University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1997 Dispersal genetic relationships and landscape use by colonizing wolves in the central Rocky Mountains Diane K. Boyd-Heger The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Boyd-Heger, Diane K., "Dispersal genetic relationships and landscape use by colonizing wolves in the central Rocky Mountains" (1997). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10512. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/10512 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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DISPERSAL, GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS, AND LANDSCAPE USE BY COLONIZING WOLVES IN THE CENTRAL ROCKY MOUNTAINS by Diane K. Boyd-Heger B.S. University of Minnesota, 1977 M.S. University of Montana, 1982 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Montana, 1997 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners Dean, Graduate School 12 Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9820613 UMI Microform 9820613 Copyright 1998, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University ofMONTANA Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature ** Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature Date 9 7* Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Boyd-Heger, Diane K. Ph.D. October 1997 Fish and Wildlife Biology Dispersal, Genetic Relationships, and Landscape Use by Colonizing Wolves in the Central Rocky Mountains (184 pp). Director: Daniel H. Pletscher Wolves were eradicated from Montana in the 1930s and the adjacent Canadian Rockies by the 1950s, followed by recolonization in the 1980s. I studied wolf recovery in and near Glacier National Park, Montana, from 1979-1997. Wolves dispersed from the protected refugia of Glacier National Park and colonized areas in northwestern Montana, Idaho, southeastern British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta. During this time period 31 of 58 tagged wolves dispersed, and 3 of those dispersed twice. Most wolves (57%) did not conduct any exploratory forays 3 months prior to permanent separation from their natal pack. Wolves usually left their natal home range quickly (median = 4 days) once they separated from the pack. Mean dispersal distance was not significantly different for males (113 km) and females (78 km). Wolves tended to disperse in a northerly direction to areas of higher wolf density. January-February and May-June were peak months for dispersal. Mean dispersal age (male = 28.7 mos, females = 38.4 mos) was not correlated with maximum pack size. Twenty percent of dispensers were >57 months old at dispersal. Sex ratios of dispersers and captured wolves (both 71%F) were significantly different from parity. Survival for dispersers and biders did not differ. Eighty percent (n = 30) of wolf mortalities were caused by humans, with proportionately more dispersers (90%) than biders (60%) dying from human causes. Dispersers produced significantly more litters than biders. Effects of mountainous terrain on woif dispersal are discussed. Colonizing wolves had adequate genetic variation which was similar to that found in other wolf populations in North America. Sufficient gene flow occurred between the colonizing and source populations to minimize genetic divergence. Packs were founded by multiple, unrelated wolves from Canada, with no evidence of a population bottleneck. Reintroduced wolves were moderately genetically divergent from the colonizing population and have adequate genetic variation. I detected no evidence of hybridization between wolves and coyotes. Detection of non-native canids and management considerations are discussed. I analyzed landscape attributes selected by 6 colonizing wolves including elevation, slope, aspect, distance to water, distance to roads, road density, and canopy cover. Wolves selected for landscapes with relatively lower elevation, flatter terrain, and closer to water and roads than expected based on availability inside and outside of their new home range. I built a logistic regression model using the univariately significant attributes (elevation, slope, and distance to roads) to predict wolf presence in areas of potential colonization. Impacts of habitat fragmentation and management considerations are discussed. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Dispersal, Genetic Relationships, and Landscape Use by Colonizing Wolves in the Central Rocky Mountains Extended Abstract ii Table of Contents iii List of Tables vi List of Figures viii Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1: Introduction and Synthesis of Dissertation 1 Background 1 Synthesis 3 Literature Cited 7 Chapter 2: Dispersal Characteristics of Colonizing Wolves 9 in the Central Rockies Abstract 9 Introduction 9 Methods 11 Study Area 11 Captures 14 Telemetry and Dispersal 14 Statistical Tests 18 Results 19 Captures and Dispersals 19 Pre-dispersal Behavior 20 temporal separation from pack 20 spatial separation from pack 20 pack hopping and extraterritorial forays 21 Dispersal Characteristics 21 dispersal rate 21 distance dispersed 22 direction dispersed 23 month of dispersal 23 age at dispersal 24 sex ratio 25 dispersal movements 25 Post-dispersal Behavior and Fates 26 bounce time 26 survival and mortalities 27 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. reproductive contribution 28 Pack Formation 30 Discussion 30 Dispersal Characteristics 30 Movements and Dispersal Behavior 36 Was Dispersal a Successful Strategy? 38 Conclusions 40 Literature Cited 41 Appendices 47 Chapter 3: Conservation Genetics of Wolves in the Central Rockies: 54 a Synopsis Abstract 54 Introduction 54 Background of Wolf Genetics 55 Genetic Analyses of Wolves of the Central Rocky Mountains 57 Management Choices: Natural Recovery or Reintroduction 62 Wolf-Like Canids 63 Conclusions and Management Recommendations 65 Literature Cited 66 Appendices 70 Chapter 4: Landscape Use by Colonizing Wolves in the Central Rockies 136 Abstract 136 Introduction 136 Study Area 140 Methods 142 Capture and Telemetry 142 Spatial Analyses 142 Statistical Tests 145 Logistic Regression 147 Results 148 Wolf Distribution 148 Landscape Attributes 149 elevation 149 slope 150 aspect 151 distance to water 151 distance to roads 152 road density 154 canopy cover 155 correlations 157 Logistic Regression 158 Discussion 161 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Anthropogenic Habitat Fragmentation 161 Natural Patchiness 167 Dynamics of Colonization and Landscape 168 Cooperative Management 170 Conclusions and Management Recommendations