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Importance de la coupe forestière sur l'habitat hivernal de l'orignal dans le sud-ouest du Québec

1977; NRC Research Press; Volume: 7; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1139/x77-034

1208-6037

Michel Crête,

African Botany and Ecology Studies

The utilization of habitat by moose on a winterlong basis was studied in Mont-Tremblant Provincial Park and in part of Pontiac County (Québec). The comparison of plant composition from the feeding and cover strata showed significant differences for most of the seven forest types compared. However, the most important tree and shrub species were the same for both study areas. The abundance of browsable stems was the most important habitat component which influenced the use of the forest stands by moose. Stands containing shade-tolerant hardwoods (Acersaccharum Marsh., Betulaalleghaniensis Britton, etc.) which had been harvested were used more intensively than uncut stands in both study areas. The increased density of stems in the feeding stratum caused by the opening of the forest canopy explains the greater use of the harvested areas. The more intensive logging of the forest types with shade-tolerant hardwoods caused a higher use of harvested stands in Mont-Tremblant Park than in Pontiac County. Stands containing shade-intolerant hardwoods (Betulapapyrifera Marsh., Populustremuloides Michx., etc.) which had been logged were used more frequently than uncut stands in Pontiac County while the opposite trend was observed in Mont-Tremblant Park. The apparently slower and less abundant regeneration of the feeding stratum and the greater snowfall in Mont-Tremblant Park could explain the lesser frequentation of harvested stands of this area as compared with the other. According to these results, logging regulations are suggested for major forest types of southwestern Québec.