Wildlife behavior and habitat use towards tourism activities - experimental disturbances of moose

Outdoor activities expand in space and time increasing the frequency of human-wildlife interactions resulting in less access to spatial and temporal refuges for wildlife. Winter is a crucial period for most species within insufficient forage supply and locomotion in snow being costly. Additional energy expenditures generated by increased movement activity due to disturbances may result in adverse survival conditions for large ungulates like moose Alces alces in Northern latitudes. Furthermore, disturbances during snow-free seasons may be critical, too, decreasing moose body condition prior to the rut, and thus may impact on the reproductive success. We used GPS/GSM-equipped moose to explore the impact of human activities such as cross-country skiers, snow mobiles, and hiking on female moose movement and habitat use. Thirty-eight female moose were included in the disturbance experiment s with individuals spread among the three different treatments. We compared moose behavior before and after the experimentally induced disturbance. In particular, we evaluated average movement activity, size and overlap of daily activity range, habitat parameters like elevation, vegetation, and slope, and whether moose habituates with respect to disturbances. Finally, we calculated the energy expenditures for the extra locomotion generated by these disturbances. Hypotheses proposed greatest impact of directly human-related disturbances, whereas motorized-stimuli were expected to have least influence. Preliminary results showed that moose responded momentarily with increased movement activity. Cross-country skiing affected most on moose behavior. Increased movement activity came with enlarged daily range of activity during day of disturbance and habitat shift after disturbance. Whereas moose selected for habitat with more dense cover, the detected change in the elevation and slope was less distinct