scholarly journals Mountain beaver home ranges, habitat use, and population dynamics in Washington

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.M. Arjo ◽  
R.E. Huenefeld ◽  
D.L. Nolte

The mountain beaver ( Aplodontia rufa (Rafinesque, 1817)), endemic to western North America, is the only extant member of the family Aplodontidae. Limited information on movements and habitat use throughout the species’ range is available. We radio-collared 41 mountain beavers to determine home ranges, dispersal, habitat use, and population densities on two managed forest sites in coastal Washington. Both sites were recently harvested for timber. The Donovan site (16.6 ha) was treated with herbicide before seedling planting and the Sylvia site (8.9 ha) was not treated. Mountain beaver home ranges (Donovan: 4.18 ± 0.81 ha; Sylvia: 1.39 ± 0.4 ha) were greater than previously reported in the literature (0.02–0.2 ha). Home ranges (P = 0.009) and core use areas (P = 0.05) on the herbicide-treated Donovan site were larger than those observed on the untreated Sylvia site. Mountain beaver population density declined from 2002 (n = 16) to 2003 (n = 8) on the Donovan site, and reinvasion onto the site after removal trapping was low (n = 7). Population density more than doubled on the Sylvia site from 2002 (n = 21) to 2003 (n = 55), and reinvasion was greater (n = 27) than observed at Donovan. In addition, we documented habitat characteristics centered at 9 Donovan and 10 Sylvia nest locations. Sites were similar in most habitat characteristics, but the Sylvia site had more herbaceous forbs, stumps, and woody debris. Our findings suggest that mountain beaver populations and home ranges are affected by availability of forage, such as herbaceous forbs, after herbicide treatment, as well as by availability of woody cover.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 19212-19222
Author(s):  
Bishow Poudel ◽  
Bijaya Neupane ◽  
Rajeev Joshi ◽  
Thakur Silwal ◽  
Nirjala Raut ◽  
...  

There exists limited information on biodiversity including avifaunal diversity and habitat condition in community forests (CF) of Nepal; thus we aimed to fulfill such gaps in Tibrekot CF of Kaski district. We used the point count method for assessing bird diversity and laid out a circular plot size of radius 5-m within 15-m distance from each point count station for recording the biophysical habitat characteristics. Bird species’ diversity, richness and evenness were calculated using popular indexes and General Linear Model (GLM) was used to test the respective effect of various biophysical factors associated with the richness of bird species. In total, 166 (summer 122, winter 125) bird species were recorded in 46 sample plots. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was calculated as 3.99 and 4.09, Margalef’s richness index as 16.84 and 17.53 and Pielou’s evenness index as 0.83 and 0.84 for summer and winter, respectively. The influencing factors for richness of bird species were season (χ21, 90= 112.21; P= 0.016) with higher richness in the summer season and low vegetation cover (χ21, 89= 113.88; P= 0.0064) with higher richness in lower percentage cover. Thus, community managed forest should be protected as it has a significant role in increasing bird diversity, which has potential for attracting avifaunal tourism for the benefit of the local communities.



1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2333-2338 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Witmer ◽  
D. S. deCalesta

Unexploited populations of bobcats (Felis rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) were studied in the Elliott State Forest, Douglas and Coos counties, Oregon, from September 1981 to July 1982. A total of 633 radio locations of six bobcats and five coyotes were used to determine home ranges, activity, and habitat-use patterns. Twenty-five prey items were identified in bobcat and coyote scats. Diets of the two species were similar (overlap values were greater than 0.92 for all seasons). Mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) remains occurred in over 70% of the scats from both species. Home ranges for radio-collared animals averaged 14 km2 for male coyotes, 12 km2 for female coyotes, 11 km2 for one male bobcat, and 2 km2 for female bobcats. Bobcat and coyote home ranges overlapped in time as well as space. Radio-collared bobcats were detected on occasion within the same clear-cut sites concurrently with radio-collared coyotes, and daily activity patterns were nearly identical between the two predators. Bobcats and coyotes used open areas during nightly hunting activities and retired to forested areas during the day. Coyotes used grassy, more open clearings whereas bobcats favored brushy sites.



2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Wendy Arjo

Abstract Timber resources are a vital part of the economy in the Pacific Northwest, yet reforestation efforts are often hampered by animal damage. Understanding the factors that influence seedling damage can assist managers in implementing appropriate techniques to reduce species-specific damage. I radio-collared and monitored mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa) from preharvest to seedling planting to determine the impacts of forest management practices on demographics. In addition, I monitored Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings on 28 plots on two harvest units (Vesta and Schoolhouse) to determine the effects of chemical site preparation on mountain beaver foraging and subsequent seedling damage. Mountain beaver densities differed between silvicultural treatments (F3,39 = 3.58, P < 0.02), although reproductive success did not (χ2 = 0.14, df = 1, P = 0.70). Larger mountain beaver home ranges were documented in the mature timber compared with those following harvest. Home ranges were also larger in the chemical site preparation portion of the unit (mean = 3.37 ± 0.9 ha) than in the nontreated portion of the unit (mean = 0.82 ± 0.17 ha) on Vesta. Herbicide treatment did not promote seedling damage on either unit. Vegetation does not appear to be the only factor influencing mountain beaver movements and seedling damage. Availability of water is very important for mountain beavers and may also influence their foraging choice, as well as contributing to their increased movements in mature timber (reduced groundwater) versus clearcut areas. Understanding the effects of vegetation on population demographics and subsequent seedling damage may allow for initiating a nonlethal management method using alternative forage.





