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Distribution, Population Dynamics, Habitat Associations, and the Influence of Forest Management on Mountain Beavers

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Distribution, Population Dynamics, Habitat Associations, and the Influence of Forest Management on Mountain Beavers DISTRIBUTION, POPULATION DYNAMICS, HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE INFLUENCE OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ON MOUNTAIN BEAVERS Project # R2003-0123 Annual Report: March 31st, 2003 to Principal Investigator: Douglas B. Ransome, Ph.D. DBR Forestry-Wildlife Integrated Management 33477 1st Avenue Mission, B.C. Canada, V2V 1H1 Phone: (604) 814-2690 Email: [email protected] FII Project # R2003-0123: Distribution, Population Dynamics, … Mountain Beavers. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 3.0 INTRODUCTION 5 4.0 METHODS 7 4.1 Overall Distribution of Aplodontia rufa 7 4.2 Demarcating the Zone of Integration Between Subspecies 9 5.0 RESULTS and DISCUSSION 11 5.1 Overall Distribution of Aplodontia rufa 11 5.1.1 Reliability of the Survey 14 5.1.2 Limits of Presence/Not Detected Surveys 15 5.2 Demarcating the Zone of Integration Between Subspecies 17 5.2.1 Subspecies Classification 17 5.2.2 Zone of Integration 18 6.0 PROJECT EVALUATION & COMPLETION IN 2003 19 6.1 Project Evaluation 19 6.2 Project Continuation in 2003/2004 21 7.0 LITURATURE CITED 22 8.0 TABLES 26 9.0 FIGURES 27 10.0 APPENDIX 1 34 11.0 APPENDIX 2 40 DBR FORESTRY-WILDLIFE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT Researching and Integrating Wildlife- and Forest-Management Practices FII Project # R2003-0123: Distribution, Population Dynamics, … Mountain Beavers. 2 1.O ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) Program for financial support, through FII’s Forest Research Program, and Cattermole Timber for additional financial support. We thank International Forests Products Ltd.; Ministry of Forests, Chilliwack Forest District; Cattermole Timber; Darly Kelleher; Keystone Wildlife Research; Kari Nelson (MWLAP), and Les Gyug for their valuable input and access to data bases, maps, and GIS support. Many thanks to research associates P. Lindgren, C. Zabek, and Z. Zabek for their excellent field work. Cowan Vertebrate Museum (University of British Columbia) kindly provided mountain beaver specimens for genetic analyses. Many thanks to Allyson Miscampbell and Dr. Carol Ritland (Director of the Genetic Data Centre, U.B.C.) for their excellent work with the genetic analyses. Special thanks to Paul Zakora for loaning his A. r. rainieri specimen for genetic analysis. DBR FORESTRY-WILDLIFE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT Researching and Integrating Wildlife- and Forest-Management Practices FII Project # R2003-0123: Distribution, Population Dynamics, … Mountain Beavers. 3 2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa) are the world’s most primitive living rodent and are found exclusively in North America, with Canada’s only population endemic to the southwest corner of B.C. Two subspecies of mountain beavers occur in British Columbia: the red listed A. r. rufa and blue listed A. r. rainieri. Their designation implies that they require special management of critical habitat to maintain or restore their abundance and distribution. However, we lack adequate baseline inventory information (distribution, abundance, population dynamics, and habitat associations) to determine whether B.C.’s mountain beaver population, and their habitat, are increasing, decreasing, or stable. In absence of this information it is difficult to design effective and appropriate strategies to protect their populations and critical habitat. The following knowledge gaps currently exist for mountain beavers: • Current distribution of mountain beavers, especially A. r. rufa, in B. C.; • Baseline population dynamics for mountain beavers; • The influence of forest management activities on mountain beavers; and, • Identification of critical resources required by mountain beavers. This study was designed to determine the overall distribution of mountain beavers in British Columbia and to demarcate the zone of integration between A. r. rufa and A. r. rainieri. Surveys were conducted throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia from January to March 2003. Presence/Not Detected surveys were performed according to the Inventory Methods for Mountain Beaver, Bushy-tailed Woodrat & Porcupine (Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 27). Greater than 281 locations were surveyed throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia for mountain beavers. The results from these surveys were coupled with information previously published to develop the most complete distribution maps available for mountain beavers in British Columbia. The western extent of an abundant and persistent population of mountain beavers is Sumas Mountain/Chilliwack Mountain northeast of Abbotsford and Vedder Mountain southeast of Abbotsford. No evidence DBR FORESTRY-WILDLIFE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT Researching and Integrating Wildlife- and Forest-Management Practices FII Project # R2003-0123: Distribution, Population Dynamics, … Mountain Beavers. 