Progress 08/01/08 to 01/31/11
Outputs
The activities of investigating the impacts of forest management on American marten prey base have increased the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College (LCOOCC) research and educational capacity through collaborative partnerships. Purdue University, LCOOCC, and GLIFWC have collaboratively contributed towards meeting the research objectives throughout the grant cycle. Tanya Aldred, MS student at Purdue, GLIFWC employee, and Keweenaw band member helped train LCOOCC students in first year of project and is using data collected by LCOOCC students to compliment her MS research. These data have contributed towards determining how densities of small mammals found in the marten's diet correlated to certain forest structure characteristics with an additional comparison of resident to recently translocated marten. Nick McCann, PhD student at Purdue worked closely during field work with technicians from GLIFWC on a daily basis strengthening ties between Purdue and GLIFWC. This work focused on marten survivorship based on forest characteristics and predation. These data were combined with trail camera photo data collected by LCOOCC students to develop an occupancy model. Both graduate students, Dr. Jon Gilbert, GLIFWC wildlife biologist and several student interns presented at the LCOOCC research symposium which highlighted the pine marten grant activities attended by several classes and members of the LCO community. Marten scats were collected during both winters. The lack of an identification key was determined during the course of this work. LCOOCC student intern, a Bad River band member developed a key to the identify mammal species from marten scat with GLIFWC staff to determine what small mammals are contained in the marten's diet. Macro-scopic analysis was performed on these samples and items were placed into 1 of 4 categories (bird, small mammal, deer, other). Deer hair is distinctive in scats and can easily be identified macroscopically. Small mammals hair can only be identified in scats via microscopic analysis and requires a key. Bird feathers are similarly impossible to identify without a key. PRODUCTS: Of the fourteen student interns, who have participated in this research, twelve were from LCOOCC, a total of six student interns graduated as of this reporting period; two students graduated in the Agriculture and Natural Resources degree program. LCOOCC students now have small mammal traps and exposure to mammal trapping as well as wildlife trail cameras and experience in using them. LCOOCC's curriculum was enhanced with the upper level capstone field method course incorporating small mammal identification and trapping techniques. A collection of project photos from the digital trail camera dataset have been made available as a DVD to supplement the course materials for the LCOOCC Wildlife Biology course. Substantial progress has been made on the design and implementation of the scat analysis key. The on-line key can be found at (www.maps-glifwc.org/hair) and currently is complete for some large mammals (i.e. canids and felids), but remains incomplete for small and medium sized mammals. OUTCOMES: Goal 1: (1) Student knowledge of general forest ecology and impacts to small mammal densities and American marten has increased. (2) Importance of hemlock pockets that occur within hardwood stands to marten in Wisconsin (WI) is quantified in a way that had never been done before placing more emphasis on preservation of these rare forest types in order to maintain marten in WI. (3) Adult survivorship values for marten in WI were high which implies a need to focus future research on reproduction and recruitment of young marten in the WI population. (4) Fishers are not causing unusually low survivorship of adult marten in WI suggesting that increased harvest to control fisher populations in WI will not help marten. (5) Small mammal analysis to date has determined that resident and translocated marten are hunting and capturing prey in places with similar densities of small mammal biomass. This suggests that future translocation/restocking efforts need not worry about moving Minnesota marten that will hunt for snow shoe hare rather than mice and voles. This is an important finding for future management efforts even if it is a bit different from the question we set out to ask. (6) Small mammal analysis also suggests