Browse Production and Its Use by Moose and Snowshoe Hares at the Kenai Moose Research Center, Alaska

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Abstract
A 4-yr study conducted at the Moose Research Center (MRC) on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska evaluated the effect of different densities of moose (A. alces) on paper birch (Betula papyrifera) production and use. Production and use of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and willow (Salix spp.) were also estimated and the impact of snowshoe hares (L. americanus) on paper birch was evaluated. The study was conducted in four 2.6-km2 enclosures at the MRC where moose densities ranged from 1237-5851 moose-days/pen per winter period. Paper birch produced an average of 102 kg/ha in the 4 enclosures; willow and aspen together produced only 3.7 kg/ha. During the first 3 yr. there was a significant difference in per-plant production among 5 important vegetative types [dense, medium and thin birch-spruce regrowth, spruce-birch regrowth and thin mature hardwoods]. Use by moose at higher densities affected mean plant production the 3rd and 4th yr. Birch use ranged from 31.8%-83.3% of current annual production. During the 4 yr, snowshoe hares browsed a greater percentage of tagged plants than did moose. Of the birch plants browsed by hares, 75% were less than 1.5 m tall and 62% of those browsed by moose were taller than 1.5 m. Birch plants browsed in a given year were shorter on the average the following growing season. Seventy percent of the willow and 58.7% of the aspen plants were browsed during winter.

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