Validation of Fecal-based Methods for Monitoring Nutrition and Reproduction of Moose in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract

Understanding the influence of habitat and climate on wildlife nutrition, reproduction and demography is a major goal for natural resource managers and ecologists alike. Although both top-down (i.e., predation and disease) and bottom-up (i.e. habitat and nutrition) forces impact demography, the nutritional condition of an animal is an integration of its environment (Parker et al. 2009) and influences reproduction and survival (Clutton-Brock et al. 1987, Keech et al. 2000, Cook et al. 2004), thus allowing for the identification of limiting factors. Researchers and managers must understand which factors limit population growth before mitigating actions can be taken.