Abstract
Utilization of browse supply and moose Alces alces Linnaeus, 1758 browsing intensity in relation to tree height (0.5-3.0 m) were estimated for Scots pine in thickets and willow in willow-birch shrubs. The thickets examined provided different browse resources (0.5, 2.0 and 3.2 t dry wt/ha) and the highest utilization (about 50%) was found in the poorest one (thicket 1). In the willow-birch shrubs the use of browse was high and amounted to 85% of total production in both the winter periods studied. The number and increase of biomass of browsed twigs per stem (or plot) was generally associated with the increase of tree height. Browsing intensity depended on the tree height. Pines of 1.5-1.99 m height were characterized by the greatest browse utilization (76.3%). Moose removed significantly more biomass and twigs from pines growing in the central zone of the thicket 1 than from those growing in the marginal zone. However, in the willow-birch shrubs the utilization of all tree height classes was above 70% of the production and moose browsed not only the last year's growth of shoots but also that of earlier years.
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