Winter diet of Vancouver Island marten (Martes americana)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1394-1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Nagorsen ◽  
Karen F. Morrison ◽  
Joan E. Forsberg
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Winter Diet ◽  
Insular Population

Digestive tracts from 701 marten (Martes americana) of known sex and age taken during the 1983–1986 fur harvests were used to determine winter diet of marten from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Small mammals, deer, birds, and salmonid fish were the major food items. Marten exploited nine species of small mammals including four introduced species, but more than 50% of the small mammal prey were deer mice (Peromyscus spp.). We attributed most deer remains to carrion. Avian prey was primarily small passerine and piciform species with Winter Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes) accounting for about 40% of the identifiable bird remains. Salmon remains were from bait consumption and fish exploited during the spawning runs. Although minor intersexual variation in diet was evident with females consuming more small mammals and small birds, dietary overlap between sexes was pronounced in this insular population.

scholarly journals Can camera trapping provide accurate estimates of small mammal ( Myodes rutilus and Peromyscus maniculatus ) density in the boreal forest?

2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Villette ◽  
Charles J. Krebs ◽  
Thomas S. Jung ◽  
Rudy Boonstra
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Hit Rate ◽  
Myodes Rutilus ◽  
Feasible Alternative

Abstract Estimating population densities of small mammals (< 100g) has typically been carried out by intensive livetrapping, but this technique may be stressful to animals and the effort required is considerable. Here, we used camera traps to detect small mammal presence and assessed if this provided a feasible alternative to livetrapping for density estimation. During 2010–2012, we used camera trapping in conjunction with mark–recapture livetrapping to estimate the density of northern red-backed voles ( Myodes rutilus ) and deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) in the boreal forest of Yukon, Canada. Densities for these 2 species ranged from 0.29 to 9.21 animals/ha and 0 to 5.90 animals/ha, respectively, over the course of this investigation. We determined if hit window—the length of time used to group consecutive videos together as single detections or “hits”—has an effect on the correlation between hit rate and population density. The relationship between hit rate and density was sensitive to hit window duration for Myodes with R2 values ranging from 0.45 to 0.59, with a 90-min hit window generating the highest value. This relationship was not sensitive to hit window duration for Peromyscus , with R2 values for the tested hit windows ranging from 0.81 to 0.84. Our results indicate that camera trapping may be a robust method for estimating density of small rodents in the boreal forest when the appropriate hit window duration is selected and that camera traps may be a useful tool for the study of small mammals in boreal forest habitat.

Geographic and sexual variation in the skull of Pacific coast marten (Martes americana)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1386-1393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo R. Giannico ◽  
David W. Nagorsen
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
The Third ◽  
Queen Charlotte Islands ◽  
Sexual Variation ◽  
Cranial Measurements

From multivariate analyses of 25 cranial measurements, we assessed geographic and sexual variation in three island and two mainland samples of Pacific coast marten (Marten americana) from the caurina subspecies group. Three morphological groups were evident: the first from Queen Charlotte Islands, the second from Alexander Archipelago and Alaska Panhandle, and the third from Vancouver Island and the southern British Columbia coast. We concluded that the subspecies M. a. nesophila should be restricted to the Queen Charlotte Islands; Vancouver Island and southern British Columbia coastal marten are aligned with M. a. caurina. Alaskan marten showed some affinities with the americana subspecies group. The strong differentiation of M. a. nesophila is concordant with the isolation and unique selection regime of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Sexual dimorphism was most pronounced in island samples; possible explanations for this trend are discussed.

Dietary overlap between sympatric dingoes and feral cats at a semiarid rangeland site in Western Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim S. Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Food Item ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Common Food ◽  
Semiarid Rangeland

The diet of sympatric dingoes and feral cats was studied in the semiarid southern rangelands of Western Australia. A total of 163 scats were collected over a period of 19 months. Rabbit remains were the most common food item in cat scats, followed by reptiles, small mammals and birds. Macropod remains were the most common food item in dingo scats, followed by rabbits and birds. Dingo scats did not contain small mammal remains, and infrequently contained arthropod and reptile remains. Cat and dingo scats contained remains from 11 and six mammal species, respectively. Of the small mammals, cat scats contained rodent remains more frequently than those of dasyurids. Dietary diversity of cats was higher than for dingoes and dietary overlap between the two species was relatively low.

