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Atle Mysterud - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Factors affecting deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) prevalence and infestation intensity in Moose (Alces alces) in Norway
Parasites & Vectors, 2012Co-Authors: Knut Madslien, Bjørnar Ytrehus, Hildegunn Viljugrein, Erling J Solberg, Kent Rudi Bråten, Atle MysterudAbstract:Background The deer ked ( Lipoptena cervi ), a hematophagous ectoparasite of Cervids, is currently spreading in Scandinavia. In Norway, keds are now invading the south-eastern part of the country and the abundant and widely distributed Moose ( Alces alces ) is the definitive host. However, key factors for ked abundance are poorly elucidated. The objectives of our study were to (i) determine deer ked infestation prevalence and intensity on Moose and (ii) evaluate if habitat characteristics and Moose population density are determinants of deer ked abundance on Moose. Methods In order to identify key factors for deer ked abundance, a total of 350 skin samples from the neck of hunted Moose were examined and deer keds counted. Infestation intensity was analyzed in relation to Moose age and sex, Moose population density and landscape characteristics surrounding the killing site. Results Deer ked infestation prevalence was 100%, but infestation intensity varied from 0.001 to 1.405 keds/cm^2. Ked intensity was highest in male yearlings (~1.5 years) and positively associated with longitude and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) dominated habitat and negatively associated with bogs and latitude. Moose population density during autumn showed a tendency to be positively associated, while altitude tended to be negatively associated with ked intensity. Conclusions Deer keds exploit the whole Moose population within our study area, but are most prevalent in areas dominated by Scots pine. This is probably a reflection of Scots pine being the preferred winter browse for Moose in areas with highest Moose densities in winter. Ked intensity decreases towards the northwest and partly with increasing altitude, probably explained by the direction of dispersal and reduced temperature, respectively. Abundant deer ked harm humans and domestic animals. Moose management authorities should therefore be aware of the close relationship between Moose, deer ked and habitat, using the knowledge as a management tool for locally regulating the ked burden.
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comparative space use and habitat selection of Moose around feeding stations
Journal of Wildlife Management, 2010Co-Authors: Atle Mysterud, Floris M Van Beest, Leif Egil Loe, Jos M MilnerAbstract:The practice of feeding cervids in winter, either as a supplement to enhance nutritional status or to divert animals away from roads, railways, or vulnerable habitats, is rising noticeably. Moose (Alces alces) densities in Scandinavia are currently at historically high levels, resulting in amplified damage to economically important young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest stands. Nevertheless, there is limited information as to how diversionary feeding affects herbivore space use and habitat selection. We followed 32 female Moose marked with Global Positioning System collars to evaluate 1) if feeding stations serve as attraction points to the extent that habitat-selection patterns resemble those of central-place foragers (i.e., high usage and more uniform selection close to the attraction point), and 2) if Moose using feeding sites select young pine stands less than those not using feeding sites. Moose that used diversionary forage concentrated their space use around feeding stations and selected habitats as predicted for a central-place forager with a decreasing probability of using areas away from feeding sites and a low degree of habitat selectivity close to feeding sites. However, Moose that used feeding sites continued to select young pine stands to the same extent as Moose that did not use feeding sites. Feeding sites were, therefore, not successful in diverting Moose away from valuable natural browse, so we recommend wildlife managers establish feeding sites in sacrifice areas where Moose browsing is permissible and, if possible, >1 km from young pine plantations.
