Effects of Landscape-scale Forest Management on Pacific
Marten Occupancy & Population Connectivity
Photo: K. Slauson
John Bailey, Oregon State University
Keith Slauson, USFS, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Katie Moriarty, Oregon State University
Presentation Outline
i. Background
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
iii. Animals Detected
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
iii. Animals Detected
iv. Goals for 2015
- timeline
Pacific Marten (Martes caurina)
Squirrel-sized carnivore within the weasel family (600-1000g)
• Associated with structurally-complex forests
• Rest and den sites = snags, trees and logs >36” DBH
• Populations decline in areas with 25-30% forest cover removed
(Hargis et al. 1999, Potvin et al. 2000)
• Dietary generalist (given high metabolism)
• High predation risk
Marten
Historical Distribution of Pacific Marten
in Coastal Forests
Washington –
Martes caurina caurina
Oregon and N. California –
M. c. humboldtensis
Historical distribution: Humboldt Marten (M. c.
caurina) in Oregon and California
Single subspecies in California and Oregon
Status Review
For Federally
Endangered in
coastal
CA & OR
by April 2015
Two extant
populations in Oregon
Survey Locations
Central
Coast
14 roadkill
(1985-2013)
3 trapped
(2011-2013)
Potential
Marten Detections
Roadkill Records
Recent Trapping
Extant Pop. Areas
Known
(Central Coast)
Potential Pop. Areas
Potential
9 detections
(~2000)
South
Coast
Known
(South Coast)
Marten Study Design – FWHMF 2014
Example Replicate Study Area
Sample Unit Design
500m
Multi-Scale Analysis
Home-Range
1-km
Connectivity
OSU Project Goals: Locate marten populations
and identify suitable landscape conditions
Overall Study Design
Sample areas at
border known
locations
2 stations/
sample unit
Project Cooperators
& Contributors*
Federal Agencies
U.S.F.S. Rogue-Siskiyou NF*
U.S.F.S. Siuslaw NF*
B.L.M. Coos Bay* & Salem*
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service*
U.S.F.S. PSW Research Station*
Private Landowners
Hancock Forest Management*
Plum Creek Timber Company*
Weyerhauser*
State Agencies
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
iii. Animals Detected
iv. Goals for 2015
v. Timeline
Protocol Created – Consistent Effort
Protocol for Oregon
- 2 & 6-km grid
- Established methods
- Genetic snares
Undergraduate Training Opportunity
Five OSU Students
Two Grids Surveyed – Several Ownerships
“Powers”
18 Sample Units
Powers
Hwy 34
“Grass Mountain”
18 Sample Units
USFS – 7 sections
BLM – 2 sections
Plum Creek – 9 sections
Expanded Efforts – Beyond the FWHMF
Vehicles and Fuel - BLM and
USFWS
Housing – Siuslaw and Rogue
Siskiyou National Forests
Additional Surveys – Plum
Creek, Hancock, Siuslaw NF
87 sample units surveyed!
(174 stations, >3500 trap nights)
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
iii. Animals Detected
Percent Stations with Species Detected
Coyote
1%
Marten
1%
Opposum Bobcat
1%
2%
Cougar
2%
Weasel
3%
Bird
5%
Spotted skunk
24%
Chipmunk
6%
Tree squirrels
8%
Mice
22%
Ungulate
12%
Bear
13%
Only One Marten Detected on One Occasion
Presentation Outline
i. Background
ii. Summary of Accomplishments
iii. Animals Detected
iv. Goals for 2015
Some knowledge to guide efforts
Slauson et al. 2007 and Slauson et al. in prep
Key Variables:
- High Precipitation Areas-forest productivity
- Middle Elevations
- High Old Growth Structure-key structural habitat features
- Serpentine habitat-unique habitat association
Subspecies information – Dispersal Study
Humboldt Marten Dispersal Study:
Predation Likely a Limiting Factor
Mortalities: 9 of 22 (41%) radio
collared martens have died in the
first 23 months
Forensic Results: 9 of 9 carcasses or
remains
DNA = bobcat
At den sites, 3/5 den areas had
bobcats investigating den trees
Product of the Humboldt Marten
Conservation Working Group
Slauson et al. in prep
New Study (OFIC) – Increase Effectiveness
Occupancy Models
(MacKenzie et al. 2006)
Martens Present
Not
Detected
Not detected…
Bait and
Lure
Survey
Duration
Station
Scale
Predation
Risk
Detected
Combining Multiple Research Projects
Occupancy Models
(MacKenzie et al. 2006)
Martens Present
Not detected…
Bait and
Lure
Survey
Duration
Detected
Station
Scale
Predation
Risk
Adapt survey protocol next season to best understand
marten occurrence and range
On Schedule –
Fiscal Year 2014-2015
July & August 2014
- Survey 1-2 replicates
Timeline
Progress Report and Planning
May & June 2015
- Survey 2-3 replicates
Fiscal Year 2015-2016
July & August 2015
- Survey 2-3 replicates
Before Summer 2016
- Final Report
Dec 2014
On Schedule – And Continuing to Build
Fiscal Year 2014-2015
July & August 2014
- Survey 1-2 replicates
Timeline
Progress Report and Planning
May & June 2015
- Survey 2-3 replicates
Fiscal Year 2015-2016
July & August 2015
- Survey 2-3 replicates
Before Summer 2016
- Final Report
February – May 2015
- Survey Effectiveness - OFIC
Re-evaluate Protocol
Supplementation to Hire
Larger Crew - NCASI
Significance to Managing Coastal Oregon’s
Working Forests
1. New Scientific Foundation:
First quantitative evaluation of marten distribution
2. Identify the range of habitat conditions capable of
supporting home range occupancy & connectivity
3. Identify approaches to how marten habitat can move in
space and time to provide flexible alternatives for
management
Acknowledgements
Field Crew: B. Peterson, T. Stinson, J. Ellison, C. Scott, A. Palmer
T. McBride (Hancock), J. Verschuyl (NCASI), J. Thrailkill (USFWS),
R. Price (BLM), R. Steiner (Plum Creek), M. Rochelle
(Weyerhaeuser), D. Williams (Siuslaw NF), D. Clayton (Rogue
Siskiyou NF) and many more…
Questions?
Example of a Camera Set
Example of a Track Plate Set
What characterizes a marten?
Territoriality
4 main tasks:
- Sleep
- Eat
- Reproduce
- Survive
Territorial – 4 adult males with little overlap
Rest and denning locations
Resting location provide elements key to survival:
- Refugia from predators, temperature
extremes, precipitation
- Often large structures (>36” dbh)
Cavity in Downed Log
Cavity in Live Tree
Photo: Mark Linnell, Oregon State
Specialized generalists – limited by calories
Range may be
restricted by
availability of
‘large’ prey
Reproduction – Period of Decreased Survival
Sexually reproductive at 2 years
Females
Female + 3 kits
Shasta-T National Forest
- March to September
- 1-2 kits ( up to 4)
- 1/3 annual energy during lactation
(Powell and Leonard 1983)
Males
- June to September
- 2 to 5 females
* Weight and mortality
Photo: P. Figura, Ca. Dept. Fish and Wildlife
Survival
Annual survival ~0.53-0.65
Larry Ostby