Risenhoover and Maass measured the long term effects of moose (Alces alces) browsing on forest succession, in three forest types, aspen (Populus tremuloides)-birch (Betula papyrifera), aspen-birch-conifer, and spruce-birch-fir (Picea spp.) climax forest on the Isle Royale in Michigan. Browsing by moose in the spruce-birch-fir climax and aspen-birch-conifer forest types has retarded the vertical growth of palatable species and has slowed the rate of successional development. Only two species declined in abundance as a result of moose browsing, the American yew (Taxus canadensis) and red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera). Moose effects on forest development in the aspen-birch forest type in the 1936 burn area were less pronounced, and differences between exclosure and control areas were small. Although the authors found little evidence of direct mortality from moose browsing, the continued retardation of vertical growth and maturation of stems of palatable species may eventually affect the ability of these species to regenerate, and could lead to further modifications in the composition of forests in Isle Royale.
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