eDNA monitoring of moose summer and autumn diets
KEY POINTS- Nationwide summer diet monitoring of moose using fecal DNA metabarcoding
- Investigating the role of bilberry and lingonberry shrubs in the summer and autumn diet of moose
Project overview
Participants
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Short summary
The project investigates the summer diet of moose across Sweden, with a particular focus on bilberry and lingonberry shrubs. The results can help reduce conflicts between forestry and wildlife management by improving natural forage resources in forests.
Browsing impacts by moose are a major source of conflict between forestry and wildlife management in Sweden. Recent research has shown that Vaccinium shrubs, particularly bilberry and lingonberry, are important components of moose diets during spring and winter and may influence browsing on commercially important tree species through resource competition and nutrient balancing. Their importance as summer forage, however, remains poorly understood.
This project uses fecal DNA metabarcoding to quantify summer diet composition of moose across Sweden, with particular focus on the role of Vaccinium. We will assess the contribution of Vaccinium to moose diets and investigate whether and how the use of these shrubs varies geographically across Sweden.
The results will provide knowledge relevant to both forestry and wildlife management by identifying opportunities to improve the forest understory as a productive food resource for moose. This is particularly timely as medium-aged and mature forest stands are expected to become increasingly common under a shift towards continuous-cover forestry.
Read more: www.slu.se/algkost (Swedish).