Aspen Bibliography

Seasonal quality of forages used by moose in the aspen-dominated boreal forest, central Alberta

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Holarctic Ecology

Volume

11

Issue

2

First Page

111

Last Page

118

Publication Date

1988

Abstract

Forages used by moose, Alces alces, in the aspen-dominated boreal forest were studied to determine seasonal changes in digestibility (nylon bag technique) and chemical composition. Digestibility of all forage classes increased to 70% during spring and summer with the presence of new growth and declined to a low of 30% with plant maturation and dormancy. Mean protein contents during these periods were >20% and <7%, respectively. Nutritional quality of herbaceous forages peaked earlier and higher than that of woody plants in spring but quality declined earlier and reached slightly lower levels in late winter. Cell wall composition of grasses, sedge, and foliage varied seasonally and was correlated with forage digestibility. In multiple linear regression models, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin content of browse, grass, and sedge provided significant predictions of digestibility.

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