American marten (Martes americana) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 12
Technical Summary
Martes americana atrata
American marten, Newfoundland population – Martre d'Amérique, population de Terre-Neuve
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
Range of Occurrence in Canada: Newfoundland
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²).
Based on map data provided by the Wildlife Division, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation : 68,700 km² (using COSEWIC guidelines), 23,483 km² (omitting unoccupied region between eastern and western populations).
Specify trend in EO :
Probably stable to increasing
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²).
Based on map data provided by the Wildlife Division, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation : 11,828 km² in 4 core areas with resident marten: Terra Nova, 2,829 km²; Main River, 2,177 km²; Little Grand Lake-Red Indian Lake, 6,232 km², St. George’s, 590 km²). Additional peripheral areas of 11,555 km² contain juveniles, unconfirmed residents, and some residents.
Specify trend in AO :
Probably stable to increasing
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
No
Number of known or inferred current locations :
4 core areas, and peripheral areas.
Specify trend in # :
Stable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat :
Probably stable to increasing
Population Information
Generation time :
2 - 3 years
Number of mature individuals :
320 to 622
Total population trend:
Stable to increasing
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
No
Is the total population severely fragmented?
Yes; 4 core areas lack sufficient connectivity
Specify trend in number of populations:
Probably stable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
- Main River – 71-143
- Terra Nova – 35-77
- Little Grand Lake/Red Indian Lake – 178-361
- St. Georges – 11-12
- Peripheral – 35-47
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
- Habitat Threats: Forestry, insect defoliation, forest fires, forest succession to mortality.
- Population Threats: Non-target trapping and snaring mortality, limited prey base, population fragmentation.
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
North America: Secure populations occur across most the boreal forests of North America, including the subspecies range in northern Quebec and Labrador.
Is immigration known or possible?
No
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Newfoundland?
Possibly not; the Newfoundland population exhibits morphological and ecological adaptations.
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Newfoundland?
Yes
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
No
Quantitative Analysis
Not applicable
Current Status
- COSEWIC: Endangered, May 2000; Threatened, April 2007
- federal Species at Risk Act: Newfoundland and Labrador Schedule 1- Endangered
- provincial Endangered Species at Risk Act: Endangered
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Threatened
Alpha-numeric code: D1
Reasons for Designation: Marten in Newfoundland have declined substantially over the last century. The current population consists of 300-600 mature marten in 5 subpopulations. It is still at risk because of snaring and trapping outside of protected areas and because of forest harvesting. A small decrease in population size would likely result in consideration for Endangered status. The marten is one of few land mammals native to Newfoundland and the sub-species is endemic to Canada.
Applicability of Criteria
- Criterion A: (Declining Total Population): No evidence of decline over the past 10 years. If protected against hare snaring, the population may increase. In areas where forest harvesting is controlled.
- Criterion B: (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): area of occupancy is greater than 2,000 km² and there is no evidence of continuing decline.
- Criterion C: (Small Total Population Size and Decline): There are only 300-600 adult marten, but there is no evidence of ongoing decline.
- Criterion D: (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): There are fewer than 1,000 mature marten, so it fits D1 – Threatened. There appear to be more than 250 mature marten, so D1 – Endangered does not apply.
- Criterion E: (Quantitative Analysis): not available.
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