The diet, habitat use and social organization of pine martens in Scotland was investigated by comparing data from marten populations at high and low density. Correction factors, determined from feeding trials with captive martens, were used to convert frequency of occurrence data, to estimates of the relative weight intake for each prey item in the scat. Spatial orientation and habitat utilization were determined from the radio tracking of 24 martens, 12 from each study area. In total 36 animals were caught, many of which were recaptured on a regular basis. All animals were aged by cross-sectioning of an extracted incisor and sexual activity in males was determined by measurements of blood hormones and abdominal scent gland activity. The density of martens in each area was assessed using an injection of radio isotope to label the scats of captured animals. The results showed that in both study areas the principal prey of martens were cervid carrion and field voles <i>Microtus agrestis</i> and that the preferred prey was field vole. The new method of interpreting the diet from prey remains in the scats suggests that the importance of invertebrates and fruit may have been over estimated by previous authors. A new method to analyse differential use of vegetation types form low resolution radio-fixes (fixes being assigned to grid cells likely to contain more than one vegetation type) is proposed. The results showed that martens selected vegetation types based on the cover each provided and that territories were established relative to a constant amount of woodland per individual: 126 + /- 40 Ha. Despite the high density of the preferred prey <i>Microtus</i> in open vegetation types, open vegetation was avoided within territories as well as in territory selection. It is suggested that selection for vegetation types, at this level, is driven by predator avoidance but that selection between different wooded vegetation types is determined by prey availability and to a lesser extent suitable den sites.

Un des objectifs majeurs de l'Ecologie est de comprendre les mécanismes qui facilitent la coexistence des espèces. L'hypothèse de la complémentarité des niches prédit qu'afin de coexister, deux espèces sympatriques doivent différer dans les conditions nécessaires à leur survie pour une des trois principales dimensions écologiques, la dimension spatiale, la dimension temporelle et la dimension alimentaire. Les mécanismes qui permettent la syntopie chez les mammifères terrestres sont complexes et variés et, parmi les méso-carnivores, la sélection d'habitat différentielle est un phénomène très répandu permettant la coexistence. La martre Européenne (Martes martes) et la fouine (Martes foina) sont les deux espèces carnivores sympatriques les plus similaires en termes de phylogénie, morphologie, régime alimentaire et rythme d'activité. Dans une région rurale française (la Bresse) où les deux espèces sont présentes en sympatrie, nous avons montré une sélection de l'habitat différentielle qui pourrait expliquer leur coexistence. En utilisant des suivis télémétriques, nous avons montré que les deux espèces diffèrent dans leur patron d'utilisation des gîtes de repos diurnes (nombre de gîtes, surface couverte par les gîtes, principal habitat utilisé pour le gîte). De plus, à partir d'un nombre important d'individus génotypés, nous avons montré que les différences dans l'utilisation de l'habitat n'ont que de faibles conséquences sur les éléments du paysage qui influent sur les flux de gènes. En effet, alors que nous avons montré un impact négatif de la pression de piégeage plus important pour la fouine que pour la martre, la connectivité pour les deux espèces est principalement assurée par le couvert végétal alors que les routes, le bâti humain et le milieu ouvert la réduisent partiellement. Ces résultats, collectivement avec une comparaison morphométrique et une approche en dynamique de population, fournissent des éléments de réponse quant à ce patron de coexistence et ses conséquences sur ces deux espèces sympatriques / One of the major goals of ecology is to understand the mechanisms which promote species coexistence. The niche-complementarity hypothesis predicts that two sympatric species must differ in their requirements for one of the three main ecological dimensions, i.e. habitat use, diet and activity time, to coexist. Mechanisms that allow for synthopy in terrestrial mammals are complex and varied and, among mesocarnivores, differential habitat selection is a widespread evidenced phenomenon facilitating coexistence. Plus, this differential habitat selection must have consequences on the landscape elements influencing gene flow. It is thus important to gather information on species life history traits in terms of habitat use and selection and in terms of demographic and genetic responses to environmental perturbations. The European pine marten (Martes martes) and the stone marten (Martes foina) are the most similar sympatric carnivores in Europe taking into account phylogenetic relationships, morphology, foraging behaviour, and activity pattern. In a French rural region (Bresse, eastern France) where both species are present in sympatry, we evidenced differential habitat use which could theoretically explain their sympatry. Using telemetry data set, we shown that both species differed in their resting site patterns (number of resting sites, area over which they are distributed, main habitat type used for resting). Additionally, using large data set of genotyped individuals, we found that these habitat use differences have slight consequences on the landscape elements influence on gene flow. Indeed, while we shown a differential negative impact of the trapping pressure on the spatial genetic variation, connectivity in both species is mainly provided by vegetation cover while roads human buildings and open area partially impede it. These results, collectively with morphometric comparison and population dynamics approaches, provided better insights on the pattern and the consequences of the coexistence of the two sympatric species

