An Evaluation of Trapping Efforts to Capture Bobcats, Coyotes, and Red Fox

Wildlife biologists are often involved in efforts to capture free-ranging felids and canids. The objective of these efforts is usually to remove individuals causing unwanted or excessive predation, or to obtain study animals. The most common method used to capture carnivores includes some type of leg-hold trap. Numerous references provide information on the technique of leg-hold trapping (Taylor 1971, Musgrove and Blair 1979); however few reports include an evaluation of these methods

Bee Assemblages in Managed Early-Successional Habitats in Southeastern New Hampshire

We examined the abundance and species richness of bees at 10 sites managed for Sylvilagus transitionalis (New England Cottontail Rabbit) in southeastern New Hampshire. In 2015, we sampled bees using a streamlined bee-monitoring protocol (SBMP) developed for rapid assessment of bee communities, and in 2015 and 2016, we employed bee bowls (modified pan traps) painted fluorescent blue, yellow, or white and filled and with soapy water that were intended to mimic flower colors and attract bees. We compared the abundance of all species combined and species richness among management treatments (clearcuts, old fields, and gravel pits), patch area, and time since management action. We also compared the combined captures from bee bowls to relative abundance indices from the SBMP, as well as flower abundance and richness. Neither captured bee abundance nor species richness differed among management treatments; however, by removing a possible outlier, both abundance and richness were greatest in gravel pits compared to other habitats. There was no correlation between bee captures and the SBMP, and no correlation between captures and flower abundance or floral diversity. Our study demonstrates that habitats managed for New England Cottontail support a diverse assemblage of native bees. Gravel pits are potentially valuable targets for native bee conservation, but old fields and clearcuts offer alternatives in landscapes without gravel pits. Native bees are essential to support ecosystem function, and understanding their distribution and natural history is important to develop habitatmanagement efforts that benefit not only bees but multiple species of conservation concern within early-successional habitats

Population genetic structure and history of fragmented remnant populations of the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). Conserv. Genet

Abstract The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) has suffered from extensive loss and fragmentation of its habitat and is now a species of conservation priority in the northeastern United States. Remnant New England cottontail populations currently occur in five geographically disjunct locations: southern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire (MENH); the Merrimack Valley in central New Hampshire (NH-MV); Cape Cod, Massachusetts (CC); parts of eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island (CTRI); and western Connecticut, southeastern New York and southwestern Massachusetts (CTNY). We used microsatellite genotyping to discern patterns of population structure, genetic variability, and demographic history across the species' range and to assess whether the observed patterns are a consequence of recent habitat loss and fragmentation. Our findings show that the geographic populations are highly differentiated (overall F ST = 0.145; P \ 0.001). Using Bayesian clustering analyses, we identified five genetic clusters, which corresponded closely to the geographic populations, but grouped MENH & NH-MV together (ME/NH) and identified an isolated population in eastern Connecticut (Bluff Point). The genetic clusters showed little evidence of recent gene flow and are highly influenced by genetic drift. The CC and Bluff Point populations show signs they experienced a genetic bottleneck, whereas the ME/NH population shows evidence of ongoing decline. Populations in Bluff Point, CC, and ME/NH also show significantly reduced genetic variation relative to the other clusters (CTNY and CTRI without Bluff Point). Without immediate human intervention, the short-term persistence of New England cottontail populations in Maine, New Hampshire and Cape Cod is at great risk. Conservation efforts at this time should focus on within-population sustainability and eventually restoring connectivity among these isolated populations

Population genetic structure and history of fragmented remnant populations of the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis)

The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) has suffered from extensive loss and fragmentation of its habitat and is now a species of conservation priority in the northeastern United States. Remnant New England cottontail populations currently occur in five geographically disjunct locations: southern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire (MENH); the Merrimack Valley in central New Hampshire (NH-MV); Cape Cod, Massachusetts (CC); parts of eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island (CTRI); and western Connecticut, southeastern New York and southwestern Massachusetts (CTNY). We used microsatellite genotyping to discern patterns of population structure, genetic variability, and demographic history across the species\u27 range and to assess whether the observed patterns are a consequence of recent habitat loss and fragmentation. Our findings show that the geographic populations are highly differentiated (overall F (ST) = 0.145; P \u3c 0.001). Using Bayesian clustering analyses, we identified five genetic clusters, which corresponded closely to the geographic populations, but grouped MENH & NH-MV together (ME/NH) and identified an isolated population in eastern Connecticut (Bluff Point). The genetic clusters showed little evidence of recent gene flow and are highly influenced by genetic drift. The CC and Bluff Point populations show signs they experienced a genetic bottleneck, whereas the ME/NH population shows evidence of ongoing decline. Populations in Bluff Point, CC, and ME/NH also show significantly reduced genetic variation relative to the other clusters (CTNY and CTRI without Bluff Point). Without immediate human intervention, the short-term persistence of New England cottontail populations in Maine, New Hampshire and Cape Cod is at great risk. Conservation efforts at this time should focus on within-population sustainability and eventually restoring connectivity among these isolated populations

Seeking Sustainable Solutions in a Time of Change

Global change is impacting our lives in many ways [...

Data from: History matters: contemporary versus historic population structure of bobcats in the New England region, USA

Habitat fragmentation and genetic bottlenecks can have substantial impacts on the health and management of wildlife species by lowering diversity and subdividing populations. Population genetic comparisons across time periods can help elucidate temporal changes in populations and the processes responsible for the changes. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are wide-ranging carnivores and are currently increasing in abundance across an expanding range. Bobcat populations in New England have fluctuated in the past century in response to changes in their prey base, harvest pressure, and landscape development. We genotyped contemporary (2010–2017) and historic (1952–1964) bobcats from New England and Quebec, Canada at a suite of microsatellite loci and tested for differences in diversity, effective population size, and gene flow. Over 20 generations separated the sampling periods, and the intervening years were marked by drastic changes in land use and species management regimes. We found a general decrease in genetic diversity and differing population genetic structure through time. Effective population size decreased at the end of the historic period, coincident with a spike in harvest, but rebounded to greater numbers in the contemporary period. Our results suggest that bobcat populations in the region are robust, but development and range dynamics may play a significant role in population structure. Our study also highlights the benefits of a historical perspective in interpreting contemporary population genetic data