4 was observed of successful and permanent colonization of suitable areas north of the Fraser River. We used genetic analyses to reexamine the subspecies classification and to develop an effective tool to accurately identify individuals to the subspecies level. Fresh tissue samples (9 A. r. rufa, 1 A. r. rainieri) were collected from live-trapped individuals. The D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA of A. rufa was isolated and sequenced, a previously unsequenced region for mountain beavers. The D-loop region of A. rufa is 996-997 base pairs in length. A. r. rainieri can be distinguished from all A. r. rufa at 3 D- loop sites, while A. r. rufa form 3 distinct groups by location: Sumas subpopulation, Chilliwack subpopulation and a third group that can be found at both locations Sumas/Chilliwack subpopulation. These results would be strengthened significantly with the analysis of additional samples, especially A. r. rainieri. The Zone of Integration between the two subspecies may have been identified through surveys for sign. An extremely low abundance of mountain beavers was noted along the Silverhope Valley southeast of Hope (Silverhope Creek/Silver Skagit Road and Maselpanik Creek FSR). Extensive surveys have been conducted in this area with only 3 active nests located. An accumulation of snow prevented survey completion and the collection of tissue required for genetic confirmation that this valley may represent the Zone of Integration. The next phase of the proposed research will document the baseline population dynamics of mountain beavers and the influence that forest management activities may have on them. Previous observations have indicated that forest management activities may enhance critical habitat for this species of concern. This comprehensive investigation will provide the necessary information needed to design effective and appropriate strategies to protect their populations and critical habitat. This research will also promote how forest management and wildlife management can be integrated to benefit a species of concern. Key Words: Aplodontia rufa, mountain beaver, distribution, species of concern, Lower Mainland, red listed, blue listed, DNA analysis, identify wildlife species DBR FORESTRY-WILDLIFE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT Researching and Integrating Wildlife- and Forest-Management Practices FII Project # R2003-0123: Distribution, Population Dynamics, … Mountain Beavers. 5 3.0 INTRODUCTION Mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa), a medium-sized fossorial rodent, have a general appearance of a muskrat (Ondatra zibthicus) except the tail is well furred, exceedingly short, and they have well developed claws for burrowing (Figure 1). Mountain beavers are the world’s most primitive living rodent and are found exclusively in North America, with Canada’s only population endemic to British Columbia (Carraway and Verts 1993; McGrew 1941; Taylor 1918). This distinction is based upon its primitive morphology and their inability to conserve water by concentrating urine. Two subspecies of mountain beavers occur in British Columbia: the provincially red listed A. r. rufa and blue listed A. r. rainieri (B.C. Conservation Data Centre). Both subspecies are classified federally as ‘Special Concern’ because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events. They are also classified provincially as ‘Identified Wildlife’ (endangered, threatened, or vulnerable) because they require special management of critical habitat in order to maintain or restore their abundance and distribution. The current abundance and distribution of mountain beavers in British Columbia is poorly understood (Cannings et al. 1999; Orchard 1984). A. r. rufa is found south of the Fraser River and its range may extend from Hope to Langley in the Lower Mainland of B.C. A. r. rainieri is found east of the Fraser River and Hope, and extends west to Princeton and along the Cascade Mountains from the Canada-US border north to Merritt and Lytton. The exact geographic delineation of the species and between subspecies is poorly understood. No records confirmed their presence north or northwest of the lower Fraser River; however, unverified records of their occurrence in these areas have been noted (Cosco 1980; Gyug 2000). Furthermore, it is thought that the extent and quality of mountain beaver habitat is probably deteriorating at lower elevations due to agricultural, urban, and industrial development; however, its habitat may be improving at higher elevations due to harvesting and silvicultural practices (Gyug 2000; Nyberg pers. com. c.f. Orchard 1984). Relatively few studies on the population dynamics of mountain beavers have been conducted in North America (Carraway and
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