F:\ALCES\Supp2\PAGEMA~1\Rus29s. ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS – ZABLOTSKAYA AND ZABLOTSKAYA 131 ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS ON MOOSE POPULATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN TAIGA Lidia V. Zablotskaya and Maria M. Zablotskaya Prioksko–Terrasny Biosphere Reserve, 142474, Danki, Moscow Region, Russia ABSTRACT: This article focuses on variations in moose population densities and sex ratios, autoregulation of its population density, and related effects on the forest since a moose outbreak in 2 central parts of the East–European Plain due to the appearance of early successional tree species, resulting from felling in the course of World War II. ALCES SUPPLEMENT 2: 131-135 (2002) Key words: anthropogenic effects, East–European Plain, migration, moose population density, soils, southern taiga, winter forage Investigation of the population dynam- ics of moose was conducted in 1949–1986 on the left bank of the Oka River in the Prioksko–Terrasny Reserve and surround- ing forests. The left–bank south–facing slopes of the Oka River have a varied vegetation. Mixed and coniferous forests of various types predominate. By the early 1950s over 30% of the Oka forests were young stands of aspen, birch, pine, and oak. Young stands up to the age of 20 years covered over 14,000 ha; pine accounted for about 3,000 ha in old pine forests. The pine regenerated on a large scale, and there was a well–developed regrowth of juniper, moun- tain ash, and other trees. The flood plain of the Oka and its tributaries had abundant willow thickets, and a rapid increase in moose numbers started there between 1950 and 1952, 8–10 years after mass felling (1942–1943). In 1960, moose density reached 97.7 animals per 1,000 ha (Fig. 1). The rapid growth of moose populations was promoted by the abundance of winter forage, the low harvest of this species in Russia over many years (no more that 2– 3% of the population), and migration of moose from more northern regions (Zhirnov 1967). Over the decade of 1950–1960, moose density increased 18–fold. After the peak of 1960, the population began to de- cline (Zablotskaya 1964) until the 1980s. The wave of high density lasted 18–20 years (Fig. 1), its highest level persisting for 9–10 years. In 1952–1955, when the population density of moose exceeded 25–30 moose/ 1,000 ha, the heavy injury by moose of early successional trees and shrubs became no- ticeable. In 1959, moose winter forage in the Oka forest averaged only 256 kg per ha (Koryakin 1961). In 1961, young pines, aspens, junipers, and willows injured by moose began to dry and perish. The re- serves of primary winter forage for moose in the forests were practically destroyed (Fig. 1). During these years moose ap- peared starved, and calves born late were weakened and died. The severe damage to trees and shrubs inflicted by moose led to a sharp increase in moose harvest. Intensive harvest (up to 40% of the moose population) started during the 1966 season and continued for 4 years. Harvesting moose in the reserve area was also permitted because of the vast destruc- tion of pine. Since autumn 1961 in the Reserve (4,945 ha) and neighboring game management units, 230 – 370 animals were ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS – ZABLOTSKAYA AND ZABLOTSKAYA ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 134 the reduction of moose (Fig. 3). In a number of regions, e.g., in Mordovia (ac- cording to M. N. Borodina, personal com- munication), the rise in the numbers of moose and the increase in wolf populations proceeded concurrently. Mass breeding of moose strongly af- fected the regeneration and composition of forests. In the area of the Oka forests at cutovers, dry pines were replaced by abun- dant regrowth of birch. In pine forests with herbs, the pine regrowth that died due to disturbance by moose was replaced by spruce regrowth. In pine forests with green moss, pine regrowth turned into shrubs be- cause of constant browsing, this form per- sisting for over 30 years. Despite the low numbers of moose, the Oka forests can perish due to a lack of reliable regrowth. Due to loss of winter forage, moose imme- diately browsed all young pines rising over the snow cover. We expect long–lasting effects of this moose foraging behavior on the regeneration of pine and juniper. De- struction of the ancient Oka forests can be prevented only by eliminating moose from their winter habitats in pine forests for at least 2 decades. The exceptional rise in numbers and expansion of range of such large mammals as moose is only possible in unbalanced forest habitats in the absence of appropriate harvest, handicapping the growth of moose populations as was the case in the 1940s and 1950s. In primary climax ecosystems no such reproduction of big ungulates in large areas can exist. Not infrequently, local short–term rises in moose numbers are common natural components of succes- sion and are delayed 8 – 10 years following regeneration of forest on cutovers and burns without substantial detriment to sylviculture. Taking into account the imbalance of forest formations in Russia over large areas, it is necessary to plan hunting of moose and other ungulates in order not to destroy for- est ecosystems. In nonregulated moose hunting, there may be much stronger ef- fects on forest ecosystems than the effects of felling. Due to the lasting pattern of the effects of high waves of mass breeding of moose, these animals, through affecting vegetation, can influence the evolution of soils. The relationship between the dynamics of moose populations and human activity is of ancient origin. In fact, the paleo– and mesolithic camps of humans discovered in the northern half of the forest zone of Eastern Europe were commonly associated with sand pine forest terraces (Bader 1970) in areas of latitudinal flow of rivers, due to massive, stable accumulations of moose in winter. As far back as the Stone Age to the felling of trees during World War II and to our current organized harvesting of game, we affect our ecosystems for the future. REFERENCES BADER, N. O. 1970. Mesolith. Pages 90– 104 in Stone Age in the USSR Terri- tory. (In Russian). CHERVONNYI, V. V. 1967. On the ecology, silvicultural significance and harvest of moose in Karelia. Pages 177–188 in Biology and harvest of moose. (In Russian). KORYAKIN, D. A. 1961. The effect of moose on forest regeneration. Pro- ceedings of the Prioksko–Terrasny Reserve 3:29–54. (In Russian). YAZAN, Y. P. 1964. Population density and indices of moose fecundity of the Pechora taiga. Pages 101–111 in Biol- ogy and harvest of moose. (In Rus- sian). ZABLOTSKAYA, L. V. 1964. The experience of the regulation of moose in the Prioksko–Terrasny Reserve and in the surrounding area. Pages 156–173 in Biology and harvest of moose. (In Russian). ALCES SUPPL. 2, 2002 ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS – ZABLOTSKAYA AND ZABLOTSKAYA 135 . 1975. The cause of mortality of moose in different geographical regions. Pages 105–129 in Biology and harvest of moose. (In Russian). ZHIRNOV, L. V. 1967. Migrations of moose in the European USSR. Pages 80–104 in Biology and harvest of moose. (In Russian).