Marten Populations Research Articles

О морфологии лесной куницы (Martes martes) Верхнего Приобья

Over a period of about 30 years, a new population has appeared in the area of the pine marten. This grouping of species is formed by a natural expansion of animals from the adjacent territories of Novosibirsk region or Kazakhstan. The animal inhabited areas unusual for it: pine forests and adjacent birch-aspen woods in the plain forest-steppe of the south-eastern part of Altai Krai (See Fig. 1). The first marten traces were recorded in the mid-1980s near Shadrukha village in Uglovskiy district. The first animal was caught in 1988 in the vicinity of Novo-Uglovskoe village. In 2013, the first population counts were carried out revealing 383 martens. 2249 martens lived in the region in the spring 2019. The newly formed group is poorly studied in zoological terms, and we make an attempt to eliminate this omission. We studied the first representative pine marten hunting sample obtained in 2016- 2019 from the Altai ribbon pine forest population (Barnaul band, 52°42ꞌN and 82°10ꞌE). We applied the classical zoological techniques used during collecting the biological materials (incomplete anatomical autopsy, measuring animal body and its parts, preparation of craniological collection samples). The average popultion parameters of the marten grouping were obtained and studied: body length, tail length, baculum length, 17 craniometric traits for males and females (See Tables 1 and 2). The age of animals was determined by the method of Timofeev-Nadeev (1955) on the development of sagittal and occipital crests on the frontal and parietal bones of the skull. For all mean values, basic statistics was calculated (Х ± m х and CV). Differences were taken as statistically significant at the level of 5% (p < 0.05). Difference testing and cluster analysis of craniometric data (UPGMA, unweighted method of pairwise average) were carried out in Stat Soft STATISTICA 8.0 package. To assess sexual dimorphism, we used the I SD indicator proposed by Rossolimo and Pavlinov (1974): I SD = 100(X♂–X♀)/ X♀, where: ISD is the value (ISD index) of sexual dimorphism, expressed as a percentage; X♂ and X♀ are the mean values of traits for males and females, respectively. As a result of our research we established that the mean values of the studied morphological traits of adult martens from the Altai ribbon pine forest population are as follows: body length 43.95 mm, tail length 22.35 mm in males and 40.2 and 20.12 in females, respectively; the length of the baculum (8 males) 43.04 mm; condylobasal skull length 84.5 mm in males and 77.7 mm in females. The obtained data were compared with the characteristics of some of East and West European populations of the species, information about which was found in literary sources (See Tables 3 and 4). A cluster analysis of 17 populations by skull size showed (See Fig. 2) that Altai pine martens are classified into same cluster with large martens from the Caucasus and Lithuania, exceeding in size many of East European populations with a condylobasal skull length of less than 83.5 mm in males and 76.5 mm in females. At the same time, Altai pine martens are smaller in body and skull sizes than West European martens which have a condylobasal skull length of more than 85 mm in males and 78 mm in females, making up cluster A in the dendrogram of Fig. 2. We consider the question of the intraspecific taxonomic status of the new population without analyzing data on the color and other properties of the fur coat to be premature. The study of the indices of sexual dimorphism of the exterior (7.25-8.31%) and craniometric characteristics (8.11% on average for 17 traits and 8.77% for the condylobasal length of the skull) allows us to conclude that the animals of the new population do not show noticeable differences in this parameter from other groupings of the species range. A thirty-year old history and a continuous increasing in the number of the newly formed pine marten population in the east of the range allows to expect a further strengthening of this grouping. This will create the preconditions for the formation of new foci of sympatry in Altai Krai and in adjacent territories where the sable and pine marten will inhabit. The paper contains 2 Figures, 4 Tables and 29 References. The Authors declare no conflict of interest. No animal was caught for the purposes of this study. Animals were hunted by legal hunters using humane methods of catching

Multiscale landscape genetics of American marten at their southern range periphery

