Population and habitat characteristics of lynx and snowshoe hares in north central Washington

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary M. Koehler
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
North Central ◽  
Natural Fire ◽  
Snowshoe Hares

Lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) population characteristics and use of habitats were studied during 1985–1987 in north central Washington. Lynx used areas above 1463 m elevation that were dominated by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and Engelmann spruce – subalpine fir (Picea engelmannii – Abies lasiocarpa) cover types. Snowshoe hares were the most common prey of lynx, with remains of snowshoe hare occurring in 23 of 29 scats. Counts of tracks and pellets showed snowshoe hares to be most abundant in 20-year-old lodgepole pine stands. Fire suppression and natural fire frequencies in the past 5 decades has limited the amount of these early successional forests, which are important as habitat for snowshoe hares. Marginal habitat conditions for snowshoe hares probably resulted in a scarcity of prey in the study area and may explain the relatively large home ranges of lynx (69 ± 28 km2 for five males and 39 ± 2 km2 for two females), low density of adults (2.3 lynx/100 km2), and high kitten mortality rates (88% for eight kittens in three litters). Demographic characteristics of lynx in the study area may be representative of lynx populations along the southern periphery of their range where habitat conditions are marginal for lynx and snowshoe hares.

Long-term responses of mammalian herbivores to stand thinning and fertilization in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) forest

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 2302-2312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan ◽  
Pontus M.F. Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B. Ransome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
South Central ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Understory Shrubs

Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Exrleben, 1777), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)), and moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) commonly occur in young coniferous forests. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that large-scale pre-commercial thinning (PCT) and repeated fertilization 15–20 years after the onset of treatments in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Wats.) stands would enhance relative habitat use by hares, deer, and moose compared with unmanaged stands. Study areas were located in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Habitat use was measured by fecal pellet and pellet-group counts. Understory vegetation and coniferous stand structure were measured in all stands. Habitat use by deer and moose was highest in heavily thinned stands, probably due to the higher levels of forage and cover provided by understory shrubs and conifers in thinned stands. Habitat use by snowshoe hares was highest in high-density stands, but also in lower-density (≤1000 stems·ha–1) stands where an increase in understory conifers provided essential cover for hares. Managers should consider the long-term nature of understory development in young stands managed for timber production. Heavy thinning (≤1000 stems·ha–1) will generate suitable understory habitat for these herbivores sooner than conventional PCT at higher stand densities.

Influence of repeated fertilization on forest ecosystems: relative habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus)

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2080-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S Sullivan ◽  
Pontus MF Lindgren ◽  
Douglas B Ransome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
South Central ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Snowshoe Hares

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) and repeated fertilization of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) would enhance relative habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) in managed stands. Study areas were located near Summerland, Kelowna, and Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Each study area had nine treatments: four pairs of stands thinned to densities of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 stems/ha, with one stand of each pair fertilized five times at 2-year intervals, and an unthinned stand. Understory vegetation and relative habitat use by snowshoe hares were measured annually from 1999 to 2003, 6–10 years after the onset of treatments. Mean crown volume index of herbs was significantly higher in fertilized than unfertilized stands, but density had no effect. Shrub volume was not affected by either treatment. Mean crown volume index of trees was significantly greater in the fertilized and high-density stands. Mean total richness of vascular plants was significantly reduced by fertilization. Mean total structural diversity of vegetation was highest in the low-density stands but was not affected by fertilization. Relative habitat use by hares, based on fecal pellet counts, was highest in the 2000 stems/ha and unthinned stands in summer. This pattern also occurred in winter when hare use was higher in fertilized than unfertilized stands. Overall, fertilized 2000 stems/ha stands provided habitat for hares to a degree comparable with unthinned stands of lodgepole pine.