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diet shift of a facultative scavenger the wolverine following recolonization of wolves
Journal of Animal Ecology, 2008Co-Authors: Jiska Joanneke Van Dijk, Atle Mysterud, Line Gustavsen, Roel May, Oystein Flagstad, Henrik Broseth, Roy Andersen, Reidar Andersen, Harald Steen, Arild LandaAbstract:1. Wolves Canis lupus L. recolonized the boreal forests in the southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula during the late 1990s, but so far there has been little attention to its effect on ecosystem functioning. Wolf predation increases the availability of carcasses of large prey, especially Moose Alces alces L., which may lead in turn to a diet switch in facultative scavengers such as the wolverine Gulo gulo L. 2. Using 459 wolverine scats collected during winter-spring 2001-04 for DNA identity and dietary contents, we compared diet inside and outside wolf territories while controlling for potential confounding factors, such as prey density. We tested the hypothesis that wolverine diet shifted towards Moose in the presence of wolves, while taking into account possible sexual segregation between the sexes. Occurrence of reindeer, Moose and small prey was modelled against explanatory covariates using logistic mixed-effects models. Furthermore, we compared diet composition and breadth among habitats and sexes. 3. Occurrence of reindeer, Moose and small prey in the diet varied with prey availability and habitat. As expected, diet contained more Moose and less reindeer and small prey in the presence of wolves. Their diet in tundra consisted of 40% reindeer Rangifer tarandus L., 39% Moose and 9% rodents. In forest with wolf, their diet shifted to 76% Moose, 18% reindeer and 5% rodents; compared to 42% Moose, 32% reindeer and 15% rodents in forest without wolf. This diet switch could not be explained by higher Moose density in wolf territories. Female diet consisted of more small prey than for males, but there was a tendency for females to use the highly available Moose carrion opportunistically and to hunt less on small prey within wolf territories. 4. Our study highlights how wolves increase scavenging opportunities for wolverines, and how sexual differences in diet may also apply to large scavengers. Due to their more restricted home range, female wolverines are forced to rely more on hunting small prey. The relatively high occurrence of wolf kills, however, forms an important food source to wolverines in this area. The recolonization of wolves may therefore have contributed to the consequent recolonization of wolverines into the same area.
Camilla Bjorkman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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prevalence of antibodies against toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in Moose alces alces and roe deer capreolus capreolus in sweden
Veterinary Parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Jonas Malmsten, Evabritt Jakubek, Camilla BjorkmanAbstract:Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two coccidian parasites with a worldwide distribution. T. gondii is one of the more common parasitic zoonoses in the world and in young children and immunocompromised persons, infection can lead to severe disease and death. N. caninum is an important cause of abortions in cattle. Wildlife have been identified as reservoirs and transmitters for both parasites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalences of T. gondii, and N. caninum in Moose (Alces alces), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Sweden. Blood samples were collected from 417 Moose during 2000–2005 and from 199 roe deer during 1990–2007. The samples were investigated for presence of antibodies by a T. gondii direct agglutination test and a N. caninum iscom ELISA. Because the iscom ELISA has not been validated for Moose or roe deer, sera that gave a positive result were further investigated by immunoblot analysis to verify presence of antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 85 (20%) and 68 (34%) Moose and roe deer sera, respectively. In Moose the seroprevalence was higher in south and central Sweden than in the north, whereas there was no difference between the regions for roe deer. Adult Moose and roe deer had higher odds of being seropositive than young animals but there were no difference in seroprevalence between males and females. One roe deer was positive by immunoblotting and was regarded as N. caninum positive, whereas all Moose sera were negative. The results show that T. gondii infection is widely spread in the Swedish Moose and roe deer populations. Precautions should therefore be taken when handling internal organs and carcasses of harvested cervids. Proper handling and cooking of game meat also is important to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.
Jonas Malmsten - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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hair loss epizootic in Moose alces alces associated with massive deer ked lipoptena cervi infestation
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2011Co-Authors: Knut Madslien, Turid Vikoren, Jonas Malmsten, Bjørnar Ytrehus, Ketil Isaksen, Hans Olav Hygen, Erling J SolbergAbstract:Deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) are blood-sucking flies in the family Hippoboscidae; Moose (Alces alces) are their main host in Scandinavia. There are no detailed reports of the negative impacts of deer keds on Moose. In 2006 and 2007, hunters in southeastern Norway and midwestern Sweden found several Moose cadavers with severe alopecia; numerous Moose had extensive hair loss. Between February 2006 and June 2007, materials from 23 Moose were submitted for laboratory examination and large numbers of deer keds were found in the coat of most animals. The body condition of the Moose varied but was poor in animals with severe alopecia. The findings of enormous numbers of deer keds in the coat of the majority of the affected animals and a consistent histologic image (acute to chronic, multifocal to coalescing, eosinophilic to lymphocytic dermatitis), concurrent with the absence of any other lesions, trace element deficiencies, or dermal infections which are known to cause alopecia, suggest that the hair-loss epizoo...
