Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest
ABSTRACT Information on fisher (Martes pennanti) resource selection in deciduous forests of eastern North America is limited. We studied resting habitat selection in a fisher population that recolonized predominantly deciduous forest in Pennsylvania, USA, during 2006–2007. We quantified selection by...
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Wiley
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.300 |
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| author | Sean W. Gess E. Hance Ellington Matthew R. Dzialak Joseph E. Duchamp Matthew Lovallo Jeffrey L. Larkin |
| author_facet | Sean W. Gess E. Hance Ellington Matthew R. Dzialak Joseph E. Duchamp Matthew Lovallo Jeffrey L. Larkin |
| author_sort | Sean W. Gess |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Information on fisher (Martes pennanti) resource selection in deciduous forests of eastern North America is limited. We studied resting habitat selection in a fisher population that recolonized predominantly deciduous forest in Pennsylvania, USA, during 2006–2007. We quantified selection by comparing used and randomly selected available sites at 2 spatial scales: the rest structure and at the rest site (area surrounding rest structures). We identified 79 rest structures used by 15 fishers. The most common rest sites were live trees with cavities or broken tops (69%), with black cherry (Prunus serotina), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) accounting for nearly 65% of tree use. Standing dead trees with cavities or broken tops accounted for 17% of rest structures. Ground‐level structures (including burrows, rock piles, and root balls) comprised 14% of observations. Trees selected as rest structures were larger in diameter at breast height (55.3 cm ± 14.9 cm) than were trees at the center of random sites (28.8 cm ± 6.8 cm). Relative to random sites, important components of forest surrounding rest structures included structurally complex forest floors (based on coarse woody debris and rocky ground cover), canopy complexity, and diversity of tree condition class. Maintaining resting habitat for fishers in the eastern deciduous forest can be accomplished through management practices that encourage structurally diverse forests, including retention of coarse woody debris, and variation in tree size and condition. © 2013 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db07259d6b9a4a939755fda9ed77c5c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-db07259d6b9a4a939755fda9ed77c5c02024-12-16T12:21:16ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402013-12-0137480581410.1002/wsb.300Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forestSean W. Gess0E. Hance Ellington1Matthew R. Dzialak2Joseph E. Duchamp3Matthew Lovallo4Jeffrey L. Larkin5Department of Biology, Weyandt HallIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIndianaPA15705USADepartment of Biology, Weyandt HallIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIndianaPA15705USAHayden‐Wing Associates, LLC2308 South 8th StreetLaramieWY82070USADepartment of Biology, Weyandt HallIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIndianaPA15705USAPennsylvania Game Commission2001 Elmerton AvenueHarrisburgPA17110‐9797USADepartment of Biology, Weyandt HallIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIndianaPA15705USAABSTRACT Information on fisher (Martes pennanti) resource selection in deciduous forests of eastern North America is limited. We studied resting habitat selection in a fisher population that recolonized predominantly deciduous forest in Pennsylvania, USA, during 2006–2007. We quantified selection by comparing used and randomly selected available sites at 2 spatial scales: the rest structure and at the rest site (area surrounding rest structures). We identified 79 rest structures used by 15 fishers. The most common rest sites were live trees with cavities or broken tops (69%), with black cherry (Prunus serotina), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) accounting for nearly 65% of tree use. Standing dead trees with cavities or broken tops accounted for 17% of rest structures. Ground‐level structures (including burrows, rock piles, and root balls) comprised 14% of observations. Trees selected as rest structures were larger in diameter at breast height (55.3 cm ± 14.9 cm) than were trees at the center of random sites (28.8 cm ± 6.8 cm). Relative to random sites, important components of forest surrounding rest structures included structurally complex forest floors (based on coarse woody debris and rocky ground cover), canopy complexity, and diversity of tree condition class. Maintaining resting habitat for fishers in the eastern deciduous forest can be accomplished through management practices that encourage structurally diverse forests, including retention of coarse woody debris, and variation in tree size and condition. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.300deciduous forestfisherMartes pennantiPennsylvaniarest siteselection |
| spellingShingle | Sean W. Gess E. Hance Ellington Matthew R. Dzialak Joseph E. Duchamp Matthew Lovallo Jeffrey L. Larkin Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest Wildlife Society Bulletin deciduous forest fisher Martes pennanti Pennsylvania rest site selection |
| title | Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest |
| title_full | Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest |
| title_fullStr | Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest |
| title_short | Rest‐site selection by fishers (Martes pennanti) in the eastern deciduous forest |
| title_sort | rest site selection by fishers martes pennanti in the eastern deciduous forest |
| topic | deciduous forest fisher Martes pennanti Pennsylvania rest site selection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.300 |
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