Impacts of moose (<i>Alces alces</i>) at different simulated densities on eco-morphological groups of soil mesofauna

Authors

• Emanuela Elia Di.Va.P.R.A. – Entomologia e Zoologia applicate all’Ambiente “Carlo Vidano”, V. Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10045 Grugliasco (To)
• Alessandro Bianchi Di.Va.P.R.A. – Entomologia e Zoologia applicate all’Ambiente “Carlo Vidano”, V. Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10045 Grugliasco (To)
• Paola Ferrazzi Di.Va.P.R.A. – Entomologia e Zoologia applicate all’Ambiente “Carlo Vidano”, V. Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10045 Grugliasco (To)
• Roger Bergström Forestry Research Institute of Sweden,Uppsala Science Park, SE-751 83 Uppsala & Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183 Umeå
• Kjell Danell Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183 Umeå
• Dan Chamberlain Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Universita di Torino, Via Academia 13, Torino 10123
• Inga-Lill Persson Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183 Umeå

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33338/ef.3838

Abstract

We experimentally tested the impact of browsing, defecation and urination corresponding to four different levels of moose population density on abundance and number of eco-morphological groups of soil mesofauna in a Swedish boreal forest. The study was carried out in three fenced exclosures representing different levels of productivity (from nutrient-rich to nutrient-poor). Moose impact on soil communities was evaluated by analysing abundance, richness and diversity of mesofaunal groups, and by means of a multi-taxa index based on ecomorphological groups, the Biological Soil Quality index (QBS). There was a negative impact of high moose densities on the abundance and richness of soil mesofauna. Furthermore, low-moderate moose densities had a positive impact on abundance and number of eco-morphological groups. We conclude that moose can have a large impact on soil-living mesofauna, and therefore probably soil decomposition processes and biological soil quality, in young boreal forest stands.