Influence of alternative conifer release treatments on habitat structure and small mammal populations in south central British Columbia

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2023-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bruce Runciman ◽  
Thomas P. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
South Central ◽  
Cut Stump ◽  
And Control

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that conifer release treatments would simplify habitat structure and reduce small mammal populations in forest plantations. A secondary objective was to examine some important demographic characteristics, for selected small mammal species, that may be affected by changes in habitat. We examined the effects of manual cutting and cut-stump applications of glyphosate herbicide on vegetation, woody debris, and small mammal populations from 1991 to 1994 in young mixed-conifer plantations of south central British Columbia, Canada. The experimental design consisted of 9 separate and independent plantations: 3 controls, 3 manual treatments, and 3 cut-stump treatments. Total volumes of herbs, shrubs, coniferous trees, and woody debris were not affected by manual or cut-stump treatments for conifer release. Both treatments reduced total volumes of deciduous trees in the first posttreatment year. However, deciduous tree volumes on manual treatments had largely returned to pretreatment levels by the second posttreatment year. There were no significant (P > 0.05) effects of manual or cut-stump treatments on the population size of deer mice (Peromyscusmaniculatus Wagner), yellow-pine chipmunks (Tamiasamoenus J.A. Allen), southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomysgapped Vigors), or long-tailed voles (Microtuslongicaudus Merriam). The response of meadow voles (Microtuspennsylvanicus Ord) was variable. Sex ratios, body weights, reproduction, recruitment, and survival of deer mice remained similar on treatment and control plantations throughout this study. Changes in habitat structure up to 2 years posttreatment did not appear to exceed the tolerance of small mammal populations for early successional change.

Small-mammal response to group-selection silvicultural systems in Engelmann spruce – subalpine fir forests 14 years postharvest

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1698-1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas B. Ransome ◽  
Pontus M.F. Lindgren ◽  
Michaela J. Waterhouse ◽  
Harold M. Armleder ◽  
Thomas P. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Group Selection ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Subalpine Forests ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Engelmann Spruce ◽  
South Central ◽  
Significant Difference

Concerns about the impacts of clear-cut harvesting on ecosystem components in subalpine forests have generated a variety of alternative silvicultural systems in high-elevation forests in western North America. We examined responses of forest-floor small mammals, 14 years posttreatment, in four replicate units, uncut forest, a 1.0 ha group-selection cut, a large (>30 ha) clearcut, and the edge between the group-selection cut and uncut forest, in the Engelmann Spruce ( Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) – Subalpine Fir ( Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) biogeoclimatic zone in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Populations of small mammals were livetrapped during five sessions from June to September 2006. The mean abundance of southern red-backed voles ( Myodes gapperi Vigors) was significantly lower on large clearcuts than in uncut old-growth forests, with intermediate numbers in 1 ha cuts. The opposite trend was found for dusky shrews ( Sorex monticolus Merriam), while there was no significant difference in mean abundance of deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus Wagner) among treatments. Trappability, proportion of adult females breeding, and rate of survival of red-backed voles and deer mice were similar among treatments. Our results suggest that group-selection silviculture conducted in subalpine forests may have fewer negative impacts on the small-mammal community than large clearcuts.

scholarly journals Relative abundance of the Prairie Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata longicauda) in southwestern Alberta

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Garry E. Hornbeck ◽  
Dan Soprovich
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Capture Probability ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Microtus Spp ◽  
Capture Rates

Prairie Long-tailed Weasels (Mustela frenata longicauda) were live-trapped during fall 2005, 2006, and 2007 at Pine Coulee Reservoir and during fall 2005, 2008, and 2010 at Twin Valley Reservoir in southwestern Alberta. Our objective was to estimate the relative abundance of the Long-tailed Weasel and to estimate the relative abundance of small mammal prey. Body size and capture rates are reported for Long-tailed Weasels, and we report capture rates of small mammals. Annual capture rates for Long-tailed Weasels at Pine Coulee Reservoir were 0.44, 0.41, and 0.50 individuals per 100 corrected trap-nights (0.42, 0.38, and 0.48 individuals/100 trap-nights) in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. No Long-tailed Weasels were captured at Twin Valley Reservoir. The probability of capturing zero Long-tailed Weasels at Twin Valley Reservoir was very low, assuming a true capture probability equivalent to that observed at Pine Coulee Reservoir. Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were the most abundant small mammals captured in both project areas. Few shrews (Sorex spp.) and voles (Microtus spp.) were captured in either area.

