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Integrated Modelling of Moose Habitat and
Population
Lakehead University / Canadian Forest Service
With funding from the Northern Ontario Development
Agreement, the Faculty of Forestry at Lakehead University engaged
ESSA to develop a computer simulation model to predict the effects
of timber management on moose habitat and populations. Historically,
most moose modelling work had focused on simulating the effects
of management actions on habitat. In Ontario, however, it was thought
that habitat was not the dominant influence on moose populations
levels. Models which predict only effects on habitat were therefore
inadequate for resource managers charged with managing moose populations.
The ESSA team developed a model which translates
habitat information into energetics information and then uses these
data to assess the effects on moose populations. The model also
simulates direct effects on moose populations such as hunting and
predation. The habitat and population models are linked to a spatial
timber supply model to allow forest and wildlife managers to explore
the effects of various management actions on moose populations.
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