LTREB: Spatial Dynamics of the Moose-Forest-Soil Ecosystem on Isle Royale

明尼苏达大学德卢斯分校的John Pastor和明尼苏达大学圣保罗分校的Yosef Cohen是明尼苏达州北部重要的猎物物种，它们可以通过吃硬木来影响它们的栖息地，从而倾向于将森林转变为针叶树。营养贫乏的针叶树凋落物抑制了土壤的肥力，这反过来又会影响驼鹿数量下降后首选硬木树种的恢复。为了研究这一问题，在皇家岛国家公园建立了几个采样点网格，以监测驼鹿种群周期中植被分布和土壤肥力的变化。在接下来的五年资助期间，在驼鹿数量从1996年的2500只暴跌到1998年的500只之后，植被和土壤的变化将在驼鹿数量的恢复阶段得到记录。这项工作在科学文献和几本生物教科书中被大量引用，作为大型哺乳动物如何影响生态系统生产力和土壤肥力的例子。这个项目将资助一名博士生，并为本科生提供在国家公园进行研究的好处，国家公园被认为是生态相互作用的教科书范例。在这项工作中开发的驼鹿觅食模型也将被修改为教学工具。最后，这个项目的数据和知识将提供给土地和野生动物管理人员，以帮助管理一个受欢迎的国家公园。

ABSTRACTLTREB: Spatial dynamics of the moose-forest-soil ecosystem on Isle RoyaleJohn Pastor, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluthand Yosef Cohen, University of Minnesota, St. PaulMoose, an important game species in northern Minnesota, can affect their habitat by eating hardwoods, thereby tending to convert the forest to conifers. The nutrient-poor needle litter of conifers depresses the fertility of the soil, which in turn can affect the recovery of the preferred hardwood species after moose populations decline. To study this problem, several grids of sampling points were established on Isle Royale National Park to monitor changes in distribution of vegetation and soil fertility during a moose population cycle. During the next five years of funding, vegetation and soil changes will be documented during the recovery phase of the moose population after a crash from 2500 animals in 1996 to 500 animals in 1998. This work is highly cited in the scientific literature and in several biology textbooks as an example of how large mammals can affect the productivity and soil fertility of ecosystems. This project will fund a Ph.D student and give undergraduate students the benefit of research in a National Park famous as a textbook example of ecological interactions. A model of moose foraging developed in this work will also be modified as a teaching tool. Finally, data and knowledge from this project will be made available to land and wildlife managers to assist in management of a popular National Park.