Progress 07/01/99 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In our snowshoe hare work, we have continued mark-recapture trapping and telemetry of snowshoe hares in a number of areas to understand hare response to different habitat types and silvicultural practices. Specifically, we have continued to examine survival, reproduction, and movement in more than 50 sites containing habitat types of varying quality. Work is ongoing in Yellowstone, Flathead National Forest, and North-central Washington State. In Yellowstone our 2003 field season extended our 2002 surveys of snowshoe hares, with survey 36 sites for pellets and vegetative data, in addition to the four sites that we trapped. Snowshoe hares on three of the trap sites are rare, and one site has not had any hares captured in either year. Our pellet-based surveys show clear habitat differences in relative snowshoe hare abundance. In general, stands with dense understory cover support higher hare numbers. So far, these sites have primarily been 1988 burns with dense regeneration, although several mature lodgepole or spruce-fir stands also have sufficient understory for hares to occur. Our results also show just how patchy snowshoe hares are in this region: many of our stands have no pellets in them at all. On the Flathead National Forest, we finished data collection on the relationship between snowshoe hare density and stand structure and are investigating the issue of how best to use fecal pellets to sample snowshoe hare distribution and density. In Washington State we have used trapping and telemetry to test the effect of landscape arrangement of varying habitat types on hares in a particular area. We are continuing to use DNA markers and analysis of hairs to determine distributions of Canada lynx and other species in National Parks and National Forests across the nation. Our work on marmots examines relationships between landscape and connectivity of Olympic marmots in Olympic National Park. We have marked and radio-tagged animals at six sites to estimate survival, reproductive and dispersal rates, and analyzing genetic samples in a mark-recapture framework to estimate survival and abundance at several additional sites. Non-invasively collected genetic samples from numerous sites are used to estimate connectivity among sites, and GIS-guided surveys are being used to identify landscape variables predicting marmot presence. We will use data from field work to parameterize a computer model mimicking demographic and genetic processes, testing hypotheses about the role landscape plays in marmot dispersal patterns. Preliminary analyses of genetic data indicate low connectivity and greater isolation of some sites than expected based on distance alone. Telemetry data also suggests lower dispersal and survival rates than previously reported, and that survival is highly variable among sites and years. PARTICIPANTS: Yellowstone, Flathead National Forest, and North-central Washington State TARGET AUDIENCES: Olympic National Park PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Snowshoe hares are the primary prey of Canada lynx, as well as providing food for other forest carnivores. Nationwide, the USFS has halted all pre-commercial thinning pending determination of thinning on snowshoe hares. Our work is contributing to resolving this issue, as well as elucidating hare patterns in the landscape and developing efficient ways to monitor hares across time and space. Our DNA sampling work is providing novel methods for documenting the distribution of lynx and other forest carnivores across continental scales. For the marmot work, interest is fueled by severe declines in a sister taxon and anecdotal reports of declines in this species. We will help Olympic National Park set up monitoring for this species, and estimate potential effects of global climate change on its persistence. All of these projects have strong outreach and training components. This year more than 20 undergraduates from a variety of institutions and backgrounds received field experience and participated to public outreach for school groups, Park staff, and media outlets.
Publications
- Mills, L. S. , M. K. Schwartz, D. A. Tallmon, and K. P. Lair. 2003. Measuring and interpreting changes in connectivity for mammals in coniferous forests. Pages 587-613 in C. J. Zabel and R. G. Anthony, editors. Mammal Community Dynamics: Management and Conservation in the Coniferous Forests of Western North America. Cambridge University Press, New York, USA.
- Schwartz MK, Mills LS, Ortega Y, Ruggiero L, Allendorf FW. 2003. Landscape Location Affects Genetic Variation of Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). Molecular Ecology 12:1807-1816.
- Tallmon, D. A., E. S. Jules, N. J. Radke, and L. S. Mills. 2003. Of mice and men and trillium: cascading effects of forest fragmentation. Ecological Applications 13:1193-1203.
