Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1996 Seasonal changes in food availability and feeding habits of mink (Mustela vison) and martens (Martes americana) on Chichagof Island, Southeast Alaska, were studied through the analysis of natural abundance of stable isotopes. Dependence of th...
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/9416 2023-05-15T17:10:25+02:00 Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance Ben-David, Merav 1996 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9416 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9416 Ecology Forestry Dissertation phd 1996 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:37:16Z Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1996 Seasonal changes in food availability and feeding habits of mink (Mustela vison) and martens (Martes americana) on Chichagof Island, Southeast Alaska, were studied through the analysis of natural abundance of stable isotopes. Dependence of the two species on marine-derived nutrients, carried to the terrestrial system via the upstream migration of spawning Pacific salmon (Onchorhynchus sp.), was investigated. Twenty-four mink and 75 martens were live-trapped repeatedly in early summer (prior to salmon runs), early autumn (post salmon runs), late winter, and in spring (during the mating season). A blood sample was obtained from each individual. In addition, 25 mink and 165 marten carcasses were obtained from trappers during late autumn 1991-1994. Concurrently, prey availability was monitored, and tissues from prey were collected. The abundance of stable isotopes in prey tissues and blood samples were compared, indicating that riverine mink depended on salmon (carcasses and fry), with little seasonal or individual variation, whereas coastal mink relied on intertidal organisms in spring and summer, but fed on salmon carcasses when they became available in autumn. In addition, analysis of blood progesterone revealed that timing of reproduction in female mink appear to be shifted, so that lactation coincided with the availability of salmon carcasses. In contrast, martens showed individual variation in their diets, with some individuals feeding exclusively on terrestrial organisms, while the diets of others include salmon carcasses. Incorporation of salmon in the diet depended largely on availability of small rodents and location of the martens home range on the landscape. Although salmon carcasses are not a preferred food item for martens, they act as a suitable alternative to maintain body condition and allow successful reproduction even in years when preferred food is not readily available. Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Martes americana Alaska University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA Fairbanks Pacific |
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University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
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unknown |
topic |
Ecology Forestry |
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Ecology Forestry Ben-David, Merav Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
topic_facet |
Ecology Forestry |
description |
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1996 Seasonal changes in food availability and feeding habits of mink (Mustela vison) and martens (Martes americana) on Chichagof Island, Southeast Alaska, were studied through the analysis of natural abundance of stable isotopes. Dependence of the two species on marine-derived nutrients, carried to the terrestrial system via the upstream migration of spawning Pacific salmon (Onchorhynchus sp.), was investigated. Twenty-four mink and 75 martens were live-trapped repeatedly in early summer (prior to salmon runs), early autumn (post salmon runs), late winter, and in spring (during the mating season). A blood sample was obtained from each individual. In addition, 25 mink and 165 marten carcasses were obtained from trappers during late autumn 1991-1994. Concurrently, prey availability was monitored, and tissues from prey were collected. The abundance of stable isotopes in prey tissues and blood samples were compared, indicating that riverine mink depended on salmon (carcasses and fry), with little seasonal or individual variation, whereas coastal mink relied on intertidal organisms in spring and summer, but fed on salmon carcasses when they became available in autumn. In addition, analysis of blood progesterone revealed that timing of reproduction in female mink appear to be shifted, so that lactation coincided with the availability of salmon carcasses. In contrast, martens showed individual variation in their diets, with some individuals feeding exclusively on terrestrial organisms, while the diets of others include salmon carcasses. Incorporation of salmon in the diet depended largely on availability of small rodents and location of the martens home range on the landscape. Although salmon carcasses are not a preferred food item for martens, they act as a suitable alternative to maintain body condition and allow successful reproduction even in years when preferred food is not readily available. |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Ben-David, Merav |
author_facet |
Ben-David, Merav |
author_sort |
Ben-David, Merav |
title |
Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
title_short |
Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
title_full |
Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal diets of mink and martens: Effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
title_sort |
seasonal diets of mink and martens: effects of spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9416 |
geographic |
Fairbanks Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Fairbanks Pacific |
genre |
Martes americana Alaska |
genre_facet |
Martes americana Alaska |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9416 |
_version_ |
1766067001040568320 |