern Minnesota

Winter Body Condition of Moose (Alces Alces) in a Declining Population in Northeastern Minnesota

Field Use of Ultrasonography to Characterize the Reproductive Tract and Early Pregnancy in a Phocid, the Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Habitat–performance relationships of a large mammal on a predator‐free island dominated by humans

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