Date of Award:

5-1988

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Fisheries and Wildlife

Committee Chair(s)

John A. Bissonette

Committee

John A. Bissonette

Abstract

The depauperate fauna of Newfoundland provides a limited prey base for marten. Only two small mammal prey species, Microtus pennsylvanicus and Sorex cinereus, were found in any abundance in the old-growth forests of the study area. Of these two, Microtus displayed population fluctuations typical of most microtines. Analysis of marten scats indicated that Microtus is a very important prey item to the marten with other food. items being of lesser importance particularly when Microtus are abundant.

Trapping in various habitats indicated that Sorex densities were three to five times higher in logged areas compared to uncut areas. Unfortunately, the effects of logging on Microtus could not be determined directly from this study. Microtus numbers declined drastically in the spring of 1987, apparently independently of logging operations. Microtus numbers dropped from a density of 25.0 per hectare in the spring of 1986 to virtually zero in the spring of 1987. This reduction may be linked to an outbreak of viral encephalitus in the marten population in the fall of 1986.

Marten (Martes arnericana) prefer mature coniferous and mixed forests and utilize regenerating cutovers minimally. The reasons for this are unclear, although prey abundance and availability may be involved. In this study, Sorex were more abundance in regenerating cutovers and the literature suggests that Microtus are also more abundant in these areas. This would seem to suggest that prey abundance above certain threshold densities is not critical to marten habitat selection. However, prey availability may play a more important role. Although prey species may be more abundance in logged areas, prey availability may be reduced.

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