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prevalence of antibodies against toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in Moose alces alces and roe deer capreolus capreolus in sweden
Veterinary Parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Jonas Malmsten, Evabritt Jakubek, Camilla BjorkmanAbstract:Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two coccidian parasites with a worldwide distribution. T. gondii is one of the more common parasitic zoonoses in the world and in young children and immunocompromised persons, infection can lead to severe disease and death. N. caninum is an important cause of abortions in cattle. Wildlife have been identified as reservoirs and transmitters for both parasites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalences of T. gondii, and N. caninum in Moose (Alces alces), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Sweden. Blood samples were collected from 417 Moose during 2000–2005 and from 199 roe deer during 1990–2007. The samples were investigated for presence of antibodies by a T. gondii direct agglutination test and a N. caninum iscom ELISA. Because the iscom ELISA has not been validated for Moose or roe deer, sera that gave a positive result were further investigated by immunoblot analysis to verify presence of antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 85 (20%) and 68 (34%) Moose and roe deer sera, respectively. In Moose the seroprevalence was higher in south and central Sweden than in the north, whereas there was no difference between the regions for roe deer. Adult Moose and roe deer had higher odds of being seropositive than young animals but there were no difference in seroprevalence between males and females. One roe deer was positive by immunoblotting and was regarded as N. caninum positive, whereas all Moose sera were negative. The results show that T. gondii infection is widely spread in the Swedish Moose and roe deer populations. Precautions should therefore be taken when handling internal organs and carcasses of harvested cervids. Proper handling and cooking of game meat also is important to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.
Jyrki Pusenius - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Moose alces alces reacts to high summer temperatures by utilizing thermal shelters in boreal forests an analysis based on airborne laser scanning of the canopy structure at Moose locations
Global Change Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Markus Melin, Juho Matala, Lauri Mehtatalo, Raisa Tiilikainen, Ollipekka Tikkanen, Matti Maltamo, Jyrki Pusenius, Petteri PackalenAbstract:The adaptation of different species to warming temperatures has been increasingly studied. Moose (Alces alces) is the largest of the ungulate species occupying the northern latitudes across the globe, and in Finland it is the most important game species. It is very well adapted to severe cold temperatures, but has a relatively low tolerance to warm temperatures. Previous studies have documented changes in habitat use by Moose due to high temperatures. In many of these studies, the used areas have been classified according to how much thermal cover they were assumed to offer based on satellite/aerial imagery data. Here, we identified the vegetation structure in the areas used by Moose under different thermal conditions. For this purpose, we used airborne laser scanning (ALS) data extracted from the locations of GPS-collared Moose. This provided us with detailed information about the relationships between Moose and the structure of forests it uses in different thermal conditions and we were therefore able to determine and differentiate between the canopy structures at locations occupied by Moose during different thermal conditions. We also discovered a threshold beyond which Moose behaviour began to change significantly: as day temperatures began to reach 20 °C and higher, the search for areas with higher and denser canopies during daytime became evident. The difference was clear when compared to habitat use at lower temperatures, and was so strong that it provides supporting evidence to previous studies, suggesting that Moose are able to modify their behaviour to cope with high temperatures, but also that the species is likely to be affected by warming climate.
