Influence of biotic and economic-anthropogenic factors on the attendance of artificial salt licks and the sex-age structure of the flock of the European moose, Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758), in the conditions of the North-West of Russia

Abstract

The relationship between the attendance of artificial salt licks by European moose, Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758), and biotic and economic-anthropogenic factors in the territory of the Leningrad Province was assessed. Data on the attendance of 19 mineral feeding sites obtained from automatic photo-video recorders (camera traps) were used in the analysis. Among the biotic factors that have a significant impact on attendance, the remoteness of the salt lick from the perennial water pool and the category of biotope according to the ground cover were revealed. Among the economic and anthropogenic factors – the remoteness of the salt lick from settlements with a population of more than 500 people. Similarly, the relationship between the sex-age structure of the registered moose flock with factors from the same categories was assessed. In addition, the effect of the recorded numbers of different sex-age groups on each other was assessed. A significant dependence of the registration of adult males on the area of wetlands and linear objects (power lines and gas pipelines) located within the boundaries of 1500 ha around the salt lick, as well as on remoteness from settlements, has been established. A significant dependence of the registration of yearling males on the area of wetlands around the salt lick and the number of registered adult males was established. A significant dependence of the number of registered adult females on the remoteness of the salt licks from a perennial water pool was noted. At the same time, the effect of any of the habitat groups on the recorded number of females has not been confirmed. Estimated population growth in sample areas depends on the sex ratio of registered individuals. The influence of limiting factors (predation, feed availability, hunting press) acting on moose populations in sample areas according to the methods used has not been revealed.