American marten (Martes americana) are a conservation priority in many forested regions of North America. Populations are fragmented at the southern edge of their distribution due to suboptimal habitat conditions. Facilitating gene flow may improve population resilience through genetic and demographic rescue. We used a multiscale approach to estimate the relationship between genetic connectivity and landscape characteristics among individuals at three scales in the northeastern United States: regional, subregional, and local. We integrated multiple modeling techniques and identified top models based on consensus. Top models were used to parameterize resistance surfaces at each scale, and circuit theory was used to identify potential movement corridors. Regional gene flow was affected by forest cover, elevation, developed land cover, and slope. At subregional and local scales, the effects were site specific and included subsets of temperature, elevation, developed land cover, and slope. Developed land cover significantly affected gene flow at each scale. At finer scales, lack of variance in forest cover may have limited the ability to detect a relationship with gene flow. The effect of slope on gene flow was positive or negative, depending on the site examined. Occupancy probability was a relatively poor predictor, and we caution its use as a proxy for landscape resistance. Our results underscore the importance of replication and multiscale approaches in landscape genetics. Climate warming and landscape conversion may reduce the genetic connectivity of marten populations in the northeastern United States, and represent the primary challenges to marten conservation at the southern periphery of their range.

The Anatolian glacial refugium and human-mediated colonization: a phylogeographical study of the stone marten (Martes foina) in Turkey

AbstractThe Anatolian Peninsula, comprising most of modern Turkey, is situated at the junction of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Together with its complex geomorphological and climatic history, this has given rise to a rich fauna and flora, which exhibits a wide range of historical biogeographical patterns. The stone marten (Martes foina) is a small carnivore that is found across the temperate Palaearctic region including Anatolia, where it is often associated with habitats modified by humans, but few genetic data exist for this species. We sequenced a 1840-bp region of the mitochondrial genome from 97 martens sampled across the peninsula and intron 7 of the nuclear β-fibrinogen gene from 53 of these. Two mitochondrial lineages were recovered, with overlapping eastern and western distributions, but there was no geographical structure for the autosomal marker. Coalescent analyses indicated that both of the lineages originated during the Last Glacial Maximum, one of them within an eastern Anatolian refugium and the other in a western Anatolian or Balkan refugium. The western lineage colonized most of Europe in the Holocene, while the eastern lineage may be endemic to Anatolia, from where it colonized the Iberian Peninsula via human translocation. The presence of at least one refugial stone marten population highlights the importance of Anatolia to the preservation of genetic variation and biodiversity.

Habitat, Climate, and Fisher and Marten Distributions

ABSTRACTSince the mid‐twentieth century, fisher populations (Pekania pennanti) increased in several eastern jurisdictions of North America, particularly in the northern part of the species’ range. Changes in fisher distribution have led to increased overlap with the southern portion of the range of American marten (Martes americana), whose populations may be locally declining. This overlap occurs particularly in habitats undergoing natural and anthropogenic modification. The objective of our study was to determine the respective effects of habitat changes and climatic conditions on fisher and marten populations in Quebec, Canada, based on trapper knowledge. We analyzed annual fisher and marten harvest (number of pelts sold/100 km2) between the 1984–1985 and 2014–2015 trapping seasons using linear mixed models. Fisher harvest increased with the increased abundance of mixed forests &gt;12 m tall, resulting from decades of forest harvesting. Fisher harvest decreased with increasing spring rains, which can affect survival when rearing young. Marten harvest decreased with increasing winter rains, which lower thermoregulation capacity and hamper movements by creating an ice crust on the snowpack, reducing access to subnivean areas. Decline in marten harvest during the 30‐year study period coincided with an increase in fisher harvest, suggesting possible interspecific competition. Results highlight that managers should strive to maintain mixedwood stands taller than 12 m to maintain high quality habitat for fishers. Our study confirms the importance of working with trappers to assess furbearing population trends in response to habitat changes and climatic conditions. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Spatial Ecology of Re- introduced American Martens in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan

American martens (Martes americana) in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan (NLP) represent a re-introduced and isolated population that is the southern-most distributed marten population in eastern North America. During 2005–2006 we conducted a radiotelemetry and track-survey study of martens in the NLP. We estimated home-range size and patterns of habitat use in order to develop a spatial model to predict distribution of marten habitat. Marten home ranges were comprised of more (>75%) upland deciduous and upland mixed forest compared to the landscape, which included ≤60% of these cover types. Within core areas, martens selected upland conifer stands. Our Penrose habitat model identified <25% of the NLP as primary marten habitat. Further, 70% of marten habitat patches were <1000 ha in size and were isolated by an average of 5.3 km (SE = 2.0). Our marten habitat model identifies focal areas for surveying and monitoring populations and sites for supplementation or re-introduction. Our model also highlights the need for managers to better coordinate active landscape-scale management of wildlife and forests to reduce fragmentation impacts on extant and reintroduced marten populations.