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assessing and modeling Moose alces alces habitats with airborne laser scanning data
International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2013Co-Authors: Markus Melin, Juho Matala, Lauri Mehtatalo, Petteri Packalen, Jyrki PuseniusAbstract:Abstract In the analysis of forest resources, the use of ALS (airborne laser scanning) enables detailed three dimensional (3D) descriptions of forests and their vegetation. Simultaneously, ecologists have recognized that 3D information on vegetation is highly important in analyzing the habitat suitability of a given site. Recently, animals’ habitat preferences have been analyzed, for example, with GPS-collared animals. This has resulted in detailed knowledge about the animals’ movements both spatially and temporally. This study combines 3D information on vegetation obtained from ALS data with information about animal locations from GPS data. The aim was to map and analyze the habitat preferences of Moose. The study area was located on the west coast of Finland. The data consisted of 18 GPS-collared Moose (monitored from 2009 to 2010) and ALS data collected in 2010. We investigated how habitat structure changes as a function of distance to observed Moose locations and how observed Moose locations differ from randomly selected locations in terms of 3D structure. We also created a model-based habitat suitability map and tested it against Moose occurrences. The results suggested that there are clear differences between the areas occupied and not occupied by Moose and that these differences can be detected from ALS data. More importantly, ALS proved its potential in linking 3D descriptions of vegetation directly to observed Moose locations without any proxy variables. These observations strongly support future studies.
Pikka Jokelainen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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herbivores as accidental hosts for trichinella search for evidence of trichinella infection and exposure in free ranging Moose alces alces in a highly endemic setting
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2021Co-Authors: Age Karssin, Noora Remes, Kaidi Korge, Mare Viigipuu, Christen Rune Stensvold, Maria Angeles Gomezmorales, Alessandra Ludovisi, Pikka JokelainenAbstract:Herbivores can be accidental hosts for the zoonotic nematode parasites Trichinella spp., which are endemic at high prevalence in wildlife in northeastern Europe. Using direct and indirect detection methods for Trichinella spp., we investigated samples from 463 wild Moose (Alces alces) harvested by hunters in Estonia in 2015. A total of 460 Moose were tested directly by artificial digestion of diaphragm muscle, 463 Moose were tested indirectly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 34 Moose also by western blot. Positive-control reference sera were from other host species. Nematode larvae were found in six muscle samples; five of which were pooled samples. None of the larvae were identified as Trichinella spp., based on their morphology and molecular analyses. Twelve Moose (2.6%) were positive by ELISA, but none were positive by the western blot test. Trichinella spp. infection was not detected, but ELISA results may suggest Trichinella spp. exposure in a small proportion of Moose in Estonia.
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toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free ranging Moose alces alces hunted for human consumption in estonia indicator host species for environmental toxoplasma gondii oocyst contamination
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Noora Remes, Age Karssin, Pikka Jokelainen, Kart Must, Maarja Tagel, Brian LassenAbstract:In Estonia, northeastern Europe, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii are common in many host species, including wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Our nationwide study aimed to estimate T. gondii seroprevalence and its geographical distribution, and to evaluate plausible risk factors for seropositivity in free-ranging Moose (Alces alces) hunted for human consumption in 2015. We screened sera or plasma from 463 Moose for presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies with a commercial direct agglutination test, using a cut-off titer 40 for seropositivity. Altogether 111 Moose tested seropositive, yielding a seroprevalence estimate of 23.97%. Seropositive Moose were detected in all the 13 counties where the samples originated from. Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, 'being female', 'being adult', and 'being from the northern part of the country' were significant risk factors, with odds ratios of 2.91, 3.07, and 3.11, respectively, and there was interaction between the variables 'being female' and 'being from the northern part of the country'. A substantial proportion of the Moose investigated had been exposed to T. gondii. Presence of the parasite in edible tissues of the Moose was not shown in the present study, but Moose hunted in Estonia should be considered a potential T. gondii infection source to other hosts, including humans. Seropositivity indicates previous exposure, and because the seroprevalence was higher in adults than in calves and because Moose are herbivores, the exposure was likely exposure to and ingestion of T. gondii oocysts. The results can thus be interpreted to indicate that the environment in Estonia was widely contaminated with T. gondii oocysts, in particular in the northern part of the country. Investigation of samples from a free-ranging herbivorous host that is hunted in large numbers appears useful in revealing environmental distribution patterns of T. gondii.