• Rocky Mountain Research Station
• 240 West Prospect
• Fort Collins, CO 80526
• (970) 498-1100

Helping the National Forest System Define the Geographic Range of Sensitive Species

One new approach is to use non-invasive genetic sampling to determine where a particular species, or a suite of species, occurs. Non-invasive genetic sampling is the collection of hair, feces, or other similar types of samples without ever seeing an animal, to obtain DNA and confirm species presence and sometime determine the number of unique individuals in a forest. These approaches allow researchers to place a sampling device at a location on the landscape which induces animals to interact with the device and leave a sample, such as a tuft of hair which can be brought to the laboratory for analysis. These devices are cheap to install, robust, and provide unambiguous data on the species which are present.

In addition to obtaining data on the presence or absence of a species, these non-invasive sampling techniques also provide researchers with genetic information on the population as a whole - data which can be used to examine questions such as connectivity, abundance, and general genetic health of the population. The Wildlife Ecology Research Unit in Missoula has been working with multiple partners to understand the geographic range of many Rocky Mountain species using non-invasive genetic sampling approaches. One notable research effort has been on the fisher (Martes pennanti) a rare member of the weasel family that inhibits mature forests in Montana and Idaho. Scientists in the wildife unit have recently published both novel field and genetic tools which are making non-invasive genetic sampling efforts possible for fisher. They have then initiated collaborations with several Forests, Timber Companies, Tribes, and non-profit organizations to deploy these non-invasive sampling stations throughout the Rockies to provide a more precise occurrence map of fisher. Having this map will allow managers to focus conservation efforts when this rare species is present on their forests, while allowing constraints to be removed when the animal is deemed absent from their lands.

Efforts so far have shown that fisher are present in locations where they were historically thought to occur, such as the Lochsa River Drainage of Idaho and where reintroduction efforts occurred such as at the Red River Ranger Station in Idaho. However, the abundance of fisher in some other old (1950s-1960s) reintroduction sites appears low. This research and application is in its nascent phase and will be continuing through the next two years. For more information on this project please contact:

Michael Schwartz at mkschwartz@fs.fed.us. Also, information detailing our wok can also be found in the following peer-review publications: Vinkey et al. (2006) When reintroductions are augmentations: the genetic legacy of fisher (Martes pennanti) in Montana. J. Mammalogy 87: 265-271. Zielinski et al. (2006) Testing the Efficacy of Two Methods for Snaring Hair from Mesocarnivores. Wildlife Society Bulletin. Schwartz et al. (2007) Genetic monitoring as a promising tool for conservation and management. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22.