that having high volumes of down woody material on the forest floor is critical for marten success in hunting of small mammals. Whether these high volumes of woody material lead directly to higher densities of small mammals or simply make it easier hunting for martens to capture small mammals is unclear from our data but we can conclude that having higher volumes of down logs will provide better foraging habitat for marten. (7)The preliminary occupancy analysis which includes the photo dataset concludes that marten are in fact using areas with higher densities of mice, voles and squirrels. (8) There were 65 marten scat samples collected during the study; of these 52 contained small mammals, 7 contained deer, 3 contained birds and 3 contained other items (i.e. nuts). (9) The development of the scat analysis key was a significant accomplishment during this project. Goal 2: Seminars conducted by LCOOCC faculty to students at Purdue, Purdue faculty to LCOOCC students, and GLIFWC employees to Purdue and LCOOCC students during this project have paved the way for more seminars of this nature to continue. Purdue students now have better understanding of Ojibwa perspectives on natural resource management issues. LCOOCC students and faculty now have stronger ties to GLIFWC and Purdue for future research opportunities. All partners continue to discuss development of future collaborative directions. Increasing research infrastructure at LCOOCC by enhancing capabilities for faculty and staff has been demonstrated in two primary areas, skills and equipment. This project has provided students with opportunities for research experience and additional formal education in wildlife management and forest ecology issues. Faculty and students gained experience in small mammal identification and research expertise. LCOOCC students continue to use these cameras with LCO Conservation staff. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The information dissemination on project development and outcomes to date has been accomplished via several media outlets. During 2008, 2009, 2010, Nick McCann and Tanya Aldred made presentations about their research to the Wisconsin Marten Advisory Committee which helped update managers on current ongoing research. Results and observations from LCOOCC's photo detections were of great interest and relevance to the ongoing restocking program for marten in Northern Wisconsin. Graduate students have presented at the American Society of Mammalogists (2008, and 2010), the Midwest Fish and Wildlife meetings in 2010, and the 5th International Martes Symposium in 2009. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Additional conference presentations by graduate students are planned in 2011. A new USDA/NIFA funded Tribal College Research Grant proposal developed by the two institutions (LCOOCC and Purdue), award number 2010-38424-21288 entitled, "Miinikaan (The Place of the Blueberry): Participatory Research on a Food and Medicinal Plant on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation." This project includes a new collaborative relationship with State University of New York.
Impacts
The results of this research have been presented to resource managers charged with management of the American marten and continue to be incorporated into the management plan.
Publications
- McCann, N.P., Zollner, P.A., and J.H. Gilbert 2010. Survival of adult American marten in Northern Wisconsin. The Journal of Wildlife Management.74:1502-1505.
- McCann, N. P., Zollner, P.A., and Gilbert, J.H. (to be submitted summer of 2011) INFLUENCE OF COVER TYPE UPON MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF MARTENS AND FISHERS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN. To be submitted to Ecological Applications
- Zollner, P.A., J.H. Gilbert, D. White, and M. DeMarr (In Prep). Occupancy modeling of marten occurrence in Wisconsin using camera traps. To be submitted to The Journal of Mammalogy during the fall of 2011.
- Thesis: Comparison of sites used by translocated and resident American martens (Martes americana) in Northern Wisconsin Tanya R Aldred August 2011 from Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.
- Dissertation: American marten (Martes americana) survival and movement in the presence of sympatric fishers (Martes Pennanti) Nicholas P. McCann December of 2011 from Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.