Data derived largely from ecclesiastical (mostly churchwardens') accounts, foxhunting statistics, local scientific society records and 19th and 20th century literature sources from a wide range of published material, have provided detailed evidence of the status and changes in distribution over the past four centuries in Yorkshire for fox (Vulpes vulpes), badger (Meles meles), otter (Lutra lutra), pine marten (Martes martes), stoat (Mustela erminea), weasel (M. nivalis), polecat (M. putorius), American mink (M. vison), wildcat (Felis silvestris) and domestic cat (Felis catus). In the case of the domestic cat, questionnaire surveys quantified population sizes and predatory activity in rural, suburban and urban situations. Evidence of the former distribution of all the carnivores studied provides a credible historical basis for biodiversity action planning and the substantial archived database and bibliography provide further research opportunities.

Les modifications du paysage engendrées par les activités humaines sont une des causes majeures du déclin de la biodiversité. En générant une perte de la connectivité fonctionnelle du paysage, elles limitent les déplacements des individus et entraînent la rupture des flux de gènes, processus clés dans le maintien et la persistance des populations. Cependant, le lien entre ces processus et la structure du paysage est encore mal compris. Dans ce contexte, nous avons conduit une étude sur la Martre des pins, une espèce a priori forestière, bien que capable de s’installer durablement dans des paysages fragmentés. A partir de l’analyse de la variabilité génétique de groupes échantillonnées sur 13 sites forestiers à l’échelle de la région Champagne-Ardenne, et du suivi des déplacements d’individus à fine échelle, en milieu continu et fragmenté, nous avons estimé la résistance du paysage aux différents déplacements, c’est-à-dire dans quelle mesure ceux-ci sont freinés ou facilités par les éléments du paysage. Nous avons mis en évidence que les déplacements sont freinés, d’une part par la présence d’une large plaine agricole, et d’autre part, par certaines infrastructures de transport. Nous avons également mis en évidence que les déplacements des martres entre les taches d’habitats sont facilités par la présence de haies et que la hauteur du couvert végétal des habitats non boisés pourrait jouer un rôle dans ces déplacements. Cette étude apporte d’importantes connaissances sur l’écologie des déplacements de la Martre des pins et souligne la nécessité de la prise en compte de la réponse des organismes dans l’établissement des futurs réseaux écologiques. / Landscape changes, generated by anthropogenic activities, are widely recognised as one of the main causes of global biodiversity decline. Leading to a loss of functional landscape connectivity, they disrupt movements and gene flow which play a primordial role for the persistence of populations. However, the relationship between these processes and landscape structure remains unclear. In this context, we studied landscape connectivity in European pine marten, a forest species present in fragmented landscapes. We evaluated landscape resistance, i.e. how landscape features impede or facilitate movements and gene flow, analysing genetic variability of groups sampled in 13 forest sites of the Champagne-Ardenne regional area, and studying individual fine-scale movements in both continuous and fragmented areas. We showed that intensive agricultural plain and certain linear infrastructures could impede movements. In addition, we showed that hedgerows facilitate movements between forest patches and we suggested that vegetation height of open habitats could play a role for these movements. This study provides important insights on movement ecology of the European pine marten and underlines the need to take into account responses of organisms in the establishment of ecological networks.

