Movement patterns, habitat selection, and corridor use of a typical woodland-dweller species, the European pine marten (Martes martes), in fragmented landscape

Abstract

International audienceWoodland fragmentation through land consolidation practices (the merging of small fields by the removal of separating structures like hedgerows) is recognised as a major threat to biodiversity in Europe. While its impact on the occurrence of species has frequently been the object of focus, its impact on the movements of individuals has rarely been studied. We used paths of radio-tracked European pine martens (Martes martes (L., 1758)), a forest-dwelling species, with fixes taken at 3 min intervals to determine their habitat use in fragmented landscape. Our results differ from those generally reported in the literature. Monitored individuals were not confined to large forests, and made additional use of small wood plots and hedgerows. Indeed, individuals moved faster in forests than in all other habitat types, which suggests that martens preferentially foraged in small woods, edges, and hedgerows. Roads and buildings were not avoided; fields, however, were avoided, although they did not act as barriers. Martens stayed close to forest cover when venturing into open ground, which suggests that although not restricted to forests, pine martens exhibit a certain dependence on the presence of trees in the vicinity.La fragmentation du milieu forestier par le remembrement des terres agricoles (le fusionnement des petits champs par le retrait des barrières telles que les haies) est considérée comme une menace majeure pour la biodiversité en Europe. L’impact de cette fragmentation sur la présence des espèces a souvent été évalué, mais son effet sur les déplacements des individus a rarement été étudié. Notre étude avait pour but d’examiner l’utilisation des différents types d’habitats en paysage fragmenté par une espèce forestière, la martre d’Europe (Martes martes (L., 1758)). Pour ce faire, nous avons relevé les parcours d’individus équipés de colliers émetteurs sur la base de localisations effectuées toutes les 3 minutes. Nos résultats diffèrent de ceux généralement rapportés dans la littérature. Les martres suivies n’étaient pas confinées aux grands massifs forestiers, mais fréquentaient également les bosquets et les haies. Les martres se déplaçaient même plus rapidement dans les grands massifs que dans n’importe quel autre habitat, suggérant qu’elles chassaient préférentiellement dans les bosquets, les lisières et les haies. Les routes et les bâtiments n’étaient pas évités. Seul le milieu ouvert l’était, sans pour autant constituer une barrière. Les martres restaient à proximité du couvert forestier lorsqu’elles s’aventuraient en milieu ouvert. Soulignant ainsi leur attachement a la proximité du couvert forestier

Non-native spruce plantations represent a suitable habitat for Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus) in the Czech Republic, Central Europe

“…The 750-m radius buffer zone roughly equates to the home range area of Pine Martens (approximately 200 ha) (Zalewski et al 1995;Pereboom et al 2008). In some years, martens predated up to 50 % of all nests.…”

Stone marten (Martes foina) habitat in a Mediterranean ecosystem: effects of scale, sex, and interspecific interactions

“…Mammals in scarce-food environments have reduced bodysize growth, which can lead to sexual dimorphism (Isaac 2005) or it may be expressed in behavioral differences between the sexes. For example, food-niche partitioning between male and female pine martens is dependent on the environmental context (Zalewski 2007); however, this behavioral difference may be attenuated in a heterogeneous environment (Pereboom et al 2008). Nonetheless, these patterns of habitat use can be affected by the scale of analysis.…”

Remotely plucked hair genotyping: a reliable and non-invasive method for censusing pine marten (Martes martes, L. 1758) populations

“…Recent range expansion into agricultural land in the north-west of Italy has been identified by the combined use of genetic analysis and road-kill data, which suggest dispersal movements may occur through the corridors of riparian woodland (Balestrieri et al 2009), highlighting the importance of conserving such habitats for the maintenance of gene flow between populations. Pine marten hair and scat samples (Statham 2005;O'Mahony et al 2006; this study) and road-kills (Smiddy and Berridge 2002) collected throughout the study area in Ireland also provide evidence for movement between forest fragments, which may be facilitated by the use of hedgerows (Pereboom et al 2008) which are abundant in the Irish landscape. The ability to permanently tag individual pine marten without capture or observation through genotyping remotely plucked hairs has clear potential as a tool to characterise genetic variability, demographic parameters and habitat use in modified landscapes.…”

“…The small size of available forests in fragmented landscapes (Fig. 2) may be offset by the use of non-forested habitat, such as scrub and limestone pavement in Ireland (O'Sullivan 1983), especially in countries with a mild climate and the absence of significant predators (Clevenger 1994;Pereboom et al 2008). Recent range expansion into agricultural land in the north-west of Italy has been identified by the combined use of genetic analysis and road-kill data, which suggest dispersal movements may occur through the corridors of riparian woodland (Balestrieri et al 2009), highlighting the importance of conserving such habitats for the maintenance of gene flow between populations.…”