# Presentation: 143530

## Resource Use by Northern Spotted Owls in Mixed Conifer Forests of the Klamath Province: a Hierarchical Approach

**Resource Use by Northern Spotted Owls in Mixed Conifer Forests of the Klamath Province: a Hierarchical Approach**

**Brian Woodbridge and Jennifer Jones,            US Fish and Wildlife Service                          Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office**

## Objectives

- Provide a conceptual model of resource use by northern spotted owls in Klamath mixed conifer forests.
- Provide data to support project design and evaluation of risk.
- Introduce tools to assist with incorporating spotted owls into project planning.
- Avoid abusing/misusing anyone’s research results too badly.

## Klamath Region

- This presentation is focused on the Klamath Mixed Conifer forest type.  The ecology of NSO occupying this forest type within the Klamath Province may be different from NSO in other forest types, even within the Klamath Province.

## What’s different about spotted owls in Klamath mixed conifer forests?

- Preybase: Utilization of woodrats is 2-3 times higher than in Cascades, coastal forests (except south coast and redwoods)
- Woodrats comprise 28% of diet (48% of biomass)
- Flying Squirrels also comprise 28% of diet (30% of biomass)
- * From Forsman et al. 2004, and other studies

## So What?

- Woodrat abundance not strongly linked to mature/OG forest; occupy brushy habitats, young forest open forest (Sakai and Noon 1993, others)
- NSO home ranges are significantly smaller in areas where woodrats are important prey (Zabel et al. 1995)
- Increased use of edges by NSO foraging for woodrats (Zabel et al. 1995)
- Use of woodrats “reduces markedly the amount of older forest used for foraging by NSO” (Carey et al. 1992)
- High energetic reward per unit from woodrats (they’re big and fat) (Ward et al. 1998)
- However, high degree of temporal variability in local woodrat populations – importance of other prey species

## Landscape Level

**of Territories**

**Abiotic Features**
** ****of Territories**

**Habitat Features**
**of territories**

- Home Range

**Foraging Area**

**Core Area**

- Stand Structure

- NSO Foraging Habitat

- Prey Habitat 1

- Prey Habitat 2

- NSO Nesting Habitat

- Core/Edge; Patch Size

- Abiotic Features

- Owl Behavior

## Landscape Considerations: Factors Affecting Distribution and Density of NSO Territories 

**Landscape Considerations: Factors Affecting Distribution and Density of NSO Territories**

## Landscape Considerations:Factors affecting distribution and density of NSO

- Territoriality: NSO behavior; nearest-neighbor distances, competitors
- Abiotic Features: elevation, slope position, aspect, water
- Habitat Features: distribution of seral stages, forest community types, past disturbance

## Territoriality

- Nearest-neighbor distance:
- Mean 0.93 miles (range 0.26 – 1.5 miles; N=37) (Hunter et al. 1995; Willow Creek Study Area)
- Mean 1.21 miles (range 0.7 – 1.7 miles; N=22) (USFWS; 3 LSRs in E. Siskiyou Co.)
- Home ranges overlap, interaction among neighbors

## Abiotic factors influence the distribution of NSO territories

- Locations of NSO nest sites are strongly correlated with landscape variables such as elevation, slope position, and distance to stream.
- Abiotic features can be used to evaluate the probability of use of a given area by NSO.
- Valuable tool for large-scale and/or long-term planning of stand treatments.

## Modeling Landscape Suitability Using Abiotic Features

- Requires sample of NSO nest sites and comparison sites; either large random sample or smaller sample from census area.
- Derive landscape variables from DEM at a variety of scales; we used 70, 140, and 500 acre circular plots
- Compare values at nest sites to random plots; combine variables with significant coefficients into model

## Abiotic Suitability Model Development

| Variable | Statistic | P*  | Value Range  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  | NSO vs. random | 50th percentile around mean |
| Elevation | mean | 0.027 | 1027 to 1393 meters |
| Curvature | sum | <0.001 | -809 to -171 |
| Dist to road | mean | 0.038 | 109 to 199 meters |
| Dist to stream | mean | <0.001 | 102 to 158 meters |
| Slope position | mean | <0.001 | 34 to 47 percent |
| 7th field position | mean | 0.041 | 31 to 51 percent |

*** Mann-Whitney U test**

## Landscape Level:  

**CA-15**

**CA-16**

**OR-76**

**Landscape Level:****  **
**Mount Ashland Late-successional Reserve and vicinity**

## Deriving abiotic parameter values from Digital Elevation Model in GIS.

**Deriving abiotic parameter values from Digital Elevation Model in GIS.**

**NSO Occupied**

**No NSO**

**Survey Buffer**

## Abiotic Suitability Surface Map

**Abiotic Suitability Surface Map**

## Modeling Landscape Suitability Using Forest Habitat Features

- Zabel et al. (2003) model: uses amount, configuration and ratio of nesting and foraging habitat, as well as abiotic features, to model probability of occupancy by NSO.
- Model validated on several independent study areas; 88% to 93% correct classification.
- Klamath Province specific!

