Using forest inventory data to predict winter habitat use by fisherMartes pennanti in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

This study assessed the possibility of predicting the distribution of potential winter habitats for fisherMartes pennanti Erxleben, 1777 in central interior British Columbia (BC) with the BC Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) dataset used to produce forestry maps. I predicted that fisher winter habitat would correspond to coniferous or coniferous-deciduous stands with the following characteristics: (1) absence of disturbance, (2) >- 80 years old, (3) mature and old forest structural stages, (4) ≥ 20 m2·ha-1 basal area in mature trees, (5) ≥ 30% canopy closure, (6) shrub cover ≥ 20%, and (7) diameter at breast height ≥ 27.5 cm. I allocated weight values to these criteria to classify map polygons into excellent-, high-, medium-, and low- quality habitats, and produce predictive maps of winter habitat use by fishers. I tested predictive maps in the field by snow-tracking along 27 transects (44.2 km) in winter 2003–2004, and 16 transects (31.4 km) in winter 2004–2005. A total of 89 tracks were recorded during both years. The proportion of fisher tracks within each polygon type was significantly different from random (p < 0.001). The majority of tracks (> 83%) were in structurally complex coniferous stands. This study showed that it is possible to predict the distribution of potential winter habitats for fisher in central interior British Columbia using simple habitat criteria and the VRI dataset. This study’s query may be used in other regions with similar vegetation composition to identify forests be inhabited by fishers in winter, and develop effective conservation programs in managed landscapes.