Skogsmård (Martes martes) har länge varit Sveriges enda mårdart men 2018 gjordes det första fyndet av en annan art, stenmård (Martes foina), i nordöstra Skåne. Efter att detta fynd uppmärksammats fick Invasiva Arter på Svenska Jägareförbundet in uppgifter om ytterligare tre fynd från området. Syftet med studien var således att undersöka om stenmård är en etablerad art i nordöstra Skåne samt att undersöka om det finns släktskap mellan de funna individerna. Utifrån tidigare fyra fynd utfördes en fältstudie för att försöka samla in ytterligare fynd av stenmård i nordöstra Skåne, med hjälp av fällfångst. Fältstudien utfördes 1 november 2020–28 februari 2021 vilket motsvarade jakttiden för mård i Skåne. Inga nya fynd av stenmård gjordes under fältstudien, men sju fynd rapporterades in från allmänheten inom studieområdet. Således har totalt elva bekräftade fynd gjorts i Sverige åren 2014–2021, samtliga i nordöstra Skåne. Genetiska analyser utfördes av Naturhistoriska riksmuseet på fyra av kadavren för att undersöka eventuellt släktskap mellan dem, genom att jämföra individernas mitokondrie-DNA. Resultatet visade att de fyra individerna hade samma haplotyp och således härstammar från en gemensam anmoder. Utifrån åldersbestämning och tidpunkt för fällning kunde även bekräftas att de fyra individerna härstammar från minst två kullar och därmed att föryngring skett i området. Vi bedömer stenmård som en etablerad främmande art i nordöstra Skåne, eftersom den inom historisk tid inte ingått i Sveriges fauna och eftersom föryngring bekräftats. Vidare bedömdes att artens potential att klassas som invasiv bör utredas ytterligare utifrån ekologiska, ekosystemrelaterade och ekonomiska aspekter. / Pine marten (Martes martes) was the only marten species in Sweden until 2018 when the first stone marten (Martes foina) was found in the north-east of Scania. When this finding becamepublic, four more records from the area were reported to the Swedish association for hunting and wildlife management. In this study it was investigated if the stone marten is an established species in the north-east of Scania and if there is a genetic relationship between the found individuals. Based on the localization of previous records, a trapping field study was performed to see if further records of stone marten could be made in the north-east of Scania. The field study was executed between 1 November 2020-28 February 2021, which is within the hunting season of martens in the area. The field study did not result in any new records, but in seven new reports from the public within the area. In summary, a total of eleven stone marten records have been made in Sweden 2014-2021, all in the north-east of Scania. The Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm performed genetic analyses offour of the cadavers to investigate their genetic relationship by comparing mitochondrial DNA. Results showed that the four individuals had the same haplotype and therefore originate from one common ancestral female. Based on age determination and time of death it was also confirmed that the four individuals originate from at least two litters and that reproduction has occurred in the area. Since the stone marten historically is not part of theSwedish fauna and since local reproduction was confirmed, it was concluded that the species is an established alien species. It was also concluded that the species potential to be classified as invasive should be further investigated based on ecological, ecosystem related and economical aspects.

Data derived largely from ecclesiastical (mostly churchwardens¿) accounts, foxhunting statistics, local scientific society records and 19th and 20th century literature sources from a wide range of published material, have provided detailed evidence of the status and changes in distribution over the past four centuries in Yorkshire for fox (Vulpes vulpes), badger (Meles meles), otter (Lutra lutra), pine marten (Martes martes), stoat (Mustela erminea), weasel (M. nivalis), polecat (M. putorius), American mink (M. vison), wildcat (Felis silvestris) and domestic cat (Felis catus). In the case of the domestic cat, questionnaire surveys quantified population sizes and predatory activity in rural, suburban and urban situations. Evidence of the former distribution of all the carnivores studied provides a credible historical basis for biodiversity action planning and the substantial archived database and bibliography provide further research opportunities.

