Techniques for detecting and monitoring martens and fishers in forest habitats of California

Graduation Date

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Wildlife Management, 1995

Committee Chair Name

Richard T. Golightly

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Tahoe National Forest, Martes pennanti, Fishers, Lassen National Forest, Zoological surveys, Martens, Martes americana, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Wildlife Management

Abstract

Various devices have been used to detect fishers (Martes pennanti) and martens (Martes americana) in California; however standardized methodologies that allow comparison between surveys or the potential to monitor changes in populations over time are lacking. I developed methods to detect fishers and martens and established a standardized survey protocol. At two locations in the field, martens were detected and the accuracy of the methodology for martens was determined. Smoked track-plates and triggered-cameras were selected for field tests based on their performance with captive fishers. Significantly ( 0.01) more marten detections occurred at the track-plates than at the triggered-cameras. Chicken bait was more effective ( 0.05) than tuna cat-food in eliciting responses by martens at detection devices. The minimum length of the survey period to adequately determine presence of martens in an area was 22 days. The accuracy of the survey protocol was examined by placing detection devices in known marten home ranges and determining the probability of detection. The probability was determined by examining whether a device would detect a marten when the device was placed in the marten's home range. There was a marked difference in the probabilities of detection both between individual martens and between study sites. On the Tahoe National Forest site during the winter, the probabilities of detection ranged from 0.4 to 1 (Ye = 0.67, SE = 0.10). On the Lassen National Forest site during the late summer, individual probabilities ranged from 0 to 0.5 (Ye = 0.19, SE = 0.12). Variation in the probabilities of detection may be attributed to multiple factors such as individual variation, gender, home range size and quality, and/or season.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/v692t868x

Share

 
COinS