A Comparison of Methods Used to Examine Snowshoe Hare Habitat Use

1985 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 693 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Litvaitis ◽  
James A. Sherburne ◽  
John A. Bissonette
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Comparison Of Methods

Influence of Understory Characteristics on Snowshoe Hare Habitat Use and Density

1985 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 866 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Litvaitis ◽  
James A. Sherburne ◽  
John A. Bissonette
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snowshoe Hare

Recovery time of snowshoe hare habitat after commercial thinning in boreal Quebec

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guylaine Bois ◽  
Louis Imbeau ◽  
Marc J. Mazerolle
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Boreal Ecosystems ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Habitat Parameters

As short-term effects of partial cuts generally decrease available cover for snowshoe hare ( Lepus americanus Erxleben), most studies have shown negative effects of such treatments on this keystone species in boreal ecosystems. This study aims to determine the long-term impact of commercial thinning on snowshoe hare habitat, and we hypothesized that habitat quality, as well as habitat use, recovers with time since treatment. We selected stands aged 50–90 years dominated by black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.) in Abitibi (Quebec). We used models of habitat parameters to explain the abundance of snowshoe hare tracks and pellets in 20 commercially thinned stands treated between 1989 and 1999 and 12 control stands. Lateral cover was the dominant parameter influencing snowshoe hare habitat use. On average, commercially thinned stands had a lower lateral cover than controls (–18%). We also found that snowshoe hare use of commercially thinned stands increases with time since treatment. However, 11–18 years are needed before commercially thinned stands return to the same level of lateral cover and snowshoe hare signs as control stands. Commercial thinning is generally followed by harvesting all merchantable stems 15 years after treatment. Thus, we suggest that commercial thinning as currently practiced should be avoided if the objective is to maintain quality habitat for snowshoe hare and its associated predators.

Short-term effects of irregular shelterwood cutting on yellow birch regeneration and habitat use by snowshoe hare

2015 ◽  
Vol 354 ◽  
pp. 160-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Suffice ◽  
Gilles Joanisse ◽  
Louis Imbeau ◽  
Marc J. Mazerolle ◽  
Guy Lessard
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Effects

Effects of precommercial thinning on snowshoe hare habitat use during winter in low-elevation montane forests

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 206-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E Ausband ◽  
G Ross Baty
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Fecal Pellet ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Northwestern Montana ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pellet Counts ◽  
Mature Stands

We assessed snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus L.) habitat use during winter on two precommercial thinning treatments in sapling stands in northwestern Montana, USA. One treatment type retained 0.2-ha patches of unthinned saplings, representing 8% of the total stand area, and the second retained 0.8-ha patches of unthinned saplings, representing 35% of the stand area. Snowshoe hare habitat use was also estimated within a nearby control sapling stand and mature conifer stands. We used snow tracking and fecal pellet counts to estimate use before and after thinning treatments were applied. Although we did not find a conclusive trend in hare use of sapling stands after thinning, use within the control stand and adjacent mature stands suggested there was considerable movement of hares to nearby untreated stands after thinning. Hares used retention patches regardless of size, even though large retention patches were four times larger than small retention patches. Because hares demonstrated an affinity for dense patches of residual forest, any retention of untreated saplings may be beneficial for hares during winter when applying precommercial thinning treatments in areas where stand sizes are relatively small (10–14 ha), and the resulting thinned matrix is less harsh than in larger thinned stands. Use within thinned portions of the stand and unthinned remnant blocks suggests that over the winter hares may also benefit from a connectivity of dense cover.

Winter habitat use and responses to snow cover of fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (Martes americana) in southeastern Manitoba

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Raine
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Martes Pennanti ◽  
Equal Frequency ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Body Drag

A trailing study of fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (Martes americana) in the boreal forest of Manitoba, conducted over two winters, showed that both species preferred coniferous ridges. They also had temporal differences in their habitat use that could be partially explained by their different responses to soft snow cover. Movements of fisher were found to be restricted by the soft, thick snow cover that was present during midwinter. Fewer tracks were observed at that time, and fisher travelled upon snowshoe hare trails and their own trails more than in either the early winter period of thin snow cover or the late winter period of crust conditions. Fisher were also found to walk through the snow cover and leave a body drag in midwinter. Marten did not appear to be hindered by soft snow cover to the degree that fisher were. Marten tracks were encountered with equal frequency throughout the winter and marten never left a body drag in the snow cover. They did travel upon hare trails and their own trails to a greater extent in midwinter, but never as much as did fisher.

Snowshoe hare multi-level habitat use in a fire-adapted ecosystem

2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Gigliotti ◽  
Benjamin C. Jones ◽  
Matthew J. Lovallo ◽  
Duane R. Diefenbach
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Multi Level
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