Using fine scale resolution vegetation data from LiDAR and ground-based sampling to predict Pacific marten resting habitat at multiple spatial scales

Pacific marten (Martes caurina) populations have become fragmented and constricted throughout their western range, often due to factors such as increased severity of wildfires and timber harvesting. Future population declines are predicted given decreasing snow packs and changes in vegetation communities. One element of marten habitat, rest and den structures, may be particularly vulnerable. These structures are used for protection from inclement weather and predation, as well as sites for parturition. Rest structures are often considered a limiting habitat element; characterizing their abundance, type, and distribution has been suggested as a way to evaluate habitat quality. We evaluated marten resting habitat, combining vegetation data from light detection and ranging technology (LiDAR) and ground-based surveys. From 2009–2013 and 2015–2017, we located 312 unique rest structures used by 31 martens (18 males, 13 females). With ground-based surveys, we examined selection of used structures by measuring the diameter at breast height for comparison of rest structures and trees located in random plots. For broader landscape-level predicted habitat, we paired used locations with 624 randomly-sampled locations, and optimized 14 habitat covariates at 12 spatial scales using case-controlled logistic regression. Each covariate’s optimized scale was used to develop a series of a priori hypothesized multi-scale habitat selection models. Martens selected woody structures that were larger than random structures (rest structures = 97.8 ± 31.0 cm; random = 52.7 ± 24.9 cm, x̅ ± SD, t = 21.6, p < 0.001). Marten habitat selection was also positively associated with increased canopy cover and structural complexity within 270 m radius of suitable rest structures and increased tree cover at the broadest scale evaluated (990 m). Our models revealed elevation was positively correlated with predicted marten resting habitat; average elevation at our used sites was 1940 m. Finally, our model depicted areas of predicted habitat near road systems, but we assumed this was an artifact from our sampling bias. Because both canopy cover and structural complexity were optimized at a 270 m radius, this may be an appropriate scale to consider for management activities such as establishing leave islands or focal areas of restoration. We provide one of the first evaluations of marten habitat incorporating the use of LiDAR, which can be broadly and accurately extrapolated for management planning and restoration prioritization.

A Landscape Habitat Suitability Model for the Humboldt Marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) in Coastal California and Coastal Oregon

Models that predict the distributions and habitat suitability for species of conservation concern can be useful for guiding survey, monitoring, and conservation planning efforts. The Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) has significantly declined throughout its historical range in coastal California and Oregon and this taxon is known from a few remnant populations. We developed a landscape habitat suitability model to identify areas of suitable habitat not yet surveyed, to provide a template for designing monitoring programs and research studies, and to inform the development of a conservation strategy. We used the results of 1,159 occupancy surveys to develop a predictive habitat model using Generalized Additive Modeling to relate Humboldt marten detections to combinations of environmental and habitat attributes hypothesized to influence marten distribution. We measured 30 candidate variables at three spatial scales, using 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 km, and although several models were competitive, each contained the same three core variables: old growth structural index measured at the 1-km scale, serpentine habitat measured at the 3-km scale, and annual precipitation measured at the 3-km scale. The final model had an overall correct classification rate of 91% for marten detections, 82% for non-detections and a true skill statistic of 0.73. Model predictions were stable when cross-validated, with the correct classification of marten detections (89%) varying little. The largest complexes of predicted suitable habitat occurred in the areas with the three extant marten populations (north coastal California, south coastal Oregon, and central coastal Oregon), however connectivity of suitable habitat to areas outside these three areas appears limited.

Biotic factors influencing the unexpected distribution of a Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis) population in a young coastal forest.

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.

