Ed Faison at Harvard Forest to do additional Moose habitat assessment research--perhaps some more answers on Coyoye predation impact will be revealed

-----Original Message-----


From: Linda Rutledge [mailto:lrutledge@nrdpfc.ca]
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 10:24 AM

To: Meril, Rick

Subject: Re: Moose foraging in the temp forest of southern new england

Hi Rick,

I think the blog was a great idea and great venue to share ideas.

You pose some interesting questions regarding eastern coyote prey base. Of course, my expertise is in genetics not ecology but there seems to be a split among researchers as to whether the eastern coyote effectively preys on deer/moose etc. (in other words, is the eastern coyote filling the ecological role of the eastern wolf).

I would guess that newly born moose and elk calves could make a meal for any number of predators but my guess is that coyote predation on moose calves is not the primary factor limiting moose. My prediction would be more climate and habitat.

Anyway, good to hear from you.

Regards,

Linda

Linda Rutledge
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Trent University
DNA Building
2140 East Bank Drive,
Peterborough, ON, Canada  K9J 7B8
lrutledge@nrdpfc.ca
http://web.nrdpfc.ca/bios/lindarutledge.htm
________________________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----

From: Foster, David [mailto:drfoster@fas.harvard.edu]
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 12:07 PM

To: Meril, Rick

Subject: RE: Moose foraging in the temp forest of southern new England

Rick

And one nice thing is that Ed is continuing his studies on moose, both by extending the research on browse and forest impacts through a series of large fenced exclosures across southern New England and by teaming up to do a PhD at UMass where he'll be working with Steve Destefano and a large group that have about 25 moose with GPS radio collars that allow a good assessment of habitat use and movement. They will getting a lot of answers to your questions and others about moose in this temperate landscape.

David

David R. Foster
Director
Harvard Forest, Harvard University
324 North Main Street Petersham, MA 01366 USA
http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/