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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigated whether woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) would remain in a 2772 km2 area in eastern Quebec where the forest management plan included the preservation of large forest blocks (35–182 km2) linked with >400 m wide corridors and where cuts were amalgamated in large zones. To evaluate changes in caribou abundance and habitat selection, we conducted five aerial surveys and followed by telemetry 13 to 22 female caribou each year, from March 1998 to March 2005. Caribou numbers declined by 59% between 1999 and 2001 but gradually recovered to initial abundance. Female survival increased from 73.3% in 1999 to 87.3%–93.4% in 2004 and 2005. Caribou selected protected blocks, used corridors in proportion to their availability, and avoided logged areas. They preferred closed conifer stands without terrestrial lichens and open conifer stands with or without terrestrial lichens throughout the study. Open habitats (clearcuts and burns), regenerating sites, mixed and deciduous stands, and water bodies were avoided. The main zones used by caribou gradually shifted towards the southwest of the study area, likely as a result of disturbance and habitat loss due to logging of mature conifers in the east. We conclude that caribou numbers were maintained within the managed area as a result of the presence of protected blocks and uncut continuous forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a habitat suitability index (HSI) model for moose (Alces alces) in the boreal forest. The model used two components: a suitability index for food (SIfood) and another for the interspersion between cover and food (SIedge). We used forest maps as the input data source, and the value of each stand type in terms of cover and food was based on field surveys. To validate the model, the habitat preference of moose equipped with global positioning system telemetry collars was assessed at both landscape and home-range scales. We expected the habitat-preference index to correlate with suitability indices determined using the global model and each of its two components. Habitat suitability was assessed in evaluation plots of 500, 100, and 10 ha. Unexpectedly, the habitat-preference index correlated better with SIfood and SIedge than with the global model. The suitability indices also performed better when assessed in large plots. Selection of 500 ha plots related mostly to SIedge, but SIfood was more important when smaller evaluation plots were used, especially for males. Females preferred plots with intermediate SIfood values. At the fine scale, SIedge was not as attractive to moose as was previously observed, presumably because snow conditions prevailing in our study area were relatively moderate. We recommend utilizing the model with SIedge in large plots (ca. 500 ha) and SIfood in smaller plots. Our model could be adapted and applied to other areas by using empirical data to adjust the relative value of stand types in terms of cover and food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Evaluates the reliability of forest maps for describing wildlife habitats. Measurement of lateral cover and deciduous browse availability; Characterization of wildlife habitats; Classification of cover type on forest maps.