Parturition Timing and the Pre- and Post-partum Behaviour of Female Moose Assessed Using Animal-borne Video and Movement-Based Approaches

Parturition Timing and the Pre- and Post-partum Behaviour of Female Moose Assessed Using Animal-borne Video and Movement-Based Approaches | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Wildlife Biology This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 September 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Parturition Timing and the Pre- and Post-partum Behaviour of Female Moose Assessed Using Animal-borne Video and Movement-Based Approaches Authors : Mikaela Borgeaud LeBlanc 0000-0002-3888-6412 [email protected] , Manuelle Landry-Cuerrier , Vincent Brodeur , and Murray M. Humphries Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175768063.39796424/v1 207 views 148 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Limited information on moose calving behaviour, including parturition timing, cow-calf interactions, and pre- and post-partum movement patterns hinder our ability to define calving phenology and habitat use. GPS-collars were deployed on 89 female moose over five years, including 8 with animal-borne video and environmental data (AVED) collection systems, across northern Quebec regions. We assessed the accuracy and precision of six movement-based methods typically used to infer calving dates of moose and other ungulates, by comparing calving dates estimated from GPS-collar movement patterns to AVED video observations of calves and calving. Comparisons of 8 females during 12 calving seasons identified three of the six movement-based methods to be both accurate and precise and we used these three movement-based methods to estimate parturition dates for the larger sample of female moose equipped with GPS collars. Moose parturition dates occurred from May 12 to June 23, with more than 70% of births occurring between May 18 and May 26. Classification of videos from AVEDs revealed that females spent more time walking, standing, feeding, and ruminating the day before calving compared to the day after, when they spent time laying down and licking their calf. Analysis of movement patterns demonstrated that one day before calving, females were located (net square displacement) 2.5 km from their calving site (median; range <0.1 - 16.5 km), then remained highly localized for 7 days post-calving (median 0.2 km; range <0.1 - 4.9 km). Parturition dates varied between regions, by on average three days, but did not vary between years or according to latitude, longitude, autumn temperature, forestry disturbance, or hunting disturbance. AVED observations of moose calving validate some, but not all, movement-based methods employed to estimate parturition dates and aid in defining the timing, behaviour, and movement patterns related to this critical life history phase in moose populations. Supplementary Material File (parturitiontiming_manuscript_mbl_wb.docx) Download 5.86 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 September 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Wildlife Biology Keywords calving eeyou istchee movement pattern northern quebec Authors Affiliations Mikaela Borgeaud LeBlanc 0000-0002-3888-6412 [email protected] McGill University Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Manuelle Landry-Cuerrier McGill University Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Vincent Brodeur Gouvernement du Quebec Ministere de l'Environnement de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques de la Faune et des Parcs View all articles by this author Murray M. Humphries McGill University Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 207 views 148 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Mikaela Borgeaud LeBlanc, Manuelle Landry-Cuerrier, Vincent Brodeur, et al. Parturition Timing and the Pre- and Post-partum Behaviour of Female Moose Assessed Using Animal-borne Video and Movement-Based Approaches. Authorea . 12 September 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175768063.39796424/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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