- Funk, W.C., and L. S. Mills. 2003. Potential causes of population declines in forest fragments in an Amazonian frog. Biological Conservation. 111:205-214.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
In our snowshoe hare work, we have continued mark-recapture trapping and telemetry of snowshoe hares in a number of areas to understand hare response to different habitat types and silvicultural practices. Specifically, we have continued to examine survival, reproduction, and movement in more than 50 sites containing habitat types of varying quality. Work is ongoing in Yellowstone, Flathead National Forest, and North-central Washington State. In Yellowstone our 2003 field season extended our 2002 surveys of snowshoe hares, with survey 36 sites for pellets and vegetative data, in addition to the four sites that we trapped. Snowshoe hares on three of the trap sites are rare, and one site has not had any hares captured in either year. Our pellet-based surveys show clear habitat differences in relative snowshoe hare abundance. In general, stands with dense understory cover support higher hare numbers. So far, these sites have primarily been 1988 burns with dense
regeneration, although several mature lodgepole or spruce-fir stands also have sufficient understory for hares to occur. Our results also show just how patchy snowshoe hares are in this region: many of our stands have no pellets in them at all. On the Flathead National Forest, we finished data collection on the relationship between snowshoe hare density and stand structure and are investigating the issue of how best to use fecal pellets to sample snowshoe hare distribution and density. In Washington State we have used trapping and telemetry to test the effect of landscape arrangement of varying habitat types on hares in a particular area. We are continuing to use DNA markers and analysis of hairs to determine distributions of Canada lynx and other species in National Parks and National Forests across the nation. Our work on marmots examines relationships between landscape and connectivity of Olympic marmots in Olympic National Park. We have marked and radio-tagged animals at six sites
to estimate survival, reproductive and dispersal rates, and analyzing genetic samples in a mark-recapture framework to estimate survival and abundance at several additional sites. Non-invasively collected genetic samples from numerous sites are used to estimate connectivity among sites, and GIS-guided surveys are being used to identify landscape variables predicting marmot presence. We will use data from field work to parameterize a computer model mimicking demographic and genetic processes, testing hypotheses about the role landscape plays in marmot dispersal patterns. Preliminary analyses of genetic data indicate low connectivity and greater isolation of some sites than expected based on distance alone. Telemetry data also suggests lower dispersal and survival rates than previously reported, and that survival is highly variable among sites and years.
Impacts
Snowshoe hares are the primary prey of Canada lynx, as well as providing food for other forest carnivores. Nationwide, the USFS has halted all pre-commercial thinning pending determination of thinning on snowshoe hares. Our work is contributing to resolving this issue, as well as elucidating hare patterns in the landscape and developing efficient ways to monitor hares across time and space. Our DNA sampling work is providing novel methods for documenting the distribution of lynx and other forest carnivores across continental scales. For the marmot work, interest is fueled by severe declines in a sister taxon and anecdotal reports of declines in this species. We will help Olympic National Park set up monitoring for this species, and estimate potential effects of global climate change on its persistence. All of these projects have strong outreach and training components. This year more than 20 undergraduates from a variety of institutions and backgrounds received field
experience and participated to public outreach for school groups, Park staff, and media outlets.
Publications
- Schwartz MK, Mills LS, Ortega Y, Ruggiero L, Allendorf FW. 2003. Landscape Location Affects Genetic Variation of Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). Molecular Ecology 12:1807-1816.
- Tallmon, D. A., E. S. Jules, N. J. Radke, and L. S. Mills. 2003. Of mice and men and trillium: cascading effects of forest fragmentation. Ecological Applications 13:1193-1203.
- Bienen, L., P. C. Griffin, C. M. Gillin, and L. S. Mills. 2003 In Press. Estimating pregnancy rates and litter size in snowshoe hares using ultrasound. Wildlife Society Bulletin.
- Funk, W.C., and L. S. Mills. 2003. Potential causes of population declines in forest fragments in an Amazonian frog. Biological Conservation. 111:205-214.
