Alaskan Moose Blood Studies with Emphasis on Condition Evaluation

Abstract

From various regions and populations of Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas), 1,506 serum and 1,235 whole blood samples were obtained. Collections at the MRC provided 687 serum and 646 whole blood samples. Blood serum was analyzed for Ca, P, glucose, UN, uric acid, cholesterol, bilirubin, alkaline phosphotase, LDH, GOT, TP, albumin, globulin, alpha 1 globulin, alpha 2 globulin, beta globulin, and gamma globulin. Hemoglobin and PCV values were obtained from whole blood. Blood samples were classified as to sex, age, month and year sampled, age class, season-age class, reproductive status, rectal temperature class (excitability), location and condition. Season classification was a source of variation at some point for every blood parameters whereas pregnancy was the only classification influencing none. Sex was a source of variation only during rutting period (October), and age influenced each blood parameter except P, glucose, alpha globulin and beta globulin. Phosphorus levels were influenced significantly by lactation. Rectal temperature class was a significant source of variation for glucose, LDH, albumin, and all globulin fractions. All adult blood parameters were at some point influenced by location except gamma globulin. Condition improvement in adult moose significantly increased Ca, P, glucose, TP, albumin, beta globulin, Hb and PCV values. Condition rating, based upon the premise that animal form and composition are dictated largely by the interactions of the complexes of climate and nutrition, was used to compare populations classified to eliminate most major sources of variation. Blood parameters most useful in condition evaluation in order of value were PCV, Hb, Ca and P. Glucose, albumin, and beta globulin also increased with improved condition, but were influenced additionally by excitability. Adult moose from 5 populations sampled during late winter were ranked based upon condition influenced blood values, and a ranking was provided based upon inclusion of a known highly productive population (Copper River Delta) and a poor producing population (MRC). Using condition influenced parameters, we considered adult moose with the following blood levels or greater to be in an average or better condition: PCV-50 percent; Hb-18.6 g/100 ml; Ca-10.4 mg/100 ml; P-5.2 mg/100 ml; TP-7.5 g/100 ml; albumin-4.5 g/ 100 ml; beta globulin-0.7 g/100 ml; and glucose-140 g/100 ml. These parameters may provide game managers with additional quantitative information to help formulate management decisions. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 42(2):334-351 The Alaskan moose, North America's largest ungulate, is an important commercial, recreational and aesthetic Alaskan product. The Kenai Peninsula has a history of periodically sustaining large moose populations. In 1947, an extensive (141,650 ha) burn occurred there, with a subsequent increase in the number of moose (Spencer and Hakala 1964). By the late 1950's or early 1960's, numbers stabilized at a high level; yet the predominantly birch (Betula papyrifera) seral type was noticeably browsed in only very few areas, and hedged in even fewer places. Moose production had fallen behind browse production. No major dieoff' had been recorded, hunter harvest was low in relation to the population size, and most (over 90%) cow moose were pregnant in fall and early winter. Lessthan-obvious factors were influencing the population and means of quantifying more definitively moose physiologic and vegetative parameters were needed. LeResche et al. (1974) indicated that assessments of habitat carrying capacity were secondary indicators summarizing the manifestations of nutritional, behavioral, environmental and genetic forces acting upon a population. Assessments of food habits, range productivity and utilization, and estimates of population size and trend have not always provided adequate information where intensive management of moose populations was nec1 This work was supported in part by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, Project W-17-R. 334 J. Wildl. Manage. 42(2):1978 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.185 on Thu, 26 May 2016 05:08:13 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms ALASKAN MOOSE BLOOD PARAMETERS *Franzmann and LeResche 335 essary. There is a need for analyses of individual primary factors rather than collective manifestations. To use hematologic and blood chemistry values to monitor a population, requires that baseline values be established. LeResche et al. (1974) outlined the procedure for establishing nutritionblood parameter correlations in moose. In bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) sources of variation on blood values reported were: condition, excitability, habitat (Franzmann 1972), protein intake (Franzmann 1971), handling (Franzmann and Thorne 1970), and pathologic conditions (Woolf and Kradel 1973 and Woolf et al. 1973). Marler (1975) recognized age sources of variation in American bison (Bison bison) as did Pedersen and Pedersen (1975) for Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis). Sources of variation for other wild North American ruminants have not been reported; however, hematologic and physiologic studies in nonruminants are indicative of similar sources of variation (Sealander 1964, Hock 1966, Seal et al. 1967, Dieterich 1970, Adams and Strahler 1972, Heidt and Hargraves 1974, Doyle et al. 1975, and Seal et al. 1975). This study was designed to establish baseline blood chemistry and hematology values for Alaskan moose with consideration for various environmental sources of variation. The possibility of these sources of variation being attributed to condition, nutrient status and stress were to be investigated. This paper reports on these blood studies, particularly as they related to condition evaluation. The Kenai Moose Research Center is a cooperative project between the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Moose Range. R. L. Rausch was largely responsible for establishment of Table 1. Sources of moose blood collected from June