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Martin ME, Delheimer MS, Moriarty KM, Early DA, Hamm KA, Pauli JN, Mcdonald TL, Manley PN. Conservation of rare and cryptic species: Challenges of uncertainty and opportunities for progress. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marie E. Martin
- Oregon State University, Institute for Natural Resources Portland Oregon USA
| | - Matthew S. Delheimer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. Corvallis Oregon USA
| | | | - Keith A. Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company Korbel California USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Patricia N. Manley
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
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Moriarty KM, Thompson J, Delheimer M, Barry BR, Linnell M, Levi T, Hamm K, Early D, Gamblin H, Szykman Gunther M, Ellison J, Prevéy JS, Hartman J, Davis R. Predicted distribution of a rare and understudied forest carnivore: Humboldt marten ( Martes caurina humboldtensis). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11670. [PMID: 34434640 PMCID: PMC8354145 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many mammalian species have experienced range contractions. Following a reduction in distribution that has resulted in apparently small and disjunct populations, the Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) was recently designated as federally Threatened and state Endangered. This subspecies of Pacific marten occurring in coastal Oregon and northern California, also known as coastal martens, appear unlike martens that occur in snow-associated regions in that vegetation associations appear to differ widely between Humboldt marten populations. We expected current distributions represent realized niches, but estimating factors associated with long-term occurrence was challenging for this rare and little-known species. Here, we assessed the predicted contemporary distribution of Humboldt martens and interpret our findings as hypotheses correlated with the subspecies' niche to inform strategic conservation actions. METHODS We modeled Humboldt marten distribution using a maximum entropy (Maxent) approach. We spatially-thinned 10,229 marten locations collected from 1996-2020 by applying a minimum distance of 500-m between locations, resulting in 384 locations used to assess correlations of marten occurrence with biotic and abiotic variables. We independently optimized the spatial scale of each variable and focused development of model variables on biotic associations (e.g., hypothesized relationships with forest conditions), given that abiotic factors such as precipitation are largely static and not alterable within a management context. RESULTS Humboldt marten locations were positively associated with increased shrub cover (salal (Gautheria shallon)), mast producing trees (e.g., tanoak, Notholithocarpus densiflorus), increased pine (Pinus sp.) proportion of total basal area, annual precipitation at home-range spatial scales, low and high amounts of canopy cover and slope, and cooler August temperatures. Unlike other recent literature, we found little evidence that Humboldt martens were associated with old-growth structural indices. This case study provides an example of how limited information on rare or lesser-known species can lead to differing interpretations, emphasizing the need for study-level replication in ecology. Humboldt marten conservation would benefit from continued survey effort to clarify range extent, population sizes, and fine-scale habitat use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Moriarty
- Western Sustainable Forestry, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Joel Thompson
- Pacific Northwest Region Data Resources Management, USDA Forest Service, Joseph, OR, United States of America
| | - Matthew Delheimer
- Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Placerville, CA, United States of America
| | - Brent R. Barry
- Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Grand Ronde, OR, United States of America
| | - Mark Linnell
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Keith Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company, Korbel, CA, United States of America
| | - Desiree Early
- Green Diamond Resource Company, Korbel, CA, United States of America
| | - Holly Gamblin
- Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Jordan Ellison
- Western Sustainable Forestry, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Janet S. Prevéy
- Fort Collins Science Center, US Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
| | | | - Raymond Davis
- Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
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Tosa MI, Dziedzic EH, Appel CL, Urbina J, Massey A, Ruprecht J, Eriksson CE, Dolliver JE, Lesmeister DB, Betts MG, Peres CA, Levi T. The Rapid Rise of Next-Generation Natural History. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.698131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many ecologists have lamented the demise of natural history and have attributed this decline to a misguided view that natural history is outdated and unscientific. Although there is a perception that the focus in ecology and conservation have shifted away from descriptive natural history research and training toward hypothetico-deductive research, we argue that natural history has entered a new phase that we call “next-generation natural history.” This renaissance of natural history is characterized by technological and statistical advances that aid in collecting detailed observations systematically over broad spatial and temporal extents. The technological advances that have increased exponentially in the last decade include electronic sensors such as camera-traps and acoustic recorders, aircraft- and satellite-based remote sensing, animal-borne biologgers, genetics and genomics methods, and community science programs. Advances in statistics and computation have aided in analyzing a growing quantity of observations to reveal patterns in nature. These robust next-generation natural history datasets have transformed the anecdotal perception of natural history observations into systematically collected observations that collectively constitute the foundation for hypothetico-deductive research and can be leveraged and applied to conservation and management. These advances are encouraging scientists to conduct and embrace detailed descriptions of nature that remain a critically important component of the scientific endeavor. Finally, these next-generation natural history observations are engaging scientists and non-scientists alike with new documentations of the wonders of nature. Thus, we celebrate next-generation natural history for encouraging people to experience nature directly.
