Topic: Ungulate species interactions and management
High-Tech Herbivore: Unlocking Moose Nutrition with DNA, Cameras, and Chemistry
Robert Spitzer1
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Skogsmarksgrand, Sweden
Abstract Eating is both a fundamental necessity and a complex biological process. While all animals must consume food to survive, the mechanisms driving specific dietary choices remain surprisingly elusive. Although the primary functions of foraging - body maintenance, thermoregulation, growth, and reproduction - are well understood, many finer aspects of foraging behavior are still unanswered.
In this talk, we will explore recent studies on moose foraging decisions in Scandinavia, from broad floristic patterns to macronutrient balancing, to better understand the factors driving nutrient intake in these large herbivores. We will also discuss the ‘high-tech’ methodologies used to study herbivory, including fecal DNA metabarcoding, stable isotopes, and camera collars that provide a moose’s-eye perspective on foraging.