The summer diet of moose Alces alces in Agder, south Norway - the link to fragile bones and kidney damages?

• Autorzy: Bjerga M. , Mysterud A.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Reported cases of fragile bones and kidney damage from the Agder counties, south Norway, motivated this study of the diets of radio-collared moose Alces alces Linnaeus, 1758 during summer 1995. Birch Betula pubescens (39.8%), bilberry Vaccinium myr- tillus (13.3%), and bog asphodel Narthecium ossifragum (10.8%) were the main plants eaten, but only birch and bog asphodel were preferred when use was compared to relative availability. Bog asphodel is highly toxic and has been reported to cause severe kidney damage in domestic sheep Ouis aries and cattle Bos taurus. Hence, we hypothesized high levels of bog asphodel in the diet of moose in Agder is the link to kidney damage frequently reported from this area. However, laboratory studies have not documented damage to the skeleton from high intake of this species, and we therefore hypothesized fragile bones are caused by other factors than eating bog asphodel.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

diet; Alces alces; moose; toxicity; bone; health condition; kidney; food selection; Norway; summer diet

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 1999
• Tom: 44
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.107-111

Twórcy

autor

Bjerga M.

• University of Oslo, P.O.Box 1050 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway

autor

Mysterud A.

Bibliografia

• Abrahamsen J., Jacobsen N. K., Kalliola R., Dahl E., Wilborg L. and Pâhlsson L. 1977. [Ecotones of Norden], Nordiska Utredningar Series B 34: 1-135. [In Norwegian]
• Agder Skogeigarlag. 1987. [Area survey for Bygland municipality], Agder Skogeigarlag, Agder: 1-47. [In Norwegian]
• Belovsky G. E. 1984. Herbivore optimal foraging: a comparative test of three models. The American Naturalist 124: 97-115.
• Bjerga M. 1996. [Feeding ecology of moose (Alces alces) along an altitudinal gradient in Aust-Agder], M Se thesis, University of Oslo, Oslo: 1-40. [In Norwegian]
• Byers C. R., Steinhorst R. K. and Krausman P. R. 1984. Clarification of a technique for analysis of utilization-availability data. The Journal of Wildlife Management 48: 1050-1053.
• Cederlund G. 1989. Activity patterns in moose and roe deer in a north boreal forest. Holarctic Ecology 12: 39-45.
• Cederlund G. and Markgren G. 1987. The development of the Swedish moose population, 1970-1983. Swedish Wildlife Research. Proceedings from the International Moose Symposium 2 (Part 2): 55-61.
• Danielsen I. and Olsen M. 1994. [The summer forage of moose in Aust-Agder], M Se thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, As: 1—51. [In Norwegian]
• Fjeld P. E., Roer O. A., Danielsen I. and Arnemo J. M. 1997. [The moose project in Aust-Agder], Technical report, Arendal: 1—106. [In Norwegian]
• FlâØyen A. 1993. Studies of the Aetrology and Pathology of Alveld, with some comparisons to sporidesmin intoxication. Ph D thesis, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo: 1-24.
• FlâØyen A., Bratberg B. and Gr0nst0l H. 1995a. Nephrotoxicity in lambs apparently caused by experimental feeding with Narthecium ossifragum. Veterinary Research Communications 19: 75-79.
• FlâØyen A., Bratberg B., Fr0slie A. and Gr0nst0l H. 1995b. Nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in calves apparently caused by experimental feeding with Narthecium ossifragum. Veterinary Research Communications 19: 63-73.
• FlâØyen A., Bratberg B., Fr0slie A., Gr0nst0l H., Langseth W., Mantle P. G. and von Krogh A. 1996. Further studies on the presence, qualities and effects of the toxic principles from Narthecium ossifragum plants. Veterinary Research Communications 20: 1-12.
• FlâØyen A., Bratberg B., Fr0slie A., Gr0nst0l H., Langseth W., Mantle P. G. and von Krogh A. 1997. Nephrotoxicity in goats caused by dosing with a water extract from the stems of Narthecium ossifragum plants. Veterinary Research Communications 21: 499-506.
• Hjeljord O., Hovik N. and Pedersen H. B. 1990. Choice of feeding sites by moose during summer, the influence of forest structure and plant phenology. Holarctic Ecology 13: 281-292.
• Jerstad K. 1996. [Moose management in Vest-Agderj. Technical report, Fylkesmannen i Vest-Agder, Milj0vernavdelingen: 1-30. [In Norwegian]
• Mysterud A. and 0stbye E. 1995. Roe deer Capreolus capreolus feeding on yew Taxus baccata in relation to bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus density and snow depth. Wildlife Biology 1: 249-253.
• Neu C. W., Byers C. R. and Peek J. M. 1974. A technique for analysis of utilization-availability data. The Journal of Wildlife Management 38: 541-545.
• Nordal I. 1994. [The Lily family]. [In: Norges planter. L. Ryvarden, ed]. J. W. Cappelens forlag, K0benhavn: 79-91. [In Norwegian]
• Provenza F. D. 1995. Postingestive feedback as an elementary determinant of food preference and intake in ruminants. Journal of Range Management 48: 2-17.
• Provenza F. D. 1996. Behavioral bases for varied diets in ruminants. Journal of Animal Science 74: 2010-2020.
• Punsvik T. 1993. IBroken bones in moose in Agder - possible failure in the mineral balance?] Elgen 3: 76-77. [In Norwegian]
• Punsvik T. 1994. [The moose in Agder has a lot of bone fractures]. Elgen 4: 82. [In Norwegian]
• Sand H. 1996. Life history strategies in moose (Alces alces): geographical and temporal variation in body growth and reproduction. Ph D thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala: 1-221.
• Schoener T. W. 1971. Theory of feeding strategies. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 2: 369-403.
• Stabell B. 1993. A pre-industrial acidification event shown by diatom analyses of a recently acidified lake in southern Norway. Diatom Research 8: 145-158.
• Statistisk sentralbyrâ 1995. [Hunting statistics], Statistisk sentralbyrâ, Oslo: 1-50. [In Norwegian]
• Øverâs J., Ulvund M. J., Bakkevig S. and Eiken R. 1979. Poisoning in sheep induced by the mushroom Cortinarius speciosissimus. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 20: 148-150.