The regional demise of a non-native invasive species: the decline of grey squirrels in Ireland

Following the introduction of the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) to Ireland in 1911, the species quickly established and spread to cover the eastern half of Ireland. Historically, the River Shannon has delineated the western boundary of its distribution in Ireland, however the factors limiting the spread of the species westwards were unclear. The aims of this study were to assess the current squirrel distribution in the area directly bordering the River Shannon, and to identify habitat types and landscape characteristics that could be facilitating or impeding the spread of grey squirrels in Ireland. The current distribution was established through hair tube and live trapping surveys and through sightings from a citizen science survey. Grey squirrels are absent or in very low numbers in much of the study area. In some areas, red squirrels have reappeared where they previously had been displaced by the grey squirrel. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify significant differences in habitat types and landscape characteristics between a region with high grey squirrel occurrence records and a region where they are now rare. Several landscape attributes were found to be significantly different, including the presence of pine marten, water bodies, peatland and coniferous forests. The area in which grey squirrels have disappeared overlaps with the core pine marten population range, and in a landscape that is more fragmented than the areas in which grey squirrel are continuing to be invasive. The demise of the grey squirrel in Ireland is more widespread than previously believed.

Satellite-detected forest disturbance forecasts American marten population decline: The case for supportive space-based monitoring

Limited monitoring resources often constrain rigorous monitoring practices to species or populations of conservation concern. Insufficient monitoring can induce a tautology as lack of monitoring resources makes it difficult to determine whether a species or population deserves additional monitoring resources. When in-situ monitoring resources are limited, remote habitat monitoring could be a useful supplementary tool, as linking parameterized species distribution models to spatially explicit time-series of environmental correlates allows iterative prediction of population change. Yet the performance of predictive forecasts or hindcasts has been difficult to evaluate. We paired contemporary field data, historic population estimates, and a remotely-sensed archive of landscape change to evaluate predictions of American marten (Martes americana) population decline owing to habitat loss in Maine, USA. We estimated contemporary spatial patterns in marten density relative to landscape disturbance with spatial capture-recapture models. We compared current density estimates to historical density calculations to evaluate population decline, and compared historical calculations to habitat-based model predictions to evaluate the efficacy of habitat monitoring as a proxy for direct monitoring. Marten density was negatively associated with the proportion of surrounding regenerating forest, and point estimates within focal townships were 50–80% lower than historical calculations. Habitat-based hindcasts of marten density across our entire focal area interest suggested a smaller population decline (roughly 50%) within our focal area. Thus, although habitat-based predictions underpredicted marten decline, they provided correct directional inference. Habitat monitoring and predictions from species distribution models may provide useful inference about population changes given trends in habitat at limited expense when in-situ information is lacking.

Status of Pacific Martens (Martes caurina) on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Pacific martens (Martes caurina) remain common in montane regions of the Pacific states, yet their distribution and status on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, is uncertain. Between 1968–2008, six reliable marten detections exist; a dead juvenile female (2008) indicates martens were reproducing on the Peninsula within the last decade. To assess the status of martens, we describe carnivore surveys conducted from 1991–2008 (n = 223 stations). Additionally, we present results from three survey efforts we conducted from 2013–2016 (n = 747 stations). Although a suite of carnivore species was detected, surveys from 1991–2008 failed to detect either martens or fishers. Surveys from 2013–2016 detected reintroduced fishers, and resulted in two marten detections near Mt. Olympus, 4 km apart. A marten was photographed opportunistically near Mt. Cruiser in 2015, 44 km from Mt. Olympus. Altogether, nine reliable detections of Pacific martens were obtained between 1968 and 2016, including three since 2008. Evidence suggests martens are absent from the lower elevation regions they once occupied and occur at exceedingly low densities at higher elevations. To understand the trend in marten populations on the Peninsula and develop appropriate conservation strategies, additional broad- and fine-scale surveys using detection devices that enable the genetic identification of individuals will be needed.

