Long-Distance Wolverine Dispersal from Wyoming to Historic Range in Colorado

Packila, Mark L.; Riley, Meghan D.; Spence, Robert S.; Inman, Robert M.

doi:10.3955/046.091.0409

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…These spatial distances likely are only covered by multigenerational gene flow or occasional long-distance dispersal events ( Gardner et al 1986 ; Moriarty et al 2009 ). For example, an exceptional straight-line dispersal distance of 826 km for an adult male was reported by Packila et al (2017) , and male dispersal up to 500 km was detected using genetic means by Flagstad et al (2004) . To maintain connectivity over such large distances, wolverines eventually have to disperse outside of their typical, mountainous habitat, and potentially cross areas that are characterized by higher housing densities and areas that are topographically more homogeneous (e.g., Packila et al 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, an exceptional straight-line dispersal distance of 826 km for an adult male was reported by Packila et al (2017) , and male dispersal up to 500 km was detected using genetic means by Flagstad et al (2004) . To maintain connectivity over such large distances, wolverines eventually have to disperse outside of their typical, mountainous habitat, and potentially cross areas that are characterized by higher housing densities and areas that are topographically more homogeneous (e.g., Packila et al 2017 ). Our results suggest that these factors strongly influence population genetic structure in wolverines at broad spatial scales.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the contiguous United States, historical wolverine populations were extirpated by the early 20th century, and contemporary populations in the lower 48 States were reestablished by immigrants from the north ( McKelvey et al 2014 ). The species still is absent from Utah and only single individuals have been confirmed in California ( Moriarty et al 2009 ), Colorado ( Packila et al 2017 ), and Oregon ( Oregon Wild 2019 ), all of which were part of the historical distribution of the species ( McKelvey et al 2014 ). Currently, the species occupies insular, high-elevation habitat patches in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming ( Banci 1994 ; Aubry et al 2007 ; McKelvey et al 2014 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Landscape genetics of wolverines (Gulo gulo): scale-dependent effects of bioclimatic, topographic, and anthropogenic variables

Balkenhol

Schwartz

Inman

et al. 2020

Journal of Mammalogy

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Abstract Climate change can have particularly severe consequences for high-elevation species that are well-adapted to long-lasting snow conditions within their habitats. One such species is the wolverine, Gulo gulo, with several studies showing a strong, year-round association of the species with the area defined by persistent spring snow cover. This bioclimatic niche also predicts successful dispersal paths for wolverines in the contiguous United States, where the species shows low levels of genetic exchange and low effective population size. Here, we assess the influence of additional climatic, vegetative, topographic, and anthropogenic, variables on wolverine genetic structure in this region using a multivariate, multiscale, landscape genetic approach. This approach allows us to detect landscape-genetic relationships both due to typical, small-scale genetic exchange within habitat, as well as exceptional, long-distance dispersal among habitats. Results suggest that a combination of snow depth, terrain ruggedness, and housing density, best predict gene flow in wolverines, and that the relative importance of variables is scale-dependent. Environmental variables (i.e., isolation-by-resistance, IBR) were responsible for 79% of the explained variation at small scales (i.e., up to ~230 km), and 65% at broad scales (i.e., beyond ~420 km). In contrast, a null model based on only space (i.e., isolation-by-distance, IBD) accounted only for 17% and 11% of the variation at small and broad scales, respectively. Snow depth was the most important variable for predicting genetic structures overall, and at small scales, where it contributed 43% to the variance explained. At broad spatial scales, housing density and terrain ruggedness were most important with contributions to explained variation of 55% and 25%, respectively. While the small-scale analysis most likely captures gene flow within typical wolverine habitat complexes, the broad-scale analysis reflects long-distance dispersal across areas not typically inhabited by wolverines. These findings help to refine our understanding of the processes shaping wolverine genetic structure, which is important for maintaining and improving functional connectivity among remaining wolverine populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Landscape genetics of wolverines (Gulo gulo): scale-dependent effects of bioclimatic, topographic, and anthropogenic variables

