FISHER HABITAT MODELING

Project ID: F21AC02335

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2021

Initial Funding: $140,000

Total Funding: $140,000

Abstract:

DECISION SUPPORT FOR FISHER RECOVERY: MODELING DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT, AND POTENTIAL POPULATION SIZE IN WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIAPROJECT ABSTRACTFISHERS (PEKANIA PENNANTI) ARE A MEDIUM-SIZED CARNIVORE OF CONSERVATION CONCERN IN PORTIONS OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION (U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 2016, 2020). FISHERS IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA ARE FEDERALLY THREATENED AND OTHER POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED FOR FEDERAL LISTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 2020). SMALL AND ISOLATED POPULATIONS ARE THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND CHALLENGING THREAT TO FISHER PERSISTENCE IN WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA (NANEY ET AL. 2012, THOMPSON ET AL. 2020). SPECIES DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS, AND POPULATION SIZE ARE CRITICAL INFORMATION NEEDS FOR SPECIES RECOVERY (E.G., CARROLL ET AL. 2006). DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS AND HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED USING PRESENCE-ONLY AND EXPERT OPINION MODELS (U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 2016). THESE MODELS FREQUENTLY FAIL TO MEET ASSUMPTIONS (E.G., REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING, CONSTANT DETECTION PROBABILITIES) INCREASING CALLS FOR ANALYSES IN DETECTION-NON DETECTION FRAMEWORKS (E.G., YACKULIC ET AL. 2013).WE PROPOSE DESCRIBING THE DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS, AND POPULATION SIZES OF FISHER ACROSS WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA. WE WILL DEV