Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-86). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.) in Wildlife Ecology--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-246).

No description available.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Acadia University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. En.)--Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-26).

No description available.

Though the American marten (Martes americana) is widely distributed across northern North America, habitat use and population abundance vary widely across the range. Due to its status as a furbearer, the species has been extensively researched, resulting in a large body of knowledge about the species’ ecology, distribution, and abundance, as well as drivers of population structure and dynamics. More recently, marten research has shifted focus to genetics, habitat associations, and estimation of population state variables. The rapid increase in estimation of states such as occupancy, abundance, and density has likely been driven by the increasing accessibility of noninvasive field technology, such as noninvasive genetic sampling and remote camera trapping, and by the statistical development of ecological hierarchical models. This convergence of advances in field and analytical methods is most apparent in the now widespread application of spatial capture-recapture, an approach that produces robust estimates of population densities and abundance that can be compared across time and space. These new models are especially valuable near the edges of marten distribution where populations are often recovering from historic overexploitation, and expanding into areas they have previously been absent from. In these areas, detailed, landscape-scale understanding of marten populations is necessary in order to establish current conditions, effectively monitor changes, and predict what effect management actions may have on marten populations. I utilized these models to study marten populations in New Hampshire where marten are a species of management interest, and recent recovery has led to their removal from the state endangered species list. Through a collaborative effort with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department in the winters of 2017 and 2018, marten were surveyed across northern New Hampshire using a novel camera trap design that allows for the identification of individuals. These data were analyzed using spatial capture-recapture models, allowing me to evaluate habitat associations that explain spatial variation in marten density and provide a population status assessment for the New Hampshire marten population. Marten densities are highest in the White Mountain National Forest, though other protected lands in northern New Hampshire also appear to support larger populations. The greatest population densities coincided with deeper snows, increased canopy closure, and intermediate boreal biomass. These results provide additional support for several hypotheses explaining marten habitat use across their range while also providing novel insight that will inform active management of both marten and the habitat they occur in. In addition to the population status assessment, I evaluated the relationship between estimates of occupancy and density in New Hampshire. Though utility of non-invasive methodology can decrease research costs, the need for individual identification in spatial capture-recapture models represents a cost increase over occupancy models. My results suggest that the two are positively correlated; however, occupancy is a poor predictor of the entire range of density, especially because the variables used to predict each of the state variables are different. Thus, occupancy is likely not a good proxy for density in New Hampshire, however it could be used to track general trends through time so long as density is re-evaluated periodically.

Individual variation in survival and behavior of American marten (Martes americana) was studied in relation to disease, prey fluctuation, and clear-cutting from 10 January 1986 through 20 August 1987 in Newfoundland, Canada. Thirty-seven of forty marten captured on the study area were telemetered and monitored for part or all of the study. Marten mortality was concentrated in two intervals, fall 1986 and late winter 1987. Mortality during fall 1986 was attributable to encephalitis, while marten deaths during late winter 1987 resulted from predation and starvation attributable to the prey decline. Nonsuppurative encephalitis was first detected 7 October 1986; no further evidence of the disease could be found after 1 November 1986. In early October 1986, declining populations of meadow voles were documented; by June 1987 no voles could be found on the study area. In both mortality periods, young-of-the-year marten had lower survival rates than older marten, and transients survived less well than residents. However, encephalitis appeared to be a less selective mortality agent than the prey decline. Females, considered to be more vulnerable to resource perturbations, had lower survival rates and males higher rates during late winter 1987 than during the disease epizootic. Clear-cutting operations ran from 4 August 1986 through 14 November 1986; 3% (259 ha) of the study area was cut. Marten of all ages avoided clear-cuts during logging operations and for the first nine months afterward. Resident kits made significantly greater use of clear-cuts than older residents and were 3.2 times more likely than older residents to be found within clear-cuts. However, resident kits were 2.6 times and adults 8.3 times more likely to use habitats other than clear-cuts. The decline in prey abundance resulted in several changes in marten movement and spacing behaviors. Intrasexual home range overlap by residents was eliminated. All female residents present before the prey decline either died or abandoned their home ranges. The ratio of transients to resident numbers increased. Recolonization of vacated habitats was slower, and duration of dispersal for females increased. Intruder pressure and mating access appeared to play little role in the observed changes in social spacing. The decline in marten numbers during and after the prey decline appeared to have been partially affected by changes in spacing behaviors.

Although the American marten (Martes americana) generally is recognized as an obligate late-seral species, the factors dictating this association are poorly understood. Martens were studied in Newfoundland, Yellowstone National Park, and in a captive setting. As expected, use of habitat types was not proportional to availability P < 0.001). Defoliated and late-seral conifer stands were used more than expected, while all other types indicated expected or less than expected use. Habitat selection by martens was detectable at spatial scales greater than 80 m (P < 0.001). Newfoundland martens were radio-collared and monitored for diet activity during the winters of 1990 and 1991. A regression of the percent active fixes on temperature had a negative slope (P = -4.45, P= 0.084, n = 12), indicating that martens did not minimize their exposure to low temperatures. A log-linear model suggested that the presence or absence of light was the only factor associated with marten activity patterns (P < 0.001). Martens in Western Newfoundland and a population in Yellowstone National Park were tested for their response to predation risk using bait stations in various habitat types. Visitation rates of martens at bait-boxes were not different between study sites (P = 0 .190). However, martens visitation by habitat was different (P = 0.001). Martens use of bait-boxes was similar in old-growth and defoliated habitats, suggesting that foliar cover may not have a strong influence on the risk of predation for martens during winter. Martens did use bait-boxes in defoliated stands to a greater extent than those in open habitats (P < 0.001), suggesting that they perceived stem structure as decreasing predation risk. In captive experiments, martens selected areas with both overhead cover and woody stem structure (P = 0.012). I detected no difference between the use of areas with only overhead cover and those having only stem structure (P = 0.671). However, martens decreased foraging activity in response to a predatory cue (P = 0.004). The inability of martens to use food resources in areas lacking cover during the summer suggests a perception of increased threat associated with these areas.

The American marten (Martes americana) is associated with large tracts of relatively undisturbed, mature coniferous forests. I examined coarse woody debris (CWO) structure and small mammal abundance with respect to forest age and stem structure within second-growth forests, in comparison with old-growth stands in western Newfoundland. Results suggest that a critical change in marten habitat quality may occur at stand senescence, due to decreased tree competition, more complex subcanopy structure, and increased meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) abundance. Analysis of stem structure within a chronosequence of 19 second-growth stands indicated high intertree competition, with dense canopy closure and active self-thinning, until stand senescence at 80 years. Old-growth stands were less dense, offering more canopy openings. CWD volume observed within the chronosequence demonstrated the typical U-shaped temporal relationship observed in other forested systems. Lowest CWD volumes were observed within semimature to mature second growth. Highest levels of both CWD volume and structural complexity corresponded with stand senescence and old growth. Small mammals were sampled within immature, semimature, mature, and silviculturally overmature coniferous stands in western Newfoundland during 1993 and 1994. Meadow voles were most abundant within overmature stands (P Results from this study suggest that the critical elements of marten foraging habitat currently are found within a senescent forest stand structure. Further review of the literature and Newfoundland harvest records indicated that anthropogenic disturbance transformed a historically heterogeneous forested landscape into a more contiguous, even-aged, second-growth environment. Using the stand density management diagram, I designed a silvicultural approach to marten habitat management that simulates the structure of older forests within younger stages of forest development.