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Delheimer MS, Moriarty KM, Slauson KM, Roddy AM, Early DA, Hamm KA. Comparative Reproductive Ecology of Two Subspecies of Pacific Marten (Martes caurina) in California. NORTHWEST SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3955/046.094.0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Delheimer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3625 93rd Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington 98512
| | - Keith M. Slauson
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521
| | - Alyssa M. Roddy
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 3625 93rd Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 and
| | - Desiree A. Early
- Green Diamond Resource Company, PO Box 68, Korbel, California 95550
| | - Keith A. Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company, PO Box 68, Korbel, California 95550
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Tucker JM, Moriarty KM, Ellis MM, Golding JD. Effective sampling area is a major driver of power to detect long‐term trends in multispecies occupancy monitoring. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jody M. Tucker
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region 1323 Club Drive Vallejo California94592USA
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station 3625 93rd Avenue Olympia Washington98512USA
| | - Martha M. Ellis
- Department of Mathematics Montana State University 1156‐1174 South 11th Street Bozeman Montana59715USA
| | - Jessie D. Golding
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station 800 East Beckwith Avenue Missoula Montana59801USA
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Moriarty KM, Aubry KB, Morozumi CN, Howell BL, Happe PJ, Jenkins KJ, Pilgrim KL, Schwartz MK. Status of Pacific Martens (Martes caurina) on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. NORTHWEST SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.3955/046.093.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Moriarty
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3625 93rd Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington 98512
| | - Keith B. Aubry
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3625 93rd Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington 98512
| | | | - Betsy L. Howell
- USDA Forest Service, Olympic National Forest, 295142 Hwy 101 S, Quilcene, Washington 98376
| | - Patricia J. Happe
- USDI National Park Service, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362
| | - Kurt J. Jenkins
- US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362 and
| | - Kristine L. Pilgrim
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, 800 E Beckwith Drive, Missoula, Montana 59801
| | - Michael K. Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, 800 E Beckwith Drive, Missoula, Montana 59801
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Slauson KM, Zielinski WJ, Kirk TA, LaPlante DW. A Landscape Habitat Suitability Model for the Humboldt Marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) in Coastal California and Coastal Oregon. NORTHWEST SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.3955/046.093.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Slauson
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521
| | - William J. Zielinski
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521
| | - Thomas A. Kirk
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521
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Eriksson CE, Moriarty KM, Linnell MA, Levi T. Biotic factors influencing the unexpected distribution of a Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) population in a young coastal forest. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214653. [PMID: 31042737 PMCID: PMC6493723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pacific martens (Martes caurina) are often associated with mature forests with complex structure for denning, resting, and efficient hunting. Nonetheless, a small isolated population of the Humboldt subspecies of Pacific martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis) occupies a narrow strip of young, coastal forest (< 70 years old) but not inland mature forest in the central Oregon Coast Range. We examined factors contributing to this unexpected distribution of martens by 1) analyzing marten diets using DNA metabarcoding to assess 90 scats, 2) using camera traps to assess differences in the relative abundances of prey, competitors, and predators across a coastal to inland gradient of vegetation types, and 3) quantifying differences in extent of fruit-producing shrubs and vegetation structure within vegetation types. Diets of martens were diverse (12, 10, and 3 species of birds, mammals, and amphibians respectively), and most fall and winter scats contained fruit. Voles, mice, and varied thrushes (Ixoreus naevius) were dominant prey items. Voles, mice, and most birds, but not varied thrushes, were more commonly observed in the coastal shrub-dominated forest than in inland forest. The coastal shrub-dominated forest had the highest diversity of vertebrates and potential prey overall. Bobcats (Lynx rufus), a key potential predator, were more commonly detected in inland forest. Of potential competitors, western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis) were more commonly detected in inland forest, with gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) detected almost exclusively in coastal forests. Vegetation in coastal forests appears to provide, at least seasonally, more prey and fruit, and more overhead shrub cover compared with inland forest. Remaining plausible hypotheses for the restricted distribution of marten to coastal forests include increased prey, fruit, and overhead cover, and reduced predation risk from bobcats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E. Eriksson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Olympia, WA, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Linnell