Monitoring the distribution, abundance and demography of species is vital to ensure that conservation efforts are appropriate and effective. Monitoring enables evaluation of responses to natural or human disturbance, highlights the need for management interventions and enables these interventions to be assessed and refined. The methods used largely depend on the specific aim of monitoring and behaviour of the target species, as well as the time and spatial scale that monitoring is required to cover. The European pine marten (Martes martes) is one of few remaining mammalian predators native to the UK. Since persecution in the early 19th century resulted in their near extinction, pine martens have recovered part of their former range in Scotland. Their recent recovery and an overlap in territory with vulnerable prey species such as the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) make the collection of accurate baseline data and subsequent monitoring of population trends vital for conservation efforts. Faecal counts have traditionally been used to provide a relative measure of population density for pine marten. In most cases, absolute measures of population density require individual identification. Non-invasive genotyping can provide this information but the quality of DNA from these samples is often poor. Here, the process is refined for pine marten faeces (scats) and hair samples. DNA degradation increased significantly for scats exposed to rainfall, with the rate of DNA amplification success reduced by 38% over a 16 day period. Success rates for hair samples were higher when more hair follicles were included in the analysis. Population densities were estimated for three forests in Scotland using a robust combination of non-invasive genotyping of hair samples and spatially explicit capture recapture modelling. Population density estimates of 0.07 (95% CI 0.03 - 0.16) to 0.38 km-2 (95% CI 0.11 - 1.07) were obtained which are within the range of previous estimates for forests elsewhere in Scotland. The first attempt to quantify the relationship between traditional scat counts and home range size was then conducted; a significant negative correlation exists but only when population density is relatively low. Previous studies suggest that pine martens in Western Europe are less forest dependent than those in Eastern Europe. Results from this thesis support this, with populations at the highest density found at sites with intermediate forest cover. This tolerance of lower forest cover is also apparent in the diet. Despite a preference for Myodes voles in populations in Eastern Europe, those in Western Europe show a strong preference for Microtus voles as well as a higher level of frugivory. We assess the autumn diet of four populations in Scotland assess the effect of forest cover and sex on the diet. There was no evidence of differential consumption of Microtus voles or birds between the sexes. Our analysis shows that frugivory is influenced by forest fragmentation, with a 5-fold increase in the occurrence of fruit (from 2% to 10%) as forest cover increased from 4% to 47%. Diversionary feeding has been suggested as a management technique to reduce the depredation of capercaillie by pine martens. This thesis presents the first attempt to quantify the success and cost-efficacy of diversionary feeding for a range of problems (crop damage, threatened safety, livestock depredation) across 30 experimental trials. The strategy proved more effective when targeted towards food-limited populations, and when aiming to alleviate habitat damage or risks to human safety rather than depredation. A novel decision-making framework was developed to aid managers with the initial planning of the strategy and its subsequent implementation within an adaptive format. Further to this, the feasibility of using diversionary feeding with a view to reduce the depredation of capercaillie by pine martens was assessed. Questionnaire responses were collected from people who have provided food for pine martens throughout Scotland. A positive reaction to food was observed, with 58% of respondents reporting that initial visits occurred within one week of placement and 46% reporting that subsequent visits were received daily. These results suggest that diversionary feeding may be a viable option for pine marten management, although testing of its impact on capercaillie productivity would be required.

Increased afforestation and protective legislation in the latter half of the 20th Century allowed the British pine marten Martes martes population to recover from near extinction. Although still largely confined to northern Scotland, the marten population is expanding its size and range by utlising coniferous plantation forests which have become increasingly available. However, little is known about the marten’s ecology in plantation forestry, and less about how they may adapt to changing silvicultural trends. This study investigated aspects of pine marten ecology within Morangie forest, a managed plantation in NE Scotland, with the ultimate aim of formulating management guidelines for modern plantation forests. During the course of the study 11 pine marten were radiotracked and their home ranges mapped to examine marten-habitat associations at several spatial scales. Compositional analysis of habitat based on dominant vegetation type showed that martens established their home ranges in areas dominated by mature forest, whilst showing relative avoidance for open heath moor and grazed pasture. Within home ranges, foraging martens utilised patches of graminoid vegetation, such as those typically associated with Microtus voles, in areas with little or no tree canopy cover. These findings provide unequivocal evidence that fine-scale patches of non-forested habitat provide crucial foraging resources for marten, and therefore ought to be provisioned for in forest management plans. To assist the implementation of these requirements in forest planning, a model was developed to predict the fine scale distribution of Microtus-rich foraging habitat for marten using GIS-based habitat variables that are routinely available to forest managers: topographic wetness index, stand tree height and stand basal area. Management recommendations of ways to improve wind-firm plantation forests as habitats for pine marten are provided. To augment the investigation of marten spatial ecology, the diet of martens was examined seasonally through the analysis of contents from c. 2450 scats, 86 % of which were genetically identified as being pine marten in origin. Marten diets displayed marked seasonality, but small mammals, berries and small birds were the principal foods consumed based on both frequency of occurrence and estimated weight of biomass ingested. Comparison of the relative composition of small mammal species in the diet with those available in the environment revealed that marten displayed an indisputable preference for Microtus voles. Such habits demonstrate that the niche of Scottish martens has diverged from those in mainland populations which predominantly prey upon Clethrionomys voles. A comparison of the marten’s winter diet with those found in studies at similar latitudes (58°N) demonstrated that the Scottish diet was more similar to diets at more southerly latitudes as they contained more fruit and fewer large mammals than typically boreal diets. Investigation of inter-annual variation of the marten’s spring diet from five successive years revealed that Microtus were consistently the most important prey species in the diet each year. Indirect evidence of the relative abundance of Microtus suggested that Microtus populations were non-cyclic. Findings are discussed with reference to the unique ecological circumstances confronting marten in the Scotland; typical of insular populations the UK has a depauperate native fauna in comparison with mainland Europe, in addition to this, mild climatic conditions, particularly over winter, and a historically fragmented landscape appear to have allowed the niche of the Scottish marten to diverge from that considered typical elsewhere in its range. The Scottish marten is dependent on both forested and open habitats, and is both a Microtus specialist and trophic generalist.