IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Burdett, C.L. | |
| Hierarchical structure of Canada lynx space use and habitat selection in northeastern Minnesota | |
| 2008 Full Book | |
Limited knowledge about the ecology of the Canada lynx (_Lynx canadensis_) in the United States (U.S.), particularly its habitat requirements, resulted in the species being listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. I used global positioning system (GPS) collars to study the use of space and the habitat selection of 12 (6 male, 4 breeding female, and 2 non-breeding female) Canada lynx in northeastern Minnesota, U.S. Male home ranges (range = 29-522 km2) and core areas (range = 6-190 km2) were larger than the home ranges (range = 5-95 km2) and core areas (range = 1-19 km2) of females annually and during the denning season. The core areas of lynx were predicted by the 60% fixed-kerne1 isopleth in most seasons. Sensitivity analyses examining the effect of location frequency on home-range size suggest the smaller home-range sizes of breeding females are less sensitive to sample size than males. Some male lynx increased movements during March, the month most influenced by breeding activity. I used the core-area and home-range estimates to evaluate habitat selection with two habitat use metrics: (1) movement paths collected while following lynx trails with hand-held GPS units, and (2) locations recorded by the GPS collars worn by lynx. I modeled lynx habitat selection for both use metrics with 3 hierarchical spatial comparisons representing different intensities of use: (1) within core areas, (2) within territories, and (3) in areas adjacent to territories. Lynx consistently selected for 10-30 year-old successional forests, and sites where lynx foraged or rested were more comrnon in these forests. Selection for successional forests was reduced within core areas because of the greater availability of successional forest in core areas. Core areas therefore appear to represent high quality habitat to lynx and represent valuable conservation tools, especially for lynx in southern populations with characteristically large territories. Although successional forest is important for lynx in Minnesota, lynx also responded to the distribution of mature forests.Lynx selected for the edges between patches of mature upland-conifer forest and successional forest. The more open understory in the mature upland-conifer portion of these edges may allow lynx to more efficiently hunt snowshoe hares (_Lepus americanus_) compared to the dense s h b and herbaceous understory occurring in the interior of successional forest patches. Most lynx consistently selected against mature lowland-conifer forests, but female lynx with 3-7 month-old kittens used these forests in proportion to their availability. These females with young kittens likely showed increased use of mature lowland-conifer forests because these forests contain protective cover for the kittens. Forest management to benefit lynx populations should consider the spatial distribution of 10-30 year old successional and mature coniferous forests to provide optimal habitat for foraging and denning. Timber-cutting Patterns that mimic the large fires that controlled regeneration in boreal forests prior to human influence should benefit lynx. |
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