Genetic legacies of translocation and relictual populations of American marten at the southeastern margin of their distribution

American marten were extirpated from much of their native range in the northeastern United States as a result of land development and overharvesting before the mid-twentieth century. Based on occurrence records, recolonization in the late twentieth century was believed to have occurred via natural population expansion from two refugia: northern Maine and the eastern Adirondack Mountains of New York. Furthermore, a 1989–1991 reintroduction attempt in southern Vermont was originally declared unsuccessful, but marten have been rediscovered in southern Vermont since 2010. We used molecular techniques to resolve uncertain population histories and estimate contemporary levels of genetic variation and gene flow in marten populations in the northeastern United States. We sequenced a 320 bp segment of the control region (D-loop) of mtDNA in 112 individuals and amplified 10 microsatellite loci in 111 individuals. Five genetic clusters were identified in the northeastern United States based on the microsatellite data: (1) Maine, (2) New Hampshire, (3) eastern Adirondacks (New York), (4) western Adirondacks (New York), and (5) southern Vermont. Clustering and assignment tests suggest that individuals in southern Vermont are most likely to have originated in Maine—the primary source of the reintroduction. However, we were unable to rule out the possibility of a relict population in southern Vermont. Population expansion in New Hampshire appears to be the primary source of recolonization in northeastern Vermont. Additionally, dispersers from the reintroduction attempt may have spread to northeastern Vermont. Genetic diversity is lower in the entire northeastern United States than an interior population in Ontario, Canada. This study improves our understanding of population history in the northeastern United States. Relict populations of marten may have persisted through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries where they were believed to have been extirpated. Recognizing and conserving all of the distinct subsets of native genetic diversity in the region could promote long-term population health.

Implications of introgression for wildlife translocations: the case of North American martens

The evolutionary consequences of natural introgression provide a rare opportunity to retrospectively evaluate how the introduction of exotics or genetic rescue efforts may impact endemic faunas. Phylogeographic structure among mainland, endemic insular, and introduced North American marten (Martes americana and M. caurina) populations have been shaped by a complex history of natural, post-glacial population expansion followed by a series of anthropogenic introductions. In some cases, both natural colonization and translocations facilitated secondary contact, offering a series of replicated experiments that demonstrate how introgression, in these cases following isolation (insular and refugial), shapes genetic diversity. We test whether genetic exchange is occurring between North American marten species using mitochondrial genomes and ten nuclear loci. We present evidence of biased nuclear introgression from M. caurina into M. americana across two natural hybrid zones (insular and mainland) and found no remnant evidence of M. caurina on islands that received M. americana translocations, suggesting prior absence, potential extirpation, or genetic swamping of M. caurina from these islands. Our results highlight the importance of understanding phylogeographic variation prior to identifying source populations for wildlife translocations and caution the use of genetic rescue for North American marten populations. Although previously managed as a single species, these two species show substantial genetic divergence. When the two are placed into contact, they exhibit unidirectional, asymmetric introgression with potentially negative consequences for M. caurina, underscoring the value of mindful consideration of introgression in wildlife management.

The diet of denning female European\xa0pine martens (Martes martes) in Galloway Forest District, South West Scotland, Great Britain

Populations of European pine marten (Martes martes) across Great Britain declined dramatically during the 18th and 19th centuries due to deforestation and human-wildlife conflicts. Pine marten recovery from their northern Scottish stronghold is limited following reintroduction in Galloway Forest District, south-west Scotland, in the 1980s. With suggestions that martens have influenced red squirrel population increases in neighbouring Ireland, marten reintroduction efforts are a priority in Great Britain. Reintroduction requires establishment of recruiting populations that depend on suitable food availability to meet the associated higher energy demands of recruitment. We, therefore, investigated the diet of reproductive denning female martens during denning (March–April), and the mixed sex population in summer for the first time in Galloway. Scats (n = 114) were analysed from clumps collected from occupied artificial den boxes in 2015 and 2016, as well as genetically verified scats (n = 44) from summer transects in 2014. We compared our results with other Scottish studies and found that carrion frequency of occurrence and biomass of prey ingested differed most significantly between the regional mixed sex spring diets and the diet of denning females in Galloway. Anurans, birds, and small mammals were the likely substitution of carrion; we hypothesise that these differences are related to sex-specific behaviours and scavenging risk. We, therefore, suggest that there are differences in the diet of denning female martens compared to mixed sex spring populations and that future translocations should consider abundances of anurans in Galloway, and even more importantly than before, small mammals and birds across Great Britain.

