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Spencer WalkerIn recent years, evidence has shown that many populations of moose have been noticeably declining across North America. Much of this trend appears to be localized at the southern range limit of the species. Climate change is suspected to be the root cause of this decline, whereby alteration of the environmental landscape can lead to changes in the suitability of an organism’s occupied distribution. This consequence of this shift of suitability can manifest itself through a mismatch of moose physiology to the shifted regional climate (Direct effect) or through limiting biological interactions with other species that have expanded into regions of greater suitability (Indirect effects). Of particular interest is the change in seasonal temperatures leading to thermoregulatory issues compared the influx of white-tailed deer propagating potentially fatal parasites, respectively. The goal of my Master’s research is then to utilize habitat suitability modelling to identify which of these effects have the greatest influence on moose range contraction, with the implication on future management practices in mind.
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Contact:
email: charleswalker[at]trentu[dot]ca
office: DNA B109
email: charleswalker[at]trentu[dot]ca
office: DNA B109