Balkenhol

Schwartz

Inman

et al. 2020

Journal of Mammalogy

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“…Two study areas were selected in consultation with USFWS personnel. They comprise a northern, relatively wet, and low-elevation mountainous area in Glacier National Park, Montana (Figure 1a, abbreviated GLAC) that is currently occupied by wolverines, and a comparatively dry and high elevation area located about 1,000 km south in and near Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (Figure 1b, abbreviated ROMO) that has had recent documented wolverine occurrence (Packila et al, 2017) and could be a potential reintroduction site for wolverines. Both model domains encompass contiguous hydrologic drainages that span elevations from approximately 250 m below tree line to the maximum elevation in each domain (962-3,166 m in GLAC, and 2,563-4,253 m in ROMO).…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Projections of Mountain Snowpack Loss for Wolverine Denning Elevations in the Rocky Mountains

et al. 2020

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Future reduction in mountain snowpack due to anthropogenic climate change poses a threat to many snow-adapted species worldwide. Mountain topography exerts a strong control on snowpack not only due to elevation but also through the effect of slope and aspect on the surface energy balance. We develop high-resolution projections of snowpack in order to provide improved, physically based estimates of the spatial distribution of future snowpack to inform species conservation efforts for the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in two study areas in the Rocky Mountains: one in Montana with known den sites and one in Colorado with recent wolverine activity and potential for reintroduction. Here we assess springtime snowpack loss in actual and potential denning areas under five future climate scenarios for the mid-21st century. Snowpack in April and May is likely to persist into the mid-21st century in the upper half of current denning elevations in all but the warmest future climate scenario, while large declines are projected for the lower half of the denning elevations. We gain new insight into the influence of topographical aspect on future snowpack and quantify the potential for enhanced snow persistence on north and east facing slopes under future scenarios that is only revealed in simulations where terrain slopes are resolved. Plain Language Summary Climate change and its effect on snow are a threat to high mountain ecosystems and species worldwide. The future of mountain snowpack is complex, with multiple drivers, and with a strong elevation dependence. What has received much less attention is the dependence on topographical aspect-how will the snowpack on north facing versus south facing slopes respond differently under climate change. In this paper we develop snow projections motivated by a conservation issue for the wolverine: the future of the springtime snowpack at elevations of observed and potential wolverine denning for two study areas in the Rocky Mountains by the mid-21st century. While there is significant snowpack loss in the lower half of denning elevations, the upper denning elevations retain springtime snowpack, supporting conservation actions through midcentury in these regions.

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“…Range expansion is most likely mediated by the spatial dynamics of territorial females and their female offspring, which preferentially occupy vacant home ranges near their natal areas rather than undergo long‐range dispersal (Aronsson, ). Likewise, the tendency of some individuals, most often males, to occasionally engage in very long‐distance movements (Packila, Riley, Spence, & Inman, ) can confuse understanding of distribution of reproductive populations. Yet wolverine lifespan and social structure should lead to a relatively consistent pattern of occupancy when examined over a 10‐year period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling broad‐scale wolverine occupancy in a remote boreal region using multi‐year aerial survey data

Ray

Poley

Magoun³

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim:We used data from aerial surveys of wolverine tracks collected in seven winters over a 10-year period (2003-2012) within a 574,287 km 2 study area to evaluate the broad-scale pattern of wolverine occurrence across a remote northern boreal forest region, identifying areas of high and low occupancy.Location: Northern Ontario, Canada.Taxon: Wolverine (Gulo gulo Linnaeus, 1758). Methods:We collected wolverine tracks and observations in 100-km 2 hexagonal survey units, making a total of 6,664 visits to 3,039 units, visiting each 1-9 times.We used hierarchical Bayesian occupancy modelling to model wolverine occurrence, and included covariates with the potential to affect detection and/or occupancy probability of wolverines.Results: we detected wolverines on 946 visits, 14.2% of total visits. Probability of detecting a wolverine varied among years and between the two ecozones in the study area. Wolverine occupancy was negatively related to two important covariates, the geographical coordinate Easting and thawing degree-days. A site occupancy probability map indicated that wolverine occupancy probabilities were highest, and standard error lowest, in the western and northern portions of the study area. Main conclusions:The occupancy framework enabled us to use observation data from tracks of this elusive, wide-ranging carnivore over a vast, remote area while explicitly considering detectability and spatial autocorrelation, yielding a map of probable wolverine distribution in northern Ontario that would not be possible using other methods of detection across a large region. With resource development pressures increasing in this globally significant region in the face of a changing climate, it is important to monitor changes in distribution of species like wolverines that have low population growth rates, large spatial requirements and sensitivity to human disturbance. This study demonstrates a relatively cost-effective and noninvasive alternative to monitoring based on wolverine harvest records, which have not been available since 2009 in Ontario due to changes in the provincial regulatory regime for this threatened species.

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Long-Distance Wolverine Dispersal from Wyoming to Historic Range in Colorado

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Landscape genetics of wolverines (Gulo gulo): scale-dependent effects of bioclimatic, topographic, and anthropogenic variables

Landscape genetics of wolverines (Gulo gulo): scale-dependent effects of bioclimatic, topographic, and anthropogenic variables

Projections of Mountain Snowpack Loss for Wolverine Denning Elevations in the Rocky Mountains

Modelling broad‐scale wolverine occupancy in a remote boreal region using multi‐year aerial survey data

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