Survival and Predators of Pacific Marten in a Salvage-Logged Pine Forest, South-Central Oregon

Estimating marten (Martes spp.) survival rates in managed forests is important for comparisons with vital rates in unmanaged forests, and data across populations in different forest types are needed in meta-analyses. We estimated survival rates of a Pacific Marten (Martes caurina) population from 1993 to 1998. This population experienced no fur trapping and occurred in an atypical habitat of sparse tree-canopy cover, small tree diameters, and many natural openings and logging clearcuts. In the beetle-damaged, salvage-logged Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) forest, downed wood and snags were removed and slash piles were accumulated to mitigate logging effects. The average annual probability of adult (≥1 y) survival was 0.684, sx = 0.104 (n = 53). The overall adult survival did not differ between years or between the sexes across years. Average annual survival of young (<1 y) was 0.753, sx = 0.118 (n = 26). Seasonal survival of adults (0.945, sx = 0.027) and young (0.974, sx = 0.026) was highest in winter (December through February), and lowest in summer (June through August; adults = 0.853, sx = 0.035; young = 0.902, sx = 0.046). Adult winter survival was significantly greater than summer survival; and for adult females, winter survival was greater than in the other seasons (other seasons range = 0.862 to 0.903) and greater than male winter survival (0.918, sx = 0.039), because there were no known female losses during the period (survival = 1.0). Based on evidence at field recovery sites and laboratory necropsies, predators were associated with 74% of all recovered marten carcasses, including Coyote (Canis latrans), Bobcat (Lynx rufus), American Badger (Taxidea taxus), and raptors of unknown species. Slash piles were used by marten, but the mitigation experiment was discontinued after logging. We suggest that slash piles may have helped sustain the local population of marten in the short term.

Genetic analysis of Turkish martens: Do two species of the genus Martes occur in Anatolia?

AbstractStone marten (Martes foina) and European pine marten (M. martes) occur in western Eurasia. Current distributions of martens within Turkey and phylogenetic relationships among the Turkish and other populations of the two species within Eurasia remain relatively unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine genetic diversity within Martes populations inhabiting Turkey and to reveal the phylogenetic relationships among the Turkish and conspecific populations of the two marten species, using mitochondrial cytochrome b (CytB) sequences. Twenty‐four (24) haplotypes were identified among 86 marten samples collected across Turkey, including 23 novel haplotypes. Genetic distances among the Turkish haplotypes ranged from 0.1% to 0.8%, with an average of 0.3%. The 24 Turkish haplotypes were analysed together with those of conspecific populations deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic (Bayesian Inference, maximum likelihood, neighbor‐joining) and network analyses revealed that all of the Turkish samples belonged to M. foina and that samples of M. martes were not encountered. Haplotypes of M. foina were divided into five haplogroups. The haplogroup including the two Chinese samples differed markedly from other the haplogroups. The remaining haplogroups contained samples from both the Turkish and European populations. We found that there was a genetically close relationship between the Turkish and the European stone marten populations. As a result of this study, M. martes may not be distributed in the Anatolian part of Turkey, possibly due to a barrier effect of two straits (Dardanelles and Bosporus) and the Caucasus Mountains. On the other hand, M. foina is distributed in both the Anatolian and Thracian parts of Turkey. Our results suggest that Turkey was likely one of the refuges for M. foina during Pleistocene glacial periods and is one of the centres of distribution of stone marten for Europe and the surrounding regions.

Density and population viability of coastal marten: a rare and geographically isolated small carnivore.

Pacific martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis) in coastal forests of Oregon and northern California in the United States are rare and geographically isolated, prompting a petition for listing under the Endangered Species Act. If listed, regulations have the potential to influence land-use decisions on public and private lands, but no estimates of population size, density, or viability of remnant marten populations are available for evaluating their conservation status. We used GPS and VHF telemetry and spatial mark-resight to estimate home ranges, density, and population size of Pacific martens in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, central coast Oregon, USA. We then estimated population viability at differing levels of human-caused mortality (e.g., vehicle mortality). Marten home ranges were small on average (females = 0.8 km2, males 1.5 km2) and density (1.13 martens/1 km2) was the highest reported for North American populations (M. caurina, M. americana). We estimated 71 adult martens (95% CRI [41–87]) across two subpopulations separated by a large barrier (Umpqua River). Using population viability analysis, extinction risk for a subpopulation of 30 martens, approximately the size of the subpopulation south of the Umpqua River, ranged from 32% to 99% with two or three annual human-caused mortalities within 30 years. Absent population expansion, limiting human-caused mortalities will likely have the greatest conservation impact.

