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Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT

2013-2014 Field Season. Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT. 1 –Distribution Study 2 – Metapopulation 3 - Evaluate Habitat Restoration Sites 4 – Characterize Important habitat features 5 – EC removal study. CT Wildlife Division.

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Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT

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  1. 2013-2014 Field Season Update: Research and Monitoring Activities For New England Cottontails in CT 1 –Distribution Study 2 – Metapopulation 3 - Evaluate Habitat Restoration Sites 4 – Characterize Important habitat features 5 – EC removal study CT Wildlife Division

  2. The Management Issue • Sympatric, similar in appearance and habitat • Populations have declined (RI, VT, ME, NH – CT, NY, MA) • Candidate for Federal Listing – ESA (2015) • Regional Conservation Strategy 99% DNA (F or T) Skull Morphology 88% 1/3?

  3. 1. Distribution 2000-2014 New Towns = 5 Bethlehem+Bethel -2014 New Towns 2013 N. Canaan Canterbury E. Lyme Total CT Towns (n=46)

  4. Changes in Distribution of EC in CT Historic (1930-1949) Current (2001-2010)

  5. Assess Habitat Restoration Sites: 2) Vegetative Response / NEC Use • Stem Counts: • -Pre and Post • 1-growing season (2012) • 3-growing seasons (2014) • -Stems –Every other year • -NEC use – Alternate years

  6. 2. Stems Counts (2010, 2012, 2014) Pellet Collections - NEC Use (2013 + 2015) - (SWG 1; n=8) Cottontail Surveys - Jan 2013: 4 of 8 sites (n=12 - EC) Marginal habitat

  7. 3 years later . . . • >96,000 stems/ha • NEC use after 4 growing seasons???

  8. Stem Counts (n = 10) Fall 2013: Spignesi (SWGII) - baseline Pachaug (SWGII) - baseline Bear Hill (SWGII) – 1 growing season Spring 2014: Pease Brook (SWGII)- baseline Sessions Woods – after 1 growing season Roraback (SWG II) – after 1 growing season Zemco pond – After 3 growing season Roraback 1,1a,2,2a – After 3 growing season Housatonic North&SouthGoshen 1,2 – After 3 growing season Camp Columbia 1,2 – After 3 growing season

  9. 1- UNH (Metapop) 2014 74 patches in 17 grids 260 samples 3. Fecal Pellet Collections -Metapopulation Dynamics/Distribution 1-km radius plots 5 NEC Focus Areas in SE CT Systematically sampling • Habitat Class • Dominant Vegetation

  10. Interesting finding Powerline 5 mile, 3 towns, 20 samples - Continued Surveying Powerline in 2014 - Potential Importance

  11. Power line ROW Managed Connected Dispersal

  12. Persistent Shrubs

  13. 4. Used Beagle ID Daytime resting cover & escape cover(Year 1) • Objective: • Importance of Vegetation vs Structure vs underground • NEC vs EC • Methods: • Radio collars - Rabbit HR, CA • Flush (Daytime cover) • Dog (Escape cover) Study site: Nichols patch = 40 acres. Min Capture = 59 rabbit Mark-Recap Est = 80 rabbits (2 rabbits per Acre)

  14. Daytime resting cover - Preliminary 72% 28%

  15. Habitat Measurements Escape & Resting Cover Obstruction (0.5 m intervals – 2 m) Basal Areas

  16. 5. Can we increase NEC pop by manipulating EC pop ??

  17. July 2014 Update

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