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
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Moriarty KM, Verschuyl J, Kroll AJ, Davis R, Chapman J, Hollen B. Describing vegetation characteristics used by two rare forest-dwelling species: Will established reserves provide for coastal marten in Oregon? PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210865. [PMID: 30703124 PMCID: PMC6354973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest management guidelines for rare or declining species in the Pacific Northwest, USA, include both late successional reserves and specific vegetation management criteria. However, whether current management practices for well-studied species such as northern spotted owls (Strix occidentallis caurina) can aid in conserving a lesser known subspecies-Humboldt martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis)-is unclear. To address the lack of information for martens in coastal Oregon, USA, we quantified vegetation characteristics at locations used by Humboldt martens and spotted owls in two regions (central and southern coast) and at two spatial scales (the site level summarizing extensive vegetation surveys and regionally using remotely sensed vegetation and estimated habitat models). We estimated amount of predicted habitat for both species in established reserves. If predicted overlap in established reserves was low, then we reported vegetation characteristics to inform potential locations for reserves or management opportunities. In the Central Coast, very little overlap existed in vegetation characteristics between Humboldt martens and spotted owls at either the site or regional level. Humboldt martens occurred in young forests composed of small diameter trees with few snags or downed logs. Humboldt martens were also found in areas with very dense vegetation when overstory canopy and shrub cover percentages were combined. In the South Coast, Humboldt martens occurred in forests with smaller diameter trees than spotted owl sites on average. Coastal Humboldt martens may use stands of predicted high quality spotted owl habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Nonetheless, our observations suggest that coastal Humboldt martens exist in areas that include a much higher diversity of conifer size classes as long as extensive dense shrub cover, predominantly in the form of high salal and evergreen huckleberry, are available. We suggest that managers consider how structural characteristics (e.g., downed logs, shrub cover, patch size), are associated with long-term species persistence rather than relying on reserves based on broad cover types. Describing vegetation may partially describe suitability, but available prey or predation risk ultimately influence likelihood of individual Humboldt marten use. Guidelines for diversifying vegetation management, and retaining or restoring appropriate habitat conditions at both the stand level and regionally, may increase management flexibility and identify forest conditions that support both spotted owls and Humboldt martens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Moriarty
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jake Verschuyl
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Western Sustainable Forestry Program, Anacortes, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Raymond Davis
- USDA Forest Service, Region 6, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Joshua Chapman
- USDA Forest Service, Region 6 Regional Office, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Bruce Hollen
- USDI Bureau of Land Management, Regional Office, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Manlick PJ, Petersen SM, Moriarty KM, Pauli JN. Stable isotopes reveal limited Eltonian niche conservatism across carnivore populations. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Manlick
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin
| | - Shelby M. Petersen
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- Pacific Northwest Research Station USDA Forest Service Olympia Washington
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin
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Implications of introgression for wildlife translocations: the case of North American martens. CONSERV GENET 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Moriarty KM, Linnell MA, Thornton JE, Watts GW. Seeking efficiency with carnivore survey methods: A case study with elusive martens. WILDLIFE SOC B 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Moriarty
- Pacific Northwest Research Station; U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; 3625 93rd Avenue SW Olympia WA 98512 USA
| | - Mark A. Linnell
- Department of Forest Engineering; Resources, and Management, Oregon State University; 280 Peavy Hall Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | | | - G. Wesley Watts
- Almanor Ranger District; U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; 900 E. Highway 36 Chester CA 96020 USA
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