The influence of forest fragmentation and landscape pattern on American martens

摘要: 1. We investigated the effects of forest fragmentation on American martens (Martes americana Rhoads) by evaluating differences in marten capture rates (excluding recaptures) 18 study sites with different levels resulting from timber harvest clearcuts and natural openings. focused low fragmentation, where connectivity was maintained non-forest cover ranged 2% to 42%. 2. Martens appeared respond negatively habitat based significant decrease within series increasingly fragmented landscapes. were nearly absent landscapes having > 25% cover, even though still present. 3. Marten correlated increasing proximity open areas extent high-contrast edges. Forested unsuitable for when average nearest-neighbour distance between (non-forested) patches <100 m. In these landscapes, created strips edge eliminated all interior. 4. Small mammal densities significantly higher than forests, but captures not prey abundance or biomass associated clearcuts. 5. Conservation efforts must consider only structural aspects mature landscape pattern which occurs. recommend that combination harvests openings comprise <25% ≥9 km2 size. 6. The spatial is important as well, because small, dispersed result less interior one large opening at same percentage fragmentation. Progressive cutting a single patch would retain largest amount habitat.