SPECIES: Scientific [Common] Marmota Caligata [Hoary Marmot]
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SPECIES: Scientific [common] Marmota caligata [Hoary marmot] Forest: Salmon–Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Mary Friberg Date of Review: 2/8/2018 Forest concurrence (or recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No) FOREST REVIEW RESULTS: 1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes___ No___ 2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area _______ Species is not known to occur in the plan area _______ Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern _______ FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes_X__ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment. 2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes_X__ No___ If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Observed Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) 2011, 2013 15 North Fork Ranger District Waterbury, B. 2017. Personal communication with Beth Waterbury, Salmon Region wildlife biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. September 11, 2017. 2016 10 Leadore Ranger District Waterbury, B. 2017. Personal communication with Beth Waterbury, Salmon Region wildlife biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. September 11, 2017. a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient? Yes___ No_X__ If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area? Yes_X__ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area? Yes___ No___ Provide explanation for determination N/A – occurrences have been documented since 1990. If determination is no, stop assessment d. Map 1, Hoary marmot range in Idaho (IDFG 2017) IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Game). 2017a. Hoary marmot (Marmota caligata). Internet website: https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/17870. Accessed on September 8, 2017. Map 2, Hoary marmot range in Montana (MNHP and MFWP 2017) MNHP and MFWP (Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks). 2017. Montana Field Guides – Hoary marmot (Marmota caligata). Internet website: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAFB03040. Accessed on September 8, 2017. e. Map 3, Hoary marmot occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (Waterbury, B. 2017. Personal communication with Beth Waterbury, Salmon Region wildlife biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. September 11, 2017) 3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information? Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments Entity Status/Rank (include definition if Other) NatureServe G5—Secure (Common; widespread and abundant) Global Rank NatureServe S4—Apparently secure (Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors) State Rank State List IDAPA: Protected nongame Status SGCN Tier 3 (Species that do not meet criteria for tier 1 or 2, yet still have conservation needs. In general, these species are relatively more common, but commonness is not the sole criterion and often these species have either declining trends rangewide or are lacking in information; Rationale: threats to habitat, data deficient) USDA Forest Not Region 1 or 4 sensitive Service USDI FWS Not listed Other Not BLM Type 2 Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Marmota caligata (Hoary marmot) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 A3 Range maps suggest the hoary marmot is a year-round resident in the IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Distribution on northern portion of the Forest (Map 1). Observation on the Forest have all Game). 2017. Idaho State Wildlife Salmon–Challis been made by Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) within the last decade and all Action Plan, 2015. Boise, ID. National Forest are in the Beaverhead Mountains on the North Fork and Leadore Ranger Districts (Table 1). However, suitable habitat likely exists within the Salmon River, Lemhi, Pahsimeroi, and Pioneer Mountain Ranges. Based on observations and the distribution of alpine habitat on the Forest, populations are likely naturally distributed as isolated patches with limited opportunity for dispersal among mountain ranges, although within range dispersal is possible (Rank A3). Confidence is moderated by the lack of surveys for Hoary Marmot on the Salmon-Challis. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 2 C Hoary marmot have an extensive distribution (Rank C) occur in Central and Braun. J.K., T.S. Eaton, Jr., and M.A. Distribution in mainland Southeast Alaska, the Yukon Territory, western Northwest Mares. 2011. Marmota caligata surrounding Territory, central and northern British Columbia, the Cascade Mountains of (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian geographic area Washington and southern British Columbia, the Mountains of central and Species. 43(884):155–171. northern Idaho, and the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and western Montana IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and (Braun et al. 2011; NatureServe 2017). Hoary Marmots are poorly Game). 2017. Idaho State Wildlife documented in Idaho, with sparse observations from the Selkirk, Bitterroot, Action Plan, 2015. Boise, ID. Beaverhead, Boulder, White Cloud, and Salmon River mountain ranges (IDFG 2017). Central Idaho and western Montana represent the southern NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe limits of the species range. Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Marmota caligata (Hoary marmot) Accessed on September 8, 2017. 3 B Hoary marmots are non-migratory (NatureServe 2017), but the species’ Armitage, K.B. 2013. Climate change Dispersal Capability range is the greatest of any alpine marmot, spanning over 20° latitude, and the conservation of marmots. which suggests ability for dispersal (Kerhoulas 2015). We are not aware of Natural Science. 5 (5A): 36–43. reports of dispersal distances by the hoary marmot. The similar Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) has been documented dispersing Bryant, A. 1996. Reproduction and 4.6 miles (Bryant 1996). The longest dispersal by the marmot genera is by persistence of Vancouver Island the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), which are known to marmots (Marmota vancouverensis) disperse up to 9.3 miles (Van Vuren 1990 in Armitage 2013). Sex-biased in natural and logged habitats. Can. J. dispersal favoring male marmots has been documented, but there is no Zool. 74:678-687. empirical data to suggest that males can cross barriers that females cannot, only that males may disperse more often (Kyle et al. 2007). Increasing Griffin, S.C., P.C. Griffin, M.L. Taper, latitude and altitude are correlated with delayed dispersal of young, and and L.S. Mills. 2009. Marmots on the social organization may also strongly influence the time of dispersal (Kyle et move? Dispersal in a declining al. 2007). montane mammal. Journal of Mammalogy, 90, 686-695. Dispersal may become limited as habitats become more fragmented under increased aridity and tree encroachment associated with a warming Kerhoulas, N.J., A.M. Gunderson, and climate (Armitage 2013; Griffin 2009). Therefore, hoary marmots probably L.E. Olson. 2015. Complex history of have a moderate ability for dispersal that is limited by suitable habitat isolation and gene flow in hoary, (Rank B). olympic, and endangered vancouver island marmots. Journal of Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Mammalogy, 96(4), 810-826. Kyle, C.J., et al. 2007. Social structure and facultative mating systems of hoary marmots (Marmota caligata). Molecular Ecology 16:1245-1256. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Marmota caligata (Hoary marmot) NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on September 8, 2017. 4 B Systematic surveys for the hoary marmot have not been conducted on the MNHP and MFWP (Montana Natural Abundance on the Salmon-Challis. Relative densities on nearby habitat in Montana are Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Salmon–Challis generally low (MNHP and MFWP 2017). Limited observations on the Forest Wildlife, and Parks). 2017. Montana National Forest and nearby and availability of habitat suggest the species may be Field Guides – Hoary marmot uncommon (Rank B). However, the low accessibility of the specie’s habitat (Marmota caligata). Internet may make the species underreported compared to its true abundance. website: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetai Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low l.aspx?elcode=AMAFB03040. Accessed on September 8, 2017. 5 D The hoary marmot is thought to maintain stable populations range-wide Braun. J.K., T.S. Eaton. Jr., and M.A. Population Trend on (Braun et al. 2011), but the short- and long-term population trends in Idaho Mares. 2011. Marmota caligata the Salmon–Challis are unknown (IDFG 2017). Because no population surveys have been (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian National Forest conducted on the Forest, information is insufficient to assess this criterion Species. 43(884):155–171. (Rank D). IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Game). 2017. Idaho State Wildlife Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Action Plan, 2015. Boise, ID. 6 B Hoary marmots are alpine specialists. They can be found in coastal tundra ADFG (Alaska Department of Fish and Habitat Trend on the on the north slope of Alaska as well. Dens are located in large boulder Game).