SPECIES ASSESMENT FOR WOLVERINE (GULO GULO ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 DR. GARY P. BEAUVAIS AND LAIN JOHNSON 1 Director, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 2 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 Copyright Clinton D. Long, The Wolverine Foundation, Inc. prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming January 2004 Beauvais and Johnson – Gulo gulo January 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 6 Taxonomy........................................................................................................................... 6 Distribution......................................................................................................................... 6 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 8 General ............................................................................................................................... 8 Spring and Summer.......................................................................................................... 10 Winter............................................................................................................................... 11 Landscape-scale Habitat Use ........................................................................................... 11 Stand-scale Habitat Use ................................................................................................... 12 Area Requirements........................................................................................................... 12 Movement and Activity Patterns ............................................................................................13 General ............................................................................................................................. 13 Reproduction and Survivorship..............................................................................................15 Breeding Behavior............................................................................................................ 15 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................... 16 Fecundity and Survivorship ............................................................................................. 17 Population Demographics......................................................................................................18 Limiting Factors ............................................................................................................... 18 Metapopulation Dynamics ............................................................................................... 19 Genetic Concerns ............................................................................................................. 19 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................20 Food Items........................................................................................................................ 20 Foraging Strategy ............................................................................................................. 21 Foraging Variation ........................................................................................................... 21 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................22 Predators and Competitors ............................................................................................... 22 Parasites and Disease ....................................................................................................... 23 Symbiotic and Mutualistic Interactions............................................................................ 23 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 23 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................23 Federal Endangered Species Act...................................................................................... 23 Bureau of Land Management........................................................................................... 23 Forest Service................................................................................................................... 24 State Wildlife Agencies.................................................................................................... 24 Heritage Ranks ................................................................................................................. 25 Biological Conservation Issues..............................................................................................25 Abundance........................................................................................................................ 25 Trends............................................................................................................................... 26 Abundance and Distribution Trends.......................................................................................26 Habitat Trends ........................................................................................................................28 Page 1 of 46 Beauvais and Johnson – Gulo gulo January 2004 Range Context.................................................................................................................. 28 Extrinsic Threats and Reasons for Decline ...................................................................... 29 Anthropogenic Impacts...........................................................................................................29 Invasive Species......................................................................................................................29 Genetic Factors .......................................................................................................................29 Stochastic and Environmental Factors....................................................................................29 Natural Predation....................................................................................................................30 Intrinsic Vulnerability ...................................................................................................... 30 Habitat Specificity and Fidelity..............................................................................................30 Territoriality and Area Requirements.....................................................................................31 Dispersal Capability................................................................................................................31 Reproductive Capacity............................................................................................................32 Sensitivity to Disturbance.......................................................................................................32 Protected Areas ................................................................................................................ 32 Population Viability Analyses (PVAs) ............................................................................ 33 CONSERVATION ACTION ................................................................................................................ 34 Existing or Future Conservation Plans...................................................................................34 Existing Regulatory Mechanisms..................................................................................... 34 Existing Management Plans............................................................................................. 34 Existing Conservation Strategies ..................................................................................... 34 Conservation Elements..........................................................................................................35 Key Elements ................................................................................................................... 35 Inventory and Monitoring ................................................................................................ 35 Habitat Preservation and Restoration............................................................................... 36 Captive Propagation and Reintroduction ......................................................................... 36 INFORMATION NEEDS ....................................................................................................................