Wolverines (Gulo gulo luscus) on the Rocky Mountain slopes: natural heterogeneity and landscape alteration as predictors of distribution

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Fisher, J. T.; Bradbury, S.; Anholt, B.; Nolan, L.; Roy, L.; Volpe, J. P.; Wheatley, M.

Source:

Canadian Journal of Zoology, NRC Research Press, Volume 91, Issue 10, p.706–716 (2013)

Call Number:

A13FIS01IDUS

Keywords:

Gulo gulo, SWAP, wolverine

Abstract:

A species’ occurrence can be influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors; disentangling these is a precursor to understanding the mechanisms of distribution. Anthropogenic factors may be especially important at contracting range edges. The authors test this premise for wolverines (Gulo gulo luscus L., 1758) at the edge of their Rocky Mountain range in Alberta, Canada, a mosaic of natural heterogeneity and extensive landscape development. As wolverines have a suspected negative response to human activity, the authors hypothesized their occurrence on the Rockies’ slopes is predicted by a combination of natural and anthropogenic features. They surveyed wolverines at 120 sites along a natural and anthropogenic gradient using hair trapping and noninvasive genetic tagging. They used abundance estimation, generalized linear, and hierarchical models to determine whether abundance and occurrence was best predicted by natural land cover, topography, footprint, or a combination. Wolverines were more abundant in rugged areas protected from anthropogenic development. Wolverines were less likely to occur at sites with oil and gas exploration, forest harvest, or burned areas, even after accounting for the effect of topography. The relative paucity of wolverines in human-impacted portions of this range edge suggests that effective conservation requires managing landscape development and research[ing] the proximal mechanisms behind this relationship.

Notes:

ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Mammals

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Fisher JT, Bradbury S, Anholt B, Nolan L, Roy L, Volpe JP, Wheatley M. 2013. Wolverines (Gulo gulo luscus) on the Rocky Mountain slopes: natural heterogeneity and landscape alteration as predictors of distribution. [accessed 2015 Jun 1]; Canadian Journal of Zoology. 91(10):706–716. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjz-2013-0022#.Vcztdvm6dQI