life history, status and management of the new england cottontail
DESCRIPTION
Life History, Status and Management of the New England Cottontail. Anthony Tur US Fish and Wildlife Service New England Field Office Concord, New Hampshire. The Petition Process. Conducted Regional Survey. - Red circuit would need to be completed to finalize listing. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Life History, Status and Management
of the
New England Cottontail
Anthony Tur
US Fish and Wildlife Service
New England Field Office
Concord, New Hampshire
Petition Received8/2000
Service Review(90 days)
“Not Substantial” information
“Substantial” information, listing “may be warranted”
Publish 90 day finding6/2004
Review and information gathering
(12 month status review)
Data doesn’t support listing, “Not warranted”
Data supports need to list but other actions are of higher priority, “Warranted but precluded”
Species receives Candidate Status and is Assigned an Listing Priority Number (LPN),
Conduct Annual Status Review9/2006
Peer ReviewSeek public input
(60 day comment Period)
Announce decision not to List
Publish final rule to list in Federal Register
Species added to list (effective 30 days after announcement)
Data Supports need to list, “Listing is warranted”Proposed Rule in FR
The Petition ProcessConducted Regional
Survey
- Red circuit would need to be completed to finalize listing
Photo courtesy Anne Schnell
Photo courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Eastern cottontail introduced to areas west
of the Hudson River in the early 1900s
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
EX
PO
SE
D E
YE
AR
EA
(m
m2)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
PR
ED
AT
OR
DE
TE
CT
ION
DIS
TA
NC
E (
M)
EYE AREA PREDATOR DISTANCE
EASTERN COTTONTAILS
NEW ENGLANDCOTTONTAILS
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
D = ear length (0.18311) + mass (0.00254) - black spot (1.17860) + white spot (1.31396) - black edge (1.56785) - 11.9050
positive values = eastern cottontails negative values = New England cottontails
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
New England Eastern
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Anthony Tur/ USFWS
New England Cottontails require large stands of “thickets.
In comparison, eastern cottontails can be found in more open habitats, such as yards.
No Evidence of Hybridization between New England and
eastern cottontails.
Obligate usersR
EL
AT
IVE
US
E
0
1.0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
AGE OF STAND
New England cottontails
0.5
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Slide adapted from Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Dense Mountain Laurel Understory
Scrub OakSlide adapted from Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Green Briar TanglesAnthony Tur/ USFWS
Utility Rights-of-WayAnthony Tur/ USFWS
??
RETURN TO PRE-COLUMBIAN CONDITIONS?
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
FORESTS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
Trani et al. (2001)
9%
4%
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
SURVEY OF REMNANT POPULATIONS
-no recent comprehensive surveys were available to inform the review process
- final results were published in 2004
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Slide courtesy Dr. John Litvaitis/ UNH
Range fragmented into 5 induced metapopulations
Summary of Findings
• Is NEC a Species in Decline? – Yes!– 80% Contraction in Range Since 1960.– Recent range-wide survey documented NEC in
154 of 2,333 patches searched.– ~ 60% patches were considered habitat sinks.
What is the Primary Threat to the Species
Present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species range or habitat.
- Specifically a reduction in the quantity, quality and connectivity of patches.
Listing Priority Number
Magnitude
Immediacy
Taxonomy
Priority
High
Imminent Non-imminent
Monotypic genus Species Subspecies/population Monotypic genus Species Subspecies/population
1 2* 3 4 5 6
Moderate to Low
Imminent Non-imminent
Monotypic genus Species Subspecies/population Monotypic genus Species Subspecies/population
7 8 9 10 11 12
Addressing the Threats
Through habitat management, this species could be recovered. The “Landowner’s Guide to New England Cottontail Habitat Management” provides an introduction to many beneficial practices and provides contact information for obtaining assistance in your area.
Electronic copies can be downloaded at http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=8829&redirect=cottontail
Printed copies are available by contacting Anthony Tur at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New England Field Office, (603) 223-2541.