Diet of Martes foina in Bohemia, Czech Republic (Carnivora: Mustelidae)

Abstract The stone marten (Martes foina) population has increased dramatically in the Czech Republic in the last few decades, especially in urban areas. Unfortunately, very little is known about feeding ecology and diet of the species in the country, particularly in Bohemia. Therefore, the aim of our study was to describe the stone marten diet from four Bohemian localities. We used scatological analysis and identified 107 animal and plant taxa. Various materials of anthropogenic origin also occurred frequently in the diet. Our results suggest that in Bohemia, the stone marten is an opportunistic feeder which can use a wide spectrum of food sources.

Genetic diversity and structure related to expansion history and habitat isolation: stone marten populating rural\u2013urban habitats

BackgroundPopulation genetic diversity and structure are determined by past and current evolutionary processes, among which spatially limited dispersal, genetic drift, and shifts in species distribution boundaries have major effects. In most wildlife species, environmental modifications by humans often lead to contraction of species’ ranges and/or limit their dispersal by acting as environmental barriers. However, in species well adapted to anthropogenic habitat or open landscapes, human induced environmental changes may facilitate dispersal and range expansions. In this study, we analysed whether isolation by distance and deforestation, among other environmental features, promotes or restricts dispersal and expansion in stone marten (Martes foina) populations.ResultsWe genotyped 298 martens from eight sites at twenty-two microsatellite loci to characterize the genetic variability, population structure and demographic history of stone martens in Poland. At the landscape scale, limited genetic differentiation between sites in a mosaic of urban, rural and forest habitats was mostly influenced by isolation by distance. Statistical clustering and multivariate analyses showed weak genetic structuring with two to four clusters and a high rate of gene flow between them. Stronger genetic differentiation was detected for one stone marten population (NE1) located inside a large forest complex. Genetic differentiation between this site and all others was 20% higher than between other sites separated by similar distances. The genetic uniqueness index of NE1 was also twofold higher than in other sites. Past demographic history analyses showed recent expansion of this species in north-eastern Poland. A decrease in genetic diversity from south to north, and MIGRAINE analyses indicated the direction of expansion of stone marten.ConclusionsOur results showed that two processes, changes in species distribution boundaries and limited dispersal associated with landscape barriers, affect genetic diversity and structure in stone marten. Analysis of local barriers that reduced dispersal and large scale analyses of genetic structure and demographic history highlight the importance of isolation by distance and forest cover for the past colonization of central Europe by stone marten. This confirmed the hypothesis that human-landscape changes (deforestation) accelerated stone marten expansion, to which climate warming probably has also been contributing over the last few decades.

Helminths’ infestation of various mitochondrial lines of the sable Martes zibellina and the pine marten Martes martes

The sable and the pine marten dwelling sympatrically in Western Siberia have similar helminth fauna. Four species of parasitic nematodes Crenosoma petrovi, Filaroides martis, Capillaria putorii, and Strongyloides martis were found in martens of Western Siberia. The pine marten is more infected with nematodes Filaroides martis and Strongyloides martis than sable. The hybrids of the sable and the pine marten have intermediate infestation rates. Using the restriction analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, nine complex haplotypes of mustelids were identified. Animals from different mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lines statistically differed in terms of the total helminth infestation. The differences in the nematode infestation of animals with various mtDNA haplotypes indicate that different phyletic lines of the sable, the pine marten, and their hybrids have varying degrees of susceptibility to nematode infestations. Animals with haplotype Z31, typical for the eastern subspecies of sable, were infected with helminths twice as much as the animals from the Z5 and Z30 lines, typical for the local populations of sable and pine marten, respectively. Animals with haplotype AK23, common for hybrids, had the lowest rate of infections by helminths.