|
Progress 08/01/09 to 07/31/10
Outputs
Work on this grant is progressing, all summer and winter field work and data collection have been completed. The collected data is scheduled to be analyzed December, 2010 and a manuscript is expected to be submitted in late January, 2011. This project was successful as collaborative effort between several entities with all sharing responsibilities and providing resources needed to research and develop future recommendations concerning the management of American marten in the ceded territory. All collaborators have been actively involved in training, data collection and dissemination of activities through a variety of methods reaching a wide range of audiences throughout the State of Wisconsin, GLIFWIC member tribes (Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan), US Forest Service and interested parties. PRODUCTS: One student intern attended and displayed a poster at the 11th Annual High School Radio-Telemetry and Research Symposium in Ashland, WI hosted by the North Lakeland Discovery Center, Ashland High School and Glidden High School 04/21/2010. One LCOOCC intern presented his work on the project as well as collaborating partners such as Purdue University's graduate students and GLIFWC's wildlife biologist at the Annual Lac Courte Oreilles Community College Research Symposium on Natural Resources, 04/26/2010. LCOOCC hosted this event with several sponsoring programs (NSF Sustainable Living Institute, Extension and Ag/Equity) which highlighted present research. Three LCOOCC classes and many community members attended this event. OUTCOMES: LCOOCC students have continued to benefit from the 'Increasing LCOOCC's research and educational capacity through collaborative partnership' objective. A total of 7 student interns worked on the Pine Marten project during this reporting period. NSF funded 4 students, while three were funded by the LCOOCC State of Wisconsin Work Based Learning program. Feedback from interns was positive, all of them enjoyed the experience and many would repeat the internship if offered. The 2010 summer Field Methods (SCI 292) course incorporated small mammal and camera trapping work, where experienced former grant-supported student interns trained in the previous years, demonstrated their expertise in trapping and small mammal handling techniques to less experienced student interns. In addition to GPS data collection in the field, Remote Camera Usage was incorporated into the Field Methods course. The Field Methods course is considered a capstone class and is required for all students graduating with an Associate's of Applied Science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The information dissemination of project development and outcomes to date has been accomplished via several media outlets including: WOJB public radio, Wisconsin Public Television, and Tribal College Journal. Preliminary results have contributed to presentations at the WI Marten Advisory Committee Meeting, 03/18/2010 and the American Society of Mammalogists Annual Meeting in Laramie, WY, June 2010. FUTURE INITIATIVES: As a result of the collaboration between Purdue University and LCOOCC, another collaborative 2010 Tribal College Research Grant Proposal was submitted and funded. In addition, GLIFWC and LCOOCC are planning more research opportunities for students through GLIFWC projects. Exposing students to this type of research can help them understand and apply their skills towards resource management issues affecting Ojibwe treaty rights.
Impacts
The results of this research have been presented to resource managers charged with management of the American Marten and have been incorporated into the management plan.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/09
Outputs
Work on this grant is progressing on schedule with the timeline outlined in the original proposal. Field studies have been implemented and data collected. Ultimately we gathered less viable data during the summer of 2008 than we had anticipated. This occurred because the funding for the project did not begin until much of the summer field season had elapsed. This late start was further compounded by a changing of the principle investigator at LCOOCC shortly after the grant commenced. However, enough data (four replicates of each of three treatments) was gathered to allow us to investigate how silvcultural treatments impact small mammal densities and we are currently in the midst of analyzing that data. Furthermore during the summer of 2009 we collected all of the targeted data and we anticipate completing analysis of this data by the spring of 2010 as per the original proposal timeline to be followed by submission of final reports during the summer of 2010. The project was designed to be a collaborative effort between several entities with all sharing responsibilities and providing resources needed to research and develop future recommendations concerning the management of American marten in the ceded territory. With the first year having been completed this has proven to be an effective method with good results, as all major summer field data collection efforts have been completed with data compiled at LCOOCC, Purdue, and GLIFWC. Though the first year has been, for the most part, involved with training and data collection there have also been media reports on the project that have been disseminated in the State of Wisconsin, Glifwc member Tribes (Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan), US Forest Service and interested parties. The information dissemination on project development and outcomes to date has been accomplished via several media outlets including; WOJB public radio, Wisconsin Public Television, GLIFWC quarterly newsletter (Mazina'igan, the LCOOCC (lco.edu) and the GLIFWC (glifwc.org) websites. Students attending the LCO Ojibwe Community College and