- Mills, L. S. , M. K. Schwartz, D. A. Tallmon, and K. P. Lair. 2003. Measuring and interpreting changes in connectivity for mammals in coniferous forests. Pages 587-613 in C. J. Zabel and R. G. Anthony, editors. Mammal Community Dynamics: Management and Conservation in the Coniferous Forests of Western North America. Cambridge University Press, New York, USA.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
We have continued mark-recapture trapping and telemetry to examine survival, reproduction, and movement of snowshoe hares in habitat types that are thought to lead to source-sink dynamics. We are interested in the population dynamics of snowshoe hares and the potential influence of fragmentation on hares. Doctoral candidate Paul Griffin has completed his field work and is anticipating finishing his defense in fall 2003. We also estimated snowshoe hare population abundance in 4 forested habitats characteristic of Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 2002. Our live-trapping yielded snowshoe hares on only 4 sites out of 13, and our pellet surveys across the Park confirm that snowshoe hares are rare within Yellowstone. It appears that the open lodgepole forests of Yellowstone are marginal habitat for snowshoe hares. We will analyze our vegetation data to determine the attributes of the sites that did have hares. On the Flathead National Forest, we finished data
collection on the the relationship between snowshoe hare density and stand structure and are investigating the issue of how best to use faecal pellets to sample snowshoe hare distribution and density. This year a crew of 11 people including undergraduates from a variety of institutions and backgrounds including international worked on these snowshoe hare studies. For the second area of research we are currently analyzing the final year of hair samples for the National Lynx Survey. These results will be compilled in the spring and written up for submission. We have also gotten our DNA protocol on mustellids published. Currently, we are working with new genetic markers to individually identify wolverine, fisher, and marten. In our highway study we found that overall, more individuals (including southern red-backed voles, deer mice, yellow pine chipmunks, and red-tailed chipmunks) moved adjacent to highways than across highways, and more crossed 2-lane than 4-lane highways. Observed
movements varied among species, with forest-associated species (red-backed voles and chipmunks) more inhibited by highways than habitat generalists (deer mice). However, decreased movement has not yet led to genetic divergence for voles separated by highways. Gene flow across highways in deer mice was highly variable among sites, with a decline in gene flow evident at (only) one 4-lane highway site, in spite of relatively high numbers of observed movements at this site. Shrew gene flow was reduced by both 2- and 4-lane highways, and surprisingly, effect sizes were largest for this habitat generalist.Reesa Yale Conrey has completed her M.S. thesis. In addition, studies on bats and mountain Bluebirds as well as a new collaborative project examining the population dynamics and genetics of the Olympic marmot were conducted. The marmot study has led to successful development of techniques to continue studies into marmot genetic and demographic connections across the mountainous landscape
thanks to the work of MSU professor Mark Taper, and U of M doctoral student Suzanne Griffin.
Impacts
By understanding the impact of silvicultural practices on snowshoe hares, and the degree of movement of Canada lynx, we can begin to understand better ways to manage for the recovery of lynx. Studying effects of highways on animal movements will facilitate decisions on building wildlife overpasses or underpasses during highway construction.
Publications
- Riddle, AR, KL Pilgrim, LS Mills, KS McKelvey, and LF Ruggiero. 2002. Identification of mustelids using mitochondrial DNA and non-invasive sampling. Conservation Genetics. 00:1-3
- Conrey, Reesa Yale and L. Scott Mills. 2002. Do highways fragment small mammal populations? Pages 448-457 in International Conference on Ecology and Transportation 2001 Proceedings, Gary Evink, Ed. September 2001, Keystone, Colorado.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
During calendar year 2001 we made the following progress on three interrelated projects: a) snowshoe hare research: We have continued mark-recapture trapping and telemetry to examine survival, reproduction, and movement of snowshoe hares in habitat types that are thought to lead to source-sink dynamics. We are interested in the population dynamics of snowshoe hares and the possible stabilizing effect of differences in habitat quality. So far we have established three replicate sites of four treatments each. We have also trapped about 16 additional areas across the greater Seeley Lake area to investigate the utility of snowshoe hare pellets to evaluate relative densities of hares over time and across silvicultural treatment types. We have also established 10 new sites to investigate hare response to logging in the Flathead National Forest (near Glacier National Park). We have supported three undergraduate research projects under this work this year. The PhD student
supported by this grant, Paul Griffin, continues to make excellent progress. b) The second area involved developing applications/methods in Conservation Genetics, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the US Forest Service. Michael Schwartz's dissertation is complete, including examination of gene flow from central populations of Canada lynx to peripheral populations using microsatellite DNA. Also, we have successfully developed a DNA-based protocol to distinguish Canada lynx from other species based on single hairs collected from rub pads established across 14 states in the northern U.S. We have 80 percent success rate with species identification. We have also developed diagnostic tests for species identification for bears, coyotes, fisher, wolverine, and marten. One undergraduate Honors Research Student, Ann Riddle, is working with this project, developing mtDNA approaches for separating bears and mustelids based on their hair. These projects are described in
the January 31, 2002 issue of the prestigious scientific journal Nature. c) The third area includes other genetic projects. The most prominent of these includes investigation of the effect of highways on small mammal populations. We are using mark-recapture methods in the field to see if highways are a barrier to small mammal movements. We are also collecting genetic samples (without harming the animal) to use genetic tests to see if highways isolate small mammals. We are refining the approaches for genetic analysis of red-backed voles and deer mice.