Habitat preference of Canada lynx through a cycle in snowshoe hare abundance

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 1736-1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garth Mowat ◽  
Brian Slough
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
Intensively Managed

We assessed habitat preference of a lynx (Lynx canadensis) population through 8 years of a snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle. Seventy-four percent of our southern Yukon study area was approximately 30-year-old regenerating forest resulting from a large wildfire. The study area was not trapped and lynx density was very high compared with other populations in North America. Contrary to our prediction, there was no discernable shift in habitat preference through the hare cycle; however, our habitat types were coarsely mapped and our radiolocations relatively inaccurate. Lynx may have altered their habitat preferences at finer scales (for patches <2 ha). Lynx showed strong preference for regenerating habitats over mature white spruce (Picea glauca) and alpine–subalpine. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) dominated regenerating stands were preferred over spruce–willow (Salix spp.) stands of equal age. Riparian willow stands were also preferred over mature spruce forest and alpine. Lynx used riparian willow stands more in winter, but we detected no other shifts in habitat preference between snow-free and winter periods. We did not detect any difference in habitat preference between sexes. Independent juveniles made greater use of mature forest and perhaps riparian willow than adults, but no other difference in preference between the two age groups was noted. Lynx preference for regenerating habitat over mature forest suggests that burns will benefit lynx, especially if the regenerating community is pine dominated. Logging will only likely provide similar benefits if a dense pine understory results, which is unlikely in intensively managed stands. The suppression of forest fires in recent decades may have contributed to the decline of lynx numbers in the south of their range.

scholarly journals Habitat Distribution of Small Mammal Communities in Grand Teton National Park

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Nancy Stanton ◽  
Steven Buskirk ◽  
Steve Miller
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Fire Policy ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Natural Fire ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Small Mammal Communities ◽  
Mammal Communities

Since Grand Teton National Park adopted a natural fire policy in the early 1970's, four major fires have burned within the park which created a chronosequence of post-burn successional ecosystems. The burns encompassed forests varying in composition from Englemann spruce (Picea englemanil) /subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) /lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) (Beaver Creek, Mystic Isle) to Englemn spruce / subalpine fir (Waterfalls Canyon) to primarily lodgepole pine (Huckleberry Mountain).

scholarly journals Pest Damage Incidence in Natural and Thinned Lodgepole Pine in Alberta

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. Bella
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Pest Damage ◽  
West Central ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Management Implication

Thinned stands of young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) in west-central Alberta had a higher incidence of attack by common pest organisms than unthinned stands. Based on a sample of nearly 3000 potential crop trees (on 240 temporary plots) growing on 120 naturally regenerated cut blocks, the rate of attack in thinned vs. unthinned stands was 30% and 18% for western gall rust (Endo-cronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka) and 25%. and 16% for leader damage due to terminal weevil (Pissodes terminalis Hopp.) and pitch twig moth (Petrova spp.) Damage from other agents, including that from small mammals, was low and little affected by thinning. Forest management implication of these results are discussed. Key words: western gall rust terminal weevil, pitch twig moth, snowshoe hares, red squirrels.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Physical Barrier in Deterring Vole and Snowshoe Hare Feeding Damage to Lodgepole Pine Seedlings

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd N. Zimmerling ◽  
Linda M. Zimmerling
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Protection Device ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Physical Barrier ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Seedling Protection

Abstract We examined the effectiveness of a tubular, polyethylene/polypropylene mesh seedling protection device in reducing overwinter feeding damage by snowshoe hares(Lepus americanus) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) on spring planted, plug stock (1 + 0) lodgepole pine(Pinus contorta). Seedlings fitted with the seedling protection devices (SPD) had significantly lower levels of feeding damage (3 and 9%) than control seedlings (25 and 41%) on two study sites. Most of the feeding damage to treated seedlings was the clipping of the terminal leader or laterals that were not protected by the protection device. In two instances, a vole tunneled under the seedling protection device to damage the stem of the treated seedling; however, this was the exception. This physical barrier can be effective in reducing feeding damage by small mammals on lodgepole pine. West. J. Appl. For. 13(1):12-14.

