Effects of forest removal on marten in a deciduous-dominated forest

Poole et al. 2 Effects of forest removal on marten in a deciduous-dominated forest K.G. Poole, A.D. Porter, C. Maundrell, S.D. Grindal, and A. de Vries Abstract: American marten (Martes americana) are generally considered to be reliant upon and most successful in continuous late-successional coniferous forests. Young seral forests and deciduous-dominated forests are generally considered to be low quality marten habitat, primarily a result of insufficient structure and overhead cover, and lower prey populations. This study examined a moderately high-density population of marten in northeastern British Columbia in what appeared to be comparatively low quality, deciduous-dominated habitat; overgrown agricultural land primarily consisting of 30–40 yr old stands of regenerating aspen (Populus tremuloides). Over 4 years we monitored 52 radio-collared marten. The population appeared to be stable, as indicated by large numbers of adults, relatively constant densities, long-term residency of many individuals, low mortality rates, and older age structure. Relatively small home ranges (males, 3.0 km2; females, 1.7 km2) implied good habitat quality and prey availability. Shearing (removal of immature forest cover) of 17 % of the study area resulted in home range shifts at the individual level, but no detectable impact at the population level. Marten avoided non