DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2z3
title: Data from: Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate

description: The ever-growing human population along with the expansion of settlements
 and land use, and effective hunting methods increasingly
 influence wildlife populations. Knowledge of management responses to
 re-establishing large carnivores is important to understand the
 overall impact of humans on large carnivores and their prey populations.
 We examined the response of moose (Alces alces) harvest, but also
 population size and composition in relation to wolf (Canis
 lupus) territory density along a latitudinal gradient in two
 bordering countries in northern Europe. Moose harvest density was
 negatively related to wolf territory density with model estimates showing
 that harvest was 35% (Norway) to 39% (Sweden) lower in moose
 management units (MMUs) with average wolf territory density, compared to
 MMUs without wolves during the previous five years. The
 corresponding model estimates for moose observation rate was 21% lower in
 Sweden and 1% lower in Norway. In both countries, management
 actions were taken to reduce the total moose mortality
 (reduced harvest) as well as to maximize productivity in the
 population (reduced harvest of adult females) in response to
 increased wolf territory density. Annual changes in quotas were
 related to fulfilment of last year´s quota and wolf territory density
 in the previous two years. The annual change in harvest were
 affected by actual harvest the previous year and by set
 quotas, showing that harvest followed management plans. Abilities
 to adjust to new conditions is a key in wildlife management where
 conflicting societal objectives such as forestry, sustainable ungulate
 harvest yield, and carnivore conservation should be balanced.
description: # Data from: Retrospective analyses to understand how wolf territory
 density impacts moose quotas, harvest and observation rate Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2z3](10.5061/dryad.wstqjq2z3) ## Description of the
 data and file structure We examined the effect of wolf territory density
 on moose population size and composition (age and sex), and hunting yield
 (harvest density), along a latitudinal gradient in Norway and Sweden
 during a six-year period. We quantified the impact of wolf territory
 density on size and composition of the hunting yield (harvest data) and on
 the moose population (moose observations), and investigated whether wolf
 territory density affected annual adjustments of hunting quotas and
 changes in harvest from year to year, or whether the changes in harvest
 size merely were a response to changes in harvest quotas or the harvest in
 the preceding year. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Harvest_Observations.txt ##### Variables * country: Norway or Sweden *
 year: year * MMU_ID: ID of moose management unit * year_MMU_ID: year
 combined with ID of moose management units * MMU_size: size of moose
 management units (km^2^) * 2_year_wolf_index: average wolf territory
 density for the previous and current winter * 5_year_wolf_index: average
 wolf territory density during the last five years, including the winter
 after the hunting season * latitude: latitude * harvest_density: moose
 harvest density per km^2^ * harvested_calves_total_harvest: proportion of
 harvested calves in total harvest * harvested_females_adult_harvest:
 proportion of harvested females in adult harvest *
 observed_calves_per_adult_female: number of observed calves per adult
 female * observed_females_observed_adults: proportion of females among
 observed adults * observed_moose: number of observed moose per time unit
 #### File: Quota.txt ##### Variables * country: Norway or Sweden * year:
 year * MMU_ID: ID of moose management unit * year_MMU_ID: year combined
 with ID of moose management units * 2_year_wolf_index: average wolf
 territory density for the previous and current winter * 5_year_wolf_index:
 average wolf territory density during the last five years, including the
 winter after the hunting season * latitude: latitude *
 harvest_density_previous_year: harvest density in the previous year per
 km^2^ * percentage_hunting_quotas_previous_year: percentage of the hunting
 quotas filled in the previous year * annual_change_quotas: annual change
 in quotas * annual_change_harvest_density: annual change in density of
 harvested moose Data files are tab-delimited with a comma decimal