Impact of feeding damage by snowshoe hares on growth rates of juvenile lodgepole pine in central British Columbia

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1145-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
The Impact

This study assessed the impact of snowshoe hare (Lepusamericanus Erxleben) feeding injuries on diameter and height growth of juvenile lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.). Five-year growth increments of undamaged and damaged crop trees in control (unspaced) and spaced stands, 20 km east of Prince George, B.C., were compared using analysis of variance. Semigirdling (sublethal) damage clearly suppressed diameter growth of small diameter (control, 41–60 mm; spaced, 31–50 mm) trees, but had little effect on larger stems. Height increment was significantly reduced by semigirdling in all diameter classes except for the 61–80 mm class in the control. Surface area or amount of bark and vascular tissue removed had little effect on growth increments in the spaced stand. The recommendation to delay spacing until the average tree diameter is >60 mm to avoid snowshoe hare damage is further supported for diameter but not necessarily for height growth.

scholarly journals Influence of Fertilization on Feeding Attacks to Lodgepole Pine by Snowshoe Hares and Red Squirrels

1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Average Amount ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Animal Damage ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
And Control

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) shows favourable growth and yield responses to spacing (thinning) and potentially to fertilization, but is susceptible to feeding injuries by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben). This study was designed to determine the incidence of animal damage to crop trees in a fertilized-spaced stand, compared with those in spaced only and control (unspaced) stands. There was little variation in the percentage of crop trees (range 53.6% to 63.3%) damaged by hares in the three stands. Hares removed an average of 92.2 cm2 of bark and associated vascular tissues per attack from fertilized stems compared with 46.2 cm2 in the spaced only stand. This latter value was nearly double that recorded in the control stand (27.4 cm2). Squirrels damaged more fertilized trees (38.9%) than trees in the spaced (30.9%) or control (14.3%) stands. Squirrels removed the largest average amount of bark (66.9 cm2) per attack from fertilized stems with little difference between spaced (41.6 cm2) and control (42.3 cm2) stands. We conclude that hares and squirrels clearly prefer to feed on fertilized lodgepole pine stems over those in non-fertilized or un-managed stands.

scholarly journals Impact of wildfire size on snowshoe hare relative abundance in southern British Columbia, Canada

Fire Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Hutchen ◽  
Karen E. Hodges
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Fire Size ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Large Fires ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract Background Large wildfires result in more heterogeneous fire scars than do smaller fires because of differences in landscape context and high variability in burn intensity and severity. Previous research on mammal response to wildfire has often considered all fires as comparable disturbances regardless of size. Here, we explicitly examine whether fire size affects relative abundances of a keystone herbivore, snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777), in regenerating stands of the same age. We surveyed vegetation and fecal pellets of snowshoe hares in nine 13-year-old wildfires, specifically, three fires in three size categories—small (80 to 200 ha), medium (1000 to 5000 ha), and large (>10 000 ha)—and in mature forests in southern British Columbia, Canada. Results Snowshoe hare density was low (0.4 hares ha−1), but hares were present at 57% of mature sites. Hares were absent from all areas where small fires had burned and were found in only one medium area post fire (0.2 hares ha−1). Hares were found within the fire scars of all three large burned areas, and with much higher numbers (3.8 hares ha−1) than in the medium fire area or mature forest. Snowshoe hare abundance was highly correlated with the number of sapling trees, especially lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon). Sapling densities were highly variable, but dense stands of saplings were found only in burn scars from large wildfires. Conclusions Fire size is an important predictor of snowshoe hare relative abundance in areas that are regenerating post fire; fires of different sizes are not comparable disturbances. Specifically, the post-fire heterogeneity after large fires enabled both the highest hare numbers as well as patches with no hares. These results suggest that forest and wildlife managers should protect areas with dense regeneration post fire, as these sites are necessary for hares after large wildfires.

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