Purdue University were enrolled in and completed training in subject matter that dramatically increased their awareness, knowledge and ability to conduct scientific research on the impact of silvicultural techniques on American Pine Marten small mammal prey base. The laboratory facilities at the LCOOCC were adequate for this purpose and other equipment needed were provided by GLIFWC and Purdue University with excellent results. Student knowledge and expertise gained from the training is clearly evidenced within the public presentations which were required of all interns participating in the project. Further training will be completed as the project moves into the next phase. Student research reports are also available via the LCOOCC extension office. This collaborative effort is highlighted the quality of the project design and the professionalism of the individuals involved. The main focus of the project (pine marten research) has only been enhanced then by the complete cooperation between the collaborative partners. PRODUCTS: For the field work portion of our project the purchase of equipment by LCOOCC from grant funding produced an increased research infrastructure (e.g traps and cameras etc...). Also, field study sites were selected, field data were collected and analysis of data is underway. Mentoring of LCOOCC students working on project by researchers from GLIFWC, Purdue and LCOOCC to develop and produce research skills in: GIS, GPS, Map & compass, field tape, Small mammal trapping and handling, and Data entry and analysis. Visits and talks for LCOOCC students, faculty and staff by Pat Zollner and Vanessa Quinn from Purdue University produced a greater understanding of forest management issues being addressed by the present research project. OUTCOMES: The clearest outcomes to date directly address the objective of this research of Increasing LCOOCC's research and educational capacity through collaborative partnerships. For example, strong relationships have been established between LCOOCC, Purdue and GLIFWC during the course of this work. These relationships are evidenced by the multiple visits of PIs between institutions, the plans being developed for future collaborations and interactions with students from other institutions. Students at Purdue University have had the opportunity to learn about indigenous perspectives on resource management issues from seminars provided by Mike DeMarr during his visit to West Lafayette as well through their daily interactions with Tanya Aldred. Furthermore, student interns from LCOOCC involved in this project have had opportunities to interact directly with potential future employers such as staff of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. Furthermore LCOOCC students have had opportunities to interact with faculty and graduate students from Purdue University to discuss opportunities available at Purdue for post bachelorette studies if they were so inclined. Such interactions may serve to make LCOOCC student more aware of career options available to them and pathways to follow in order to reach those goals. Finally, LCOOCC students beyond those directly employed as student interns by this project have had the opportunity to attend seminars provided by Purdue faculty (Pat Zollner and Vanessa Quinn) as well as the chance to have access to new equipment (small mammal traps, reconyx camera, etc...)in their course work. No LCOOCC students were funded directly through this research grant. We did however fund a total of 6 student interns from August 2008 to September 2009. Four students were funded through a National Science Foundation Grant and two were funded through the Colleges State of Wisconsin funded Work Based Learning program. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The information dissemination on project development and outcomes to date has been accomplished via several media outlets including; WOJB public radio, Wisconsin Public Television, GLIFWC quarterly newsletter (Mazina'igan, the LCOOCC (lco.edu) and the GLIFWC (glifwc.org) websites. FUTURE INITIATIVES: As a result of this collaboration Purdue University collaborated with LCOOCC during July of 2009 on a grant that was submitted to the USDA CSRES program to develop a watershed based management perspective on LCO's natural resources. This grant was not funded but its submission exemplifies the linkages growing from this collaboration. Furthermore, we have discussed the possibility of submitting a new grant to the USDA TCRGP that would look at factors impacting the distribution of northern and southern flying squirrels in Northern Wisconsin and possible Minnesota. Such factors might include possible changes resulting from land management practices and global climate change. We have also discussed coordinating the submission of joint proposals with collaborators from Red Lake Tribal College in Minnesota and Purdue's department of earth and atmospheric sciences. These two groups are currently partnering on an NSF funded project examining ecosystem changes resulting from the invasion of introduced earthworms on Red Lake. However, they are not examining responses by small mammals such as flying squirrels which may be very sensitive. Coordinated future submissions to the TCRGP could provide an opportunity for LCOOCC students to learn about earth worms from Red Lake students and Red Lake students to learn about small mammal trapping from LCOOCC students.
Impacts
The project is not yet completed and as such there are no sustained actions or recommendations at this time. When the project is completed research findings will be posted to peer review journals and through other news media sources. A management guideline will also be developed for use by interested individuals, Tribes, Government Agencies and Private organizations.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|