Impacts
By understanding the impact of silvicultural practices on snowshoe hares, and the degree of movement of Canada lynx, we can begin to understand better ways to manage for the recovery of lynx. Studying effects of highways on animal movements will facilitate decisions on building wildlife overpasses or underpasses during highway construction.
Publications
- Mills, L. S. 2002. False samples are not the same as blind controls. Nature (correspondence) 415:471.
- Schwartz, M. K., L. S. Mills, K.S. McKelvey, L.F. Ruggiero, and F.W. Allendorf. 2002. DNA reveals high dispersal synchronizing the population dynamics of Canada lynx. Nature 415:520-522.
- Biek, R., W. C. Funk, B. A. Maxell, and L. S. Mills. 2002. Amphibian Population Declines: Insights from Ecological Sensitivity Analysis. Conservation Biology. In Press.
- Tallmon, D. A., H. M. Draheim, L. S. Mills, and F. W. Allendorf. 2002. Ecological insights into fragmented vole populations from combined genetic and demographic data. Molecular Ecology. NOTE: Draheim was an undergrad honors student on this project. In Press.
- Hoekman, S. T., L. S. Mills, D. W. Howerter, J. H. Devries, and I. J. Ball. 2002. Sensitivity analysis of the life cycle of mid-continent mallards. Journal of Wildlife Management. In Press.
- Biek, R., L. S. Mills, and B. Bury. 2002. Salamander responses to forest edges. Northwest Science. NOTE: Biek was an undergraduate Honors student from Germany who worked on this project. In Press.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
During calendar year 2000 we made the following project on three interrelated projects: a) snowshoe hare research: We have continued mark-recapture trapping and telemetry to examine survival, reproduction, and movement of snowshoe hares in habitat types that are thought to lead to source-sink dynamics. We are interested in the population dynamics of snowshoe hares and the possible stabilizing effect of differences in habitat quality. So far we have established three replicate sites of four treatments each. We have also trapped about 16 additional areas across the greater Seeley Lake area to investigate the utility of snowshoe hare pellets to evaluate relative densities of hares over time and across silvicultural treatment types. Julie Fuller has continued her Honors Thesis research project on snowshoe hare movement analysis. The PhD student supported by this grant, Paul Griffin, has prepared his proposal, passed his comprehensive exam, and successfully completed two
years of classes. The following talks were given as part of this project. b) The second area involved developing applications/methods in Conservation Genetics, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the US Forest Service. Michael Schwartz's dissertation is nearly complete, including examination of gene flow from central populations of Canada lynx to peripheral populations using microsatellite DNA. Also, we have successfully developed a DNA-based protocol to distinguish Canada lynx from other species based on single hairs collected from rub pads established across 14 states in the northern U.S. We have 80% success rate with species identification. We have also developed diagnostic tests for species identification for bears, coyotes, fisher, wolverine, and marten. One undergraduate Honors Research Student, Ann Riddle, is working with this project, developing mtDNA approaches for separating bears and mustelids based on their hair. c) The third area includes other
genetic projects. The most prominent of these includes investigation of the effect of highways on small mammal populations. We are using mark-recapture methods in the field to see if highways are a barrier to small mammal movements. We are also collecting genetic samples (without harming the animal) to use genetic tests to see if highways isolate small mammals. We are refining the approaches for genetic analysis of red-backed voles and deer mice.
Impacts
Canada lynx are a federally listed threatened species, whose diet is almost entirely snowshoe hares. By understanding the impact of silvicultural practices on snowshoe hares, we can begin to understand better ways to manage for the recovery of lynx. Also, by studying lynx genetics, we can learn whether they are isolated by human activities or not, and whether lynx in the U.S. require immigration from the northern core populations to support their persistence. By developing non-invasive methods of studying lynx distribution (for example via snagging hairs) we will greatly increase our ability to understand rare and secretive carnivores. Finally, studying effects of highways will facilitate decisions on building wildlife overpasses or underpasses during highway construction.
