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(Alces Alces) on the Canadian Prairies Amy Loy Wheeler

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(Alces Alces) on the Canadian Prairies Amy Loy Wheeler Habitat Selection by Parturient and Post-parturient Adult Female Moose (Alces alces) on the Canadian Prairies A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science In the Department of Animal and Poultry Science College of Agriculture and Bioresources University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK By: Amy Loy Wheeler © Copyright Amy Loy Wheeler, April 2020. All rights reserved. Permission to Use In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work. In the professor’s absence, permission may be granted by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was completed. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Disclaimer Reference in this thesis to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the University of Saskatchewan. The views and opinions of the author expressed herein do not state or reflect those of the University of Saskatchewan, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this thesis in whole or part should be addressed to: Head of the Department of Animal and Poultry Science 51 Campus Drive University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8 Canada OR Dean College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies University of Saskatchewan 116 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9 Canada i Abstract The expansion of moose into the agricultural landscape of Saskatchewan (i.e., farmland moose) has increased human-wildlife conflicts, raising questions about how to best manage them. To support decision making, I initiated a study on farmland moose reproductive success and habitat selection following parturition (i.e., birth of calves). In 2013 and 2014, adult female moose were captured between Saskatoon and Chamberlain, SK and fitted with Global Positioning System collars. Daily movement rates and clustering of locations were used to determine the date and location of parturition for 27 adult female moose from 2013 to 2015. The mean date of parturition was May 21. Moose were surveyed using Very High Frequency radio telemetry in June and September each year to visually determine the presence and number of calves. Of the pregnant females observed during calf surveys with 1 or 2 calves, twinning rates were 67% (n = 6/9) in June 2013 and 46% (n = 5/11) in June 2014. Habitat selection ratios indicated that wetland and riparian habitat, trees and shrubs, and cropland were selected the most strongly by female moose as parturition habitat, while pastures and forages, developed and native grassland habitat were avoided. Female moose selected parturition sites further away from roads. A resource selection function model was developed to quantify habitat selection by 15 female moose with young during the first 20 days post-parturition. During this period, adult female moose with young most strongly selected for wetland and riparian areas (β [95% CI] = 0.716 [0.485, 0.946]) and native grassland (β [95% CI] = 0.457 [0.329, 0.585]) and against oilseeds (β [95% CI] = –0.252 [–0.400, –0.103]). Predictive success of the top-ranked model, estimated from k-fold cross validation, was rs = 0.993 (SE = 0.001). The resource selection function indicates that only 10% of the area within the home ranges of parturient females is considered highly selected habitat with high probability of moose use, while 48% of the area has a low probability of use. These results demonstrate the importance of wetland habitat within cropland to female moose, during and shortly after giving birth. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Ryan K. Brook for providing me this amazing opportunity to study moose in Saskatchewan. I also want to thank Dr. Brook for his professional guidance, encouragement, and understanding during this educational process. I would like to thank the members of my advisory committee, Drs. Natacha S. Hogan, Robert (Bob) G. Clark and Fiona C. Buchanan, for all their input and contributions. I also greatly appreciate the valuable input from my external examiner, Dr. Erin C. McCance. I will be forever grateful to Michel Laforge and Dr. Nicole Michel for their valuable input and expertise. I would like to specifically acknowledge Rob Tether, the (now retired) provincial moose biologist at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, for his input and support through all aspects of this project. Thank you to Dr. Floris van Beest for valuable comments on my thesis proposal, and to my colleagues within the Wildlife Ecology and Community Engagement Lab: Ruth Kost, Rebecca Kolla, Anja Sorensen, Molly Patterson, Al Arsenault, and Krystal Caldwell, for your help and friendship. I am grateful to the Saskatchewan Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Cyril Capling Trust at the University of Saskatchewan, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this research. Several other individuals and companies need to be acknowledged for their contributions to this research. Over 100 additional project volunteers, including Tom Perry, Matthew Walpole, Brittany Arsenault, Murray Gillespie, Raea Gooding, Katherine Conkin, Shelby Adams, Sarah Anderson and Jamie Sparrow, provided considerable logistical support with the study design, obtaining landowner permissions, conducting fieldwork, and obtaining and managing biological samples. Clay Wilson, Mike Reed, Taylor Wilson, and Matt Leuenberger of BigHorn Helicopters conducted the moose capture and collaring work safely and efficiently. Murray Louden and Reed Willison of Mitchinson Flying Service flew the bird dog flights. Prairie Diagnostics Services Inc. determined pregnancy status based on progesterone levels in moose blood samples. The Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research shared wetland data that overlapped with my study area. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) provided moose- vehicle collision data. iii I gratefully acknowledge the many landowners who provided permission to capture moose on their property, access to their land when conducting moose calf surveys and installing and monitoring trail cameras, and who shared their knowledge and observations of moose that informed all parts of this study. I am forever grateful to Jeremi Skelton and Ducks Unlimited Canada for hiring me as a summer student for my first biology field job in 2007. This role allowed me to gain experience in the field of biology and helped solidify my passion for the interface of wildlife, habitat, and agriculture. Thank you to my former colleagues at Golder Associates Ltd. for your understanding and patience during my absence to continue my education. Finally, I thank all my friends and family, specifically Marcia Brown, Dawson, Gavin and Maxum Carruthers, Riley Ewen, and Lacey, Camryn and Eden Rust, for their patience, care, and encouragement that supported me through my education. iv Dedication This thesis is lovingly dedicated to my nieces: Camryn and Eden Rust I hope you always enjoy the outdoors and learning about nature. v Table of Contents Permission to Use ....................................................................................................................... i Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................... i Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................v Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..............................................................................................................................x List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... xi Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1: General Introduction..............................................................................................1 1.1. Thesis Structure ...............................................................................................................1 1.2. Background
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