Moose Foraging Strategy, Energetics, and Ecosystem Processes in Boreal Landscapes

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This proposal will develop geological positioning system (GPS) technology for monitoring moose foraging and assessing effects on ecosystem processes such as soil development and vegetation dynamics. The GPS will be tested for accuracy under winter conditions in Minnesota in a variety of terrains. One moose will be outfitted with an integrated GPS-standard radio collar to assess the utility of this technology for continued study of moose- vegetation interaction. A model integrating moose foraging intensity, plant growth, soil nutrient availability over boreal landscapes will be refined improve understanding of effects of foraging strategy on nitrogen distribution across the landscape. %%% The spatial and temporal dynamics of animal plant interactions have important consequences for ecosystem processes. However, study of the effects of animal foraging behavior on nutrient availability and vegetation dynamics across landscapes has been limited by technologies for monitoring foraging patterns. This research will assess the value of the new GPS technology for monitoring animal foraging patterns and integrating these patterns with assessment of consequences for ecosystem processes.