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- Title
Distribution and habitat features associated with remnant populations of New England cottontails in Maine.
- Authors
Litvaitis, J.A.; Johnson, B.; Jakubas, W.; Morris, K.
- Abstract
We investigated the distribution and habitat associations of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis; NEC) at the northern edge of their historic range (state of Maine) during the winters of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. We compared features of regions (≥100 km²), landscapes (multiple home ranges of NEC within 1 km of suitable habitat), and patches (usually <0.1 km²) among sites that were occupied by NEC, occupied by a potential competitor (snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus), or vacant. The current range of NEC in Maine is approximately 1600 km² versus a recent historic range of 9400 km² (83% decline). Loss of early-successional forests may explain the decline in abundance but does not explain the pattern of range contraction. Patches occupied by NEC were larger, had a greater density of understory vegetation, and were more frequently associated with idle agricultural lands than vacant patches. Habitats occupied by snowshoe hares were characterized by a greater proportion of forest and a lower density of roads in the surrounding landscape, were more often associated with recent clearcuts, and had a lower density of understory vegetation than sites occupied by NEC. Based on current land-use patterns, remaining populations of NEC in Maine are vulnerable to extirpation.
- Subjects
MAINE; UNITED States; COTTONTAILS; SPECIES distribution
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2003, Vol 81, Issue 5, p877
- ISSN
0008-4301
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/z03-068