DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bk3j9kdpn
title: Data from: Influence of reproductive status on occupancy of salvage-logged boreal forest by moose (Alces americanus)

description: Wildlife-habitat relationships reflect the behavioural choices made by
 species in response to perceived risks and rewards. Ungulates must often
 choose between habitats that provide forage and those offering concealment
 from predators, yet natural and anthropogenic disturbances create risky
 landscapes where tradeoffs may be difficult to navigate. Ungulate
 responses to forest disturbance may vary by sex and reproductive state,
 given that reproductive females with calves often prioritize predator
 avoidance. We investigated state-dependent habitat use by reproductive and
 solitary moose (Alces americanus) in response to salvage logging after a
 widespread infestation by spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the
 boreal forest of Yukon, Canada. We used camera traps and multi-state
 occupancy models to examine moose occurrence in unsalvaged and
 salvage-logged forests at different regenerative stages (0–10 years and
 11–25 years post-logging) and levels of tree retention after logging. We
 compared results to single-state occupancy models that did not account for
 reproductive status. As predicted, single-state models showed high use of
 stands with low canopy cover and maximum tree removal (i.e., clear-cuts).
 This suggested that moose capitalized on shrubby forage available in
 logged stands, regardless of regenerative stage. However, this result was
 overly simplistic. Multi-state occupancy models revealed that forest age
 was the most important factor for female moose with calves, in contrast to
 solitary moose. Females with calves tended to avoid newly logged areas and
 preferred regenerating and unsalvaged forests with hiding cover, although
 estimates of effect size had low precision. Climate change is contributing
 to the rising frequency and severity of bark beetle outbreaks, and
 post-infestation salvage logging has been implicated in the decline of
 moose populations in western Canada. Our results support the need to
 maintain diverse, mixed-age forest landscapes to meet the food and cover
 requirements of moose in different demographic classes.
description: # Influence of reproductive status on occupancy of salvage-logged boreal
 forest by moose (Alces americanus) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.bk3j9kdpn](10.5061/dryad.bk3j9kdpn) ## Description of the
 data and file structure Data collection methods are described in detail in
 the following publication: Thomas, J.P., M.L. Reid, R.M.R. Barclay, and
 T.S. Jung. 2025. Influence of reproductive status on occupancy of
 salvage-logged boreal forest by moose (*Alces americanus*). Ecology and
 Evolution: 15:e71302. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71302  ### Files and
 variables #### Files: MooseOccupancy_SingleState.csv
 MooseOccupancy_MultiState.csv Occupancy_Predictor_Variables.csv
 Detection_Predictor_Variable.csv **Description:**  Data is contained in 4
 csv files: 1. MooseOccupancy_SingleState: Each numbered column represents
 a 15-day survey period. 0 = no moose detected during survey period; 1 =
 moose detected during survey period (any sex or reproductive status); NA =
 no survey data. 2. MooseOccupancy_MultiState: Each numbered column
 represents a 15-day survey period. 0 = no female moose detected; 1 =
 female moose detected; 2 = female moose with calf detected; NA = no survey
 data. 3. Occupancy_Predictor_Variables: Variables hypothesized to
 influence site occupancy by moose. Predictor variables and their
 measurement units are described below (additional details about data
 collection are provided in Thomas et al. 2025). stand_type: Low-retention
 logged (20–249 trees/ha), high-retention logged (250–820 trees/ha),
 un-salvaged stand_age: Early-seral (0-10 years) and mid-seral (11-25
 years) canopy: Canopy cover (%) of stand calculated with a spherical crown
 densiometer deciduous_stems: Number of deciduous stems (stems/10m2),
 including shrubs and trees &lt;2 m tall lateral_cover: Percent visual
 cover (%), measured with a 2 m tall cover pole CWD: Total number of downed
 trees with diameter &gt;4cm along three 40m transects water_distance:
 Distance (km) to nearest wetland, lake, or river linear_density: Linear
 disturbance density (km/km2) within 500 m of camera forest_cover:
 Unsalvaged forest cover (%) within a 500 m radius of camera bears: Camera
 detection rate (detections/day) of grizzly bears and black bears 4.
 Detection_Predictor_Variable: Survey month (hypothesized to influence
 probability of moose detection, given occupancy). Each numbered column
 represents a 15-day survey period. "NA" indicates missing
 values.  ## Code/software Spreadsheet data is formatted for use with
 occupancy modeling software such as program PRESENCE or the accompanying R
 package, Rpresence.