Abstract

Topic: Moose management and monitoring

Estimating moose recruitment in a protected area to support the quest for ecological integrity

Michaël Ouellet¹, Jean-Pierre Tremblay², Pierre Etcheverry³

1.Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, CAN. 2.Parc national Forillon, Parcs Canada, Gaspé, QC, CAN. 3.Centre d'étude de la forêt, QC, 1045 Av. de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
1.Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, CAN. 2.Centre d'étude de la Forêt, Québec, QC, CAN. 3.Centre d'étude nordique, Québec, QC, CAN.
Parc national Forillon, Parcs Canada, Gaspé, QC, CAN

Abstract
Protected areas play an essential role in biodiversity conservation by minimizing anthropogenic disturbances and activities. However, the absence of a super-predator such as the wolf from a protected area, combined with the absence of wildlife exploitation, limits population regulatory mechanisms. In such situations, moose can reach high densities, leading to a decline in body condition and, ultimately, a reduction in recruitment. High moose densities in protected areas can lead to disruption of ecological integrity, a central tenet of protected areas policy in Canada. The objective of our study was to estimate the reproductive parameters of a high-density moose population in Forillon National Park (FNP), a wolf-free protected area in eastern Canada. We estimated pregnancy rate, parturition rate, twinning rate, and calf survival to early winter. Progesterone measurements in female feces (n = 101) revealed a pregnancy rate of 85% in winter 2023. We captured 20 moose cows to fit them with GPS collars, transmitting locations every three hours. Their locations enabled us to determine the calving time using a behavioral change point analysis. Repeated observation of the 20 calves produced by the collared females in spring 2023 enabled us to estimate a parturition rate of 80%, a twinning rate of 25%, and a seasonal survival rate of 73% (57; 84), with a probability of detection of 94% (68; 99). The corresponding survival probability over the study period (10 months) was 39% (20; 61). Our results suggest that the recruitment observed in FNP in the past may be linked to the poor physical condition of moose cows, as illustrated by the low twinning rate, associated with opportunistic predation by black bears and coyotes. The twinning rate observed is typically found in regions with high moose densities, particularly in areas where wolves and hunting are absent. The past disappearance of wolves from FNP would have disrupted the natural dynamics of the moose population, leading to ecological imbalances. The reproductive parameters we have assessed contribute to the evaluation of the ecological integrity of national parks, from the point of view of both the structure of wildlife populations and their impact on the ecosystem.