Ekologiczne aspekty zrównoważonego gospodarowania populacją łosia (Alces alces L.) w Polsce

In some parts of the country, the moose density is so high that it is causing serious damage to forestry and agriculture. In addition, collisions between motor vehicles and moose crossing roads or railroad tracks are becoming more frequent. The number of moose in Poland is expected to increase. So far, there have been considerations to allow hunting of these animals again, which would theoretically reduce economic losses, support forest management and increase the safety of travelers. However, recent research on moose populations suggests that ongoing climate change is affecting their habitats and physiological condition to such an extent that there could soon be a slowdown in population growth and a risk of collapse. The increasing population of large predators in forest ecosystems may also lead to increased mortality, so the current growth rate of the moose population could be directly disrupted in the near future. Other ecological aspects of the moose population may facilitate the management of this species. There are increasingly advanced and effective methods based on population trends or biological indicators that can be used to monitor the status of the population more easily and effectively. In order to ensure sustainable management of the native moose population in Poland, it is crucial to update knowledge about the ecological aspects affecting the population and its dynamics, which have been ignored or not sufficiently taken into account so far.