Author(s):  
Shauna McBride-Kebert ◽  
Jessica S. Taylor ◽  
Krystan A. Wilkinson ◽  
Heidi Lyn ◽  
Frank R. Moore ◽  
...  

Understanding how habitat characteristics influence common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, distribution and behavior can be useful for conservation. The dolphin community in Roanoke Sound, North Carolina primarily exhibits seasonal residency and there is limited information on their habitat use. The objectives of this study were to increase habitat use knowledge and determine the relationship between habitat characteristics and dolphin distribution using standardized photographic-identification data (2009 – 2017). A hot spot (Getis-Ord Gi*) analysis showed dolphins frequently use the southern region containing the mouth of the estuary for feeding and traveling. Habitat characteristics were modeled with zero-altered gamma (ZAG), generalized linear (GLM), and generalized additive (GAM) models to predict dolphin group density. Models showed that groups were more likely to be present in areas with greater benthic slope variation and shallow areas closer to land, and that different habitat characteristics were associated with feed, social, and travel activities. This study suggests that Roanoke Sound provides a seasonal foraging area and travel corridor between the estuaries and coastal waters. This information contributes baseline knowledge of how habitat potentially influences dolphin distribution and behavior which can be useful for management and conservation, especially in areas where habitat changes and impacts need to be assessed.



Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Slaght ◽  
Sergei G. Surmach ◽  
R.J. Gutiérrez

AbstractConservation efforts for Blakiston's fish owl Bubo blakistoni in Russia are limited, partly because habitat use by these rare owls is poorly known. We therefore studied nesting and foraging habitat characteristics of Blakiston's fish owls in Primorye, Russia. We sampled habitat at 14 nest sites, 12 nest stand sites and 13 random sites; we also sampled rivers within 14 fish owl home ranges across our 20,213 km2 study area. We found that large old trees and riparian old-growth forest were the primary characteristics of nest and foraging sites, respectively. Large trees were probably used as nest sites because they have cavities large enough to accommodate these birds. Big trees are also important because they are primary sources of large woody debris in rivers, which enhances suitable habitat for salmon, the owl's primary prey. Based on habitat characteristics, nest sites were correctly distinguished from random sites 74% (Kappa = 0.48) of the time, nest stands from random sites 56% (Kappa = 0.12) of the time, and used sites from available foraging sites 68% (Kappa = 0.36) of the time. The management and conservation of old-growth forests is essential for sustaining this species because they are central to the owls' nesting and foraging behaviour. Moreover, conservation of these forests sustains habitat for many other species.



2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 1265-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Ojeda ◽  
Laura Chazarreta

The Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus (King, 1827)) is a large, vulnerable species exhibiting geographic range retraction. We analyzed the size and location of forest areas used by these woodpeckers in consecutive years (2010–2012), as related to habitat characteristics, in an old-growth lenga (Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp et Endl.) Krasser) forest of Argentine Patagonia. Woodpeckers were tracked during the postbreeding season, and forest features were evaluated in plots within territories. Woodpecker density was 1.01 territories·100 ha–1. The resident population apparently saturates the forest available in the study site; hence, territorial disputes were frequent between all pairs of adjacent families. Families used 39.3 ± 13.6 ha during the postreproductive season and 63.2 ± 12.3 ha across the three seasons, with interannual variability in both location and size of the areas used. Abundances of large live trees and of coarse woody debris were correlated with smaller, presumably high-quality, home ranges. Other forest attributes that are often important in woodpecker habitat (e.g., snag density) had little relationship with home-range size, but the high availability of resources in old-growth forests may mask their potential importance in a poorer quality habitat. Our results show that Magellanic Woodpecker family groups require a minimum of 100 ha in old-growth forest habitat; thus, forest patches in less favourable forest conditions (e.g., younger, managed, fragmented, mixed forests) should probably be much larger to support a resident pair or family. This habitat size would be a provisional minimum threshold to be used in management decisions involving the forests of Patagonia until alternative figures are derived from studies across multiple forest types.



2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Zielinski ◽  
Fredrick V. Schlexer ◽  
Jeffrey R. Dunk ◽  
Matthew J. Lau ◽  
James J. Graham


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald G. Eckstein ◽  
Thomas F. O'Brien ◽  
Orrin J. Rongstad ◽  
John G. Bollinger

The effects of snowmobile traffic on the winter home-ranges, movements, and activity patterns, of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), were studied during two winters in northern Wisconsin. There were no significant differences in home-range size and habitat use of the Deer in areas with and without snowmobiling. However, snowmobiling caused some Deer to leave the immediate vicinity of the snowmobile trail. Deer were most affected when they were within 61 m of the snowmobile trail.



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