How do Moose Relate to Climate Change?

       This past week we have learned that the climate in the Adirondacks is unique because there is nothing quite like it at its latitude. Although the Adirondacks share the same latitude as the French Riviera, the climate in the park is more similar to the climate of Alaska, which is fifteen degrees farther north. The climate is colder in the Adirondacks because low pressure systems drag cold Canadian air into the northeast. The mountains also create a colder environment, especially the Tug Hill Plateau, because the mountains force the clouds up to higher elevations where the temperature drops below the condensation point, so it starts to rain or snow. The weather and geography create a cold temperature region, also known as a boreal climate zone, that you would typically find further north. It is no surprise then that apart from red spruce, most of the plant species found in the Adirondack park are also found in Quebec. Along with these plant species come animals that prefer the boreal climate such as moose.
       Moose like colder climates because it is better for their survival. Higher temperatures are not good for the moose because they have to use more energy to stay cool and this can lead to respiratory problems. A warmer climate also encourages the growth of winter ticks, the leading cause of moose deaths in the Northeast. Winter ticks are harmful because they bleed moose which causes anemia and death. Winter ticks thrive in warmer weather because if the female ticks (who live on the moose in the winter) fall on bare ground, they have a better chance of reproducing than if they were to fall on snow-covered ground. Winter ticks prefer shorter winters because it decreases their chances on falling onto snow-covered ground. A third problem shorter winters pose for the moose is an increase in death by parasitic brain worms because a short winter causes overlap between moose and white-tailed deer territories. The white-tailed deer is a carrier for these worms and the deer tend to avoid areas with a lot of snowfall. If there is less snowfall because of a shorter winter the deer will expand their range and spread this parasite that is lethal to moose. Moose prefer the longer, colder winters because they have a higher chance of survival in those conditions.

       So how do moose relate to climate change? Moose can be a good indicator of climate change because they survive best in colder climates. If an area has fewer moose because they have died or moved further north it is reasonable to conclude that the area has gotten too warm for them. This is the exact logic the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is using to study climate change in the Adirondack Park. DEC is currently tracking twelve moose in the Park to monitor climate change based on the moose's health and location. This study is crucial for the park because the disappearance of moose can predict how climate change will affect the park in years to come.

Sources

Lynch, Mike. "Climate Change Threatens Adirondack Boreal Species." The Adirondack Almanack. 17 Sept. 2015. Web Accessed 24 Sept. 2015. http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2015/09/climate-change-threatens-adirodnack-boreal-species.html

Marchand, Peter J. Nature Guide to the Northern Forest. Guilford, CT: The Globe Pequot Press, 2010. Print.