Publications
- Mills, L. S., K. L. Pilgrim, M. K. Schwartz, and K. McKelvey. 2001 In Press. Identifying lynx and other North American felids based on mtDNA analysis. Molecular Ecology.
- Mills, L. S., and M. Lindberg. 2001 In Press. Sensitivity Analysis to Evaluate the Consequences of Conservation Actions. S. R. Beissinger and D. R. McCullough, editors. Population Viability Analysis. University of Chicago Press.
- Reed, J. M., L. S. Mills, P. Miller, K. S. McKelvey, E. S. Menges, R. Frye, J. B. Dunning, Fr., S. R. Beissinger, and M-C Anstett. 2001 In Press. Use and emerging issues in population viability analysis. Invited Paper, Conservation Biology (In Press).
- Mills, L. S., D. F. Doak, and M. J. Wisdom. 2001. Elasticity analysis for conservation decision-making: Reply to Ehrlen et al. Conservation Biology 15:32.
- Mills, L. S., J. J. Citta, K. Lair, M. Schwartz, D. Tallmon. 2000. Estimating animal abundance using non-invasive DNA sampling: Promise and Pitfalls. Ecological Applications 10:283-294.
- Wisdom, M. J., L. S. Mills, and D. F. Doak. 2000. Life-stage simulation analysis: estimating vital rate effects on population growth for conservation. Ecology 81:628-641.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
This project which includes three different areas of emphasis is continuing the work conducted under MONZ-9612 with a slightly different emphasis. In the first area we have begun mark-recapture trapping and telemetry to examine survival, reproduction, and movement of snowshoe hares in four discrete habitat types that are thought to lead to source-sink dynamics. We are interested in the population dynamics of snowshoe hares and the possible stabilizing effect of differences in habitat quality. So far we have established three replicate sites of four treatments each. Two undergraduate students are conducting their Honors Thesis research projects on snowshoe hare movement analysis, Julie Fuller, or home range analysis Alison Landro. The PhD student supported by this grant, Paul Griffin, has prepared his preproposal and successfully completed one year of classes. The following talks were given as part of this project. Mills, L. S. 1998. Genetic Implications and Evaluation
of Forest Fragmentation. Conference on Forest Fragmentation: Wildlife and Management Implications. Nov. 18-19, Portland, OR. Mills, L. S. 1999. Application of matrix models to evaluate the consequences of conservation actions. Population Viability Analysis : Assessing Models for Recovering Endangered Species. San Diego, CA March 15-16, 1999. The second area involved starting a program that provided undergraduates research experience conducting field work, and experience in educational outreach. A total of 4 interns participated in the program this summer at my snowshoe hare research sites. The third area involved developing applications/methods in Conservation Genetics. In this area we have ordered all equipment and supplies to get the Carnivore Conservation Genetics Lab up and running. Reference samples, tissues taken from known species, for all the species that are present in the sampling areas of the National Lynx Survey have been collected. Using known samples, we have
successfully amplified the control region of mtDNA from a wide variety of species and have worked out species identification tests to distinguish lynx from all other species. Additionally, we have developed a species identification test for the 16s rRNA region of mtDNA that also distinguishes lynx from all other species present in out sampling area. Currently, we are conducting proficiency tests of these methods in our lab and in conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. Once the proficiency tests are completed, we will begin analyzing the hair samples using these DNA methods. We have also isolated DNA from the majority of hair samples that are potentially lynx. One undergraduate Honors Research Student, Ann Riddle, is working with this project, developing mtDNA approaches for separating bears and mustelids based on their hair.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Mills, L. S., J. J. Citta, K. Lair, M. Schwartz, D. Tallmon. 2000. Estimating animal abundance using non-invasive DNA sampling: Promise and Pitfalls. Ecological Applications 10 283-294.
- Wisdom, M. J., L. S. Mills, and D. F. Doak. 2000. Life-stage simulation analysis: estimating vital rate effects on population growth for conservation. Ecology 81 628-641.
- Mills, L. S., and D. Tallmon. 1999. Genetic issues in forest fragmentation. In Forest Fragmentation: Wildlife and Management Implications.
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