scholarly journals Small mammal sampling incidents related to wild boar (Sus scrofa) in natural peri–urban areas

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
I. Torre ◽  
S. Cahill ◽  
J. Grajera ◽  
A. Raspall ◽  
A. Raspall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Urban Effect ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Continuous Population

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) has recently shown continuous population increases in many countries, leading to a rise in conflicts with human activities, including habituation to people and urban areas. Wild boar can disrupt the sampling of small mammals by reducing the number of potential captures. In this study we analysed whether sampling incidents recorded within a small mammal monitoring programme (SEMICE, www.semice.org) might be related to the density of wild boar in a network of protected parks. Our results suggested a peri–urban effect that was independent of wild boar densities in the protected parks; the number of damaged traps increased (rendering them inoperable for captures) and potentially resulted in underestimates of small mammals due to fewer functioning traps in the study area. We hypothesised that this high rate of damage to traps in a small and localised area in a peri–urban park could be related to wild boar associating human presence with greater opportunities to obtain food items of anthropogenic origin.

The influence of clear-cut logging and residual leave material on small mammal populations in aspen-dominated boreal mixedwoods

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A Moses ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Boreal Mixedwoods ◽  
Live Tree

We investigated responses of populations of common small mammals to variation in the amount of standing trees and residual woody material retained during logging in aspen-dominated, boreal mixedwood forest in north-central Alberta. Experimentally manipulated levels of residual material, with two replicates per level, were (i) "zero residual": clear-cut and no woody debris (tree tops and limbs); (ii) "low residual": clear-cut and woody debris; (iii) "moderate residual": 10% basal area standing live tree retention, and woody debris; and (iv) "uncut": 100% uncut. Patterns of small mammal abundance were similar throughout the study on uncut and moderate-residual grids, where southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi Vigors) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus Wagner) were numerically dominant. In contrast, C. gapperi were virtually absent from the low- and zero-residual grids during the breeding season following logging and occurred at low numbers in the following 2 years. Peromyscus maniculatus were common on low- and zero-residual grids in all years. We found no evidence that rates of reproductive activity and (or) survival in C. gapperi and P. maniculatus were affected by logging treatments. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus Ord) were uncommon on uncut and moderate-residual grids throughout the study but were abundant on both low-residual grids and one zero-residual grid, particularly in the second year following logging, when they exhibited irruptive dynamics in midsummer. In sum, relative abundances of common small mammals were most affected by intensive (clear-cut) logging, and our results suggest that the experimental retention of at least 10% basal area on cutovers may reduce some of these effects.

scholarly journals Response of small mammals and birds to partial cutting and clearcutting in northwest British Columbia

1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Steventon ◽  
K. L. MacKenzie ◽  
T. E. Mahon
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Significant Difference

A challenge facing forest managers is providing habitats for wildlife associated with mature or old-growth forests. One approach is to use partial cutting which maintains forest cover while still allowing timber harvest. We compared small mammal (voles, mice and shrews) and bird abundance after two intensities of partial cutting (30% and 60% volume removal) to clearcuts and uncut natural stands in coast-interior transitional forests of British Columbia. The 30% removal resulted in no significant difference in the bird community compared to the uncut stands, while southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) increased in abundance. Bird and small mammal communities in the 60% removal treatment were closer to the uncut forest than to clearcuts, but also included species typical of clearcuts. At least one bird species, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata), was most abundant in the 60% removal treatment. Several species such as the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) were most abundant in clearcuts, and Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) and Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) were almost exclusively found in clearcuts. Scattered aspen and birch trees left in two of the clearcuts were used as cavity nest trees by Red-breasted Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber), Hairy Woodpeckers (Picoides villosus), and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). We concluded that both of the partial cutting treatments provided habitat for small mammals and birds typical of mature forest, although the heavy removal began to show a shift towards species typical of clearcuts. Because no single treatment was optimal for all species, we recommend that partial cutting be part of a landscape strategy to provide a range of habitat conditions similar to those occurring under natural disturbance regimes. Key words: Partial cutting, clearcutting, silvicultural systems, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, ecosystem management, birds, small mammals

The plainfin midshipman’s soundscape at two sites around Vancouver Island, British Columbia

2018 ◽  
Vol 603 ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Halliday ◽  
MK Pine ◽  
APH Bose ◽  
S Balshine ◽  
F Juanes
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Vancouver Island
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