## Application of Habitat Suitability Model: Probability of Occupancy

- Legend
-      Po > 0.8
-      Po 0.6-0.8
-      Po 0.4-0.6
-      Po 0.2-0.4
-      Po < 0.2

## Home Ranges and Core Areas

**Home Ranges and Core Areas**

## Home Range Area

|  |  |  | Home Range Area  (acres) |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Study Area | N | # Locs | 95% Kernel
(AK or FK) | MMCP | Source |
| SW OR-
MCLUMP | 3 | 1138 | N/A | 1166  (106) | Carey et al 1992 |
| SW OR-
MCFRAG | 6 | 3221 | N/A | 2985  (672) | Carey et al 1992 |
| S. OR |  |  | 3867  (AK) | N/A | Wagner and Anthony 1999 |
| Medford | 8 | 5041 | 1588  (367) FK | 3239  (1447) | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| Yreka | 9 | 3151 | 1489  (399)  FK | 2691  (1309) | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| Hilt | 11 | 2414 | 2100  (1048) FK | 3645  (2525) | Irwin et al. 2005 |

## NID 11	BOGARD

- 0.5 mi

- 0.5 mi

- 0.5 mi

- 0.5 mi

- 1.3 mi

- 1.3 mi

- 1.3 mi

- 1.3 mi

## Home Range Size - conclusions

- High variability in area estimates based on differences in methods used (MCP, MMCP, FK, AK, breeding season, annual??)
- Each method measures a different aspect of NSO use of space: kernel estimates highlight areas of disproportionate use.  MCP methods simply connect the dots.  Neither translates well into “circle analysis” radii
- Need to compare with simple Distance to nest histogram to describe radius of NSO use

## Home Ranges: Habitat Composition

- Typically described in terms of proportion of home range in various categories of habitat: seral stages (old forest etc.) or size class/density (WHR)
- Great variation in habitat classifications used
- At this scale, complex stand structural descriptions not available
- Most studies too general to be useful for management planning

## Core Areas

- Area within home range that receives disproportionate amount of use.
- Described as encompassing 60% to 70% of telemetry locations; 20-21% of home range (Bingham and Noon 1997).
- Important determinant of owl occupancy, fitness (Dugger et al. 2005, Franklin et al. 2000, Zabel et al. 2003)

## Core Area Size

- Bingham and Noon (1997) recommended using mean core area + 1 SE = 475 acres, based on radio telemetry.
- Wagner and Anthony (1999) used the 50% Adaptive Kernel isopleth to define a 413 acre core area.
- Franklin et al (2000) found NSO fitness to be correlated with habitat features within 389 acre area (1/2 median nearest-neighbor distance.

## Core Area Size (cont.)

- Hunter et al. (1995) and Meyer et al.(1998) found strongest habitat relationships at 500 acre scale.
- Zabel et al. (2003) tested predictive models at several scales; best model at 500 acre scale.

## Core Area Sizes: fixed kernel estimates (from Irwin et al. 2005)

| Study Area | N | # Locs | 50% FK
Acres  (SE) | 75% FK
Acres  (SE) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medford | 8 | 5041 | 210  (81) | 510  (147) |
| Yreka | 9 | 3151 | 128  (55) | 364.4  (114) |
| Hilt | 11 | 2414 | 147  (73) | 415  (191) |
| Chico | 9 | 4018 | 198  (110) | 530  (275) |
| mean |  |  | 171  (87) | 456  (198) |

## Core Areas: Habitat Composition

- Despite dissimilar study designs and approaches, high degree of concordance in results.
- In all studies reviewed, core areas contained sig. greater amounts of OG/mature forest than random circles.
- Bart (1995) suggested at least 30-50% of core be OG/mature forest (150-250 acres).

## Core Area: Habitat Composition (cont.)

|  | Amount OG/mature forest*
mean acres  (range %) |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Area | Occupied | Random | Source |
| NW CA | 232  
(33.6-59.4%) | 177  
(21.6-49.3%) | Hunter et al. 1995 |
| SW OR | 312
(67.5%) | 214
(43.9%) | Meyer et al. 1998 |
| NW CA | 160
(32%) | 110
(22%) | Gutierrez 
et al. 1998 |

- * Wide variation in definitions of old-growth/mature forest habitat

## Core Area: Habitat Composition and Fitness (cont.)

- Franklin et al. (2000) found that fitness (both survival and reproduction) of NSO was correlated with features of core area habitat.
- High fitness was associated with roughly 60% of 389- acre core composed of mature forest habitat (239 acres).  Remainder can be mix of younger/ more open types to provide preybase and foraging habitat (A. Franklin, pers. comm).
- Core/Edge ratio and patchiness also important.
- Apparent tradeoff between survival (amount of core mature habitat) and fecundity (edge, foraging habitats)

## Slide 30

## Core Area Habitat Composition and Fitness (cont.) 

- In southern Oregon, Dugger et al. (2005) found results similar to Franklin’s
- In general, 413-acre core areas with >40% old forest had high fitness potentials (>1)
- Did not find evidence for a positive relationship with edge

## Core Area: Habitat Composition

- Zabel et al. (2003) developed a predictive habitat-association model based on USFS RD&A program (74 random locations in Klamath Province).
- Used refined definitions of Nesting/ Roosting and Foraging habitat; incorporated elevation, aspect, species composition, ecological zone.

## Model Selection Process

- Old FEMAT parameters

- New FEMAT parameters

- “Baseline” parameters

- Linear Models

- Pseudo-threshold Models

- Quadratic Models

- Test with RD&A Plot Sample

- Competing Models

- Habitat Definition

- 12 “best models” selected for further comparison and testing

## Hah!  Woodbridge’s blown his cerebral cortex!

## Model Testing

- Data from 8 independent study areas were used to test and compare the accuracy of the 12 best models at each spatial scale
- Each independent study area had been completely censused for owls.  Thus, both presence and absence were known
- Sample sizes ranged from 24 to 180 for the test data study areas

## Results:  Best model LOGNR + F + F2  at 500-acre scale

- This model resulted in 93% correct classification of occupied owl sites.

## Core Area: Habitat Composition

- Zabel Model (cont.)
- Highest probability of occupancy values occurred when 500-acre core between 60-70% NR and 30-40% F habitat
- Can evaluate effect of changing habitat on estimated probability of occupancy.

## Relationship Between Fitness (survival and fecundity) and Probability of Occupancy

**Franklin = mod/hi,**
**Zabel = high**

**Franklin = low**
**Zabel = high**

## Qualitative Features of Nesting and Foraging Habitat

- Many assumptions made about the functional differences between nesting and foraging habitats
- Different approaches used to describe habitat: what’s around nests versus telemetry
- Greater attention to describing nesting habitat (it’s easy to do)
- Foraging habitat makes up majority of home range but is poorly described (telemetry studies difficult and expensive)

## Nesting Habitat

- Defined as habitat structure typically associated with NSO nest sites (small scale)
- May provide more cover, thermal protection, nest structures associated with stand decadence than foraging habitats
- Majority of “NR” habitat within home range is used for foraging

## Nesting Habitat 

- Described as closed-canopied mature to old-growth forest, multilayered, with some degree of decadence
- Canopy closures typically >70%
- At stand level, high degree of variation in mean diameter, basal area, trees per acre
- At microhabitat level, nest sites typically associated with large (>30”) trees with structure (mistletoe, cavity, deformity)

## Foraging Habitat 

- Few published studies have used radio telemetry and plot data to describe habitats used by foraging NSO in the Klamath area
- Even fewer have described habitat in terms useful to managers (i.e structural parameters)
- Most studies used seral classes (OG/mature/pole/sapling) or remotely classified vegetation maps (WHR, timber typing)

## Foraging Habitat: Abiotic Influences

- Use of stands by NSO is strongly influenced by abiotic features (where it is versus what it is):
- Distance to nest site: important variable for central-place forager
- Slope Position: foraging activity is concentrated on lower 1/3 of slopes.  Not equivalent to distance from water
- Elevation: Some preference for lower elevations within home range
- Aspect: Preference for north slopes (variable)

## Slope Position used by foraging NSO

**Slope Position used by foraging NSO**

## Structural Features of Habitats Used for Foraging: Basal Area 

|  | Optimal Range | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Live trees | 307 - 334 ft/2ac | Solis 1983* |
| Live trees >35” | 157 - 176 ft2/ac | Solis 1983* |
| Live trees <11” | 10 ft2/ac | Solis 1983* |
| Snags | 31 – 38 ft2/ac | Solis 1983* |
| Live trees | 180 - 220 ft2/ac | Gutierrez et al. 1992 |
| Live trees >20” | 50 - 60% of total | Gutierrez et al. 1992 |
| Snags > 15” | 7 - 17 ft2/ac | Gutierrez et al. 1992 |
| Live trees | 160 - 240 ft2/ac  | Irwin et al. 2005 |

*** study conducted in Douglas-fir/tanoak**

## Structural Features of Habitats Used for Foraging: Tree Size/Density

|  | Mean =/- SE | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Trees  | 450 – 489/ ac | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| Trees 5 – 9.8” dbh  | 102 – 110/ ac. | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| Trees > 26” dbh | 6.8 – 7.2/ ac | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| QMD | 14.1 – 14.3/ ac | Irwin et al. 2005 |
| All Trees | 205 – 216/ ac | Solis 1983 |
| Trees 5 – 10.9” dbh | 100 – 108/ ac | Solis 1983 |
| Trees > 21” dbh | 29 – 32/ ac  | Solis 1983 |
| 70% of locations in stands > 20.7” dbh |  | Solis 1983 |

## Structural Features of Foraging Habitat: Other Considerations

- Coarse Woody Debris: typically greater at foraging sites than random:
- 10-15 tons/ac (Gutierrez et al. 1992)
- Shrub Cover: typically less at foraging than random sites
- 6.7 – 8% shrub cover (about 1⁄2 of random) (Solis 1983)

## Habitat Relationships of Primary Prey

- Habitats supporting prey populations may not be the same as those typically associated with NSO use
- In Klamath Mixed Conifer habitats, habitat relationships of two primary prey species; Dusky-footed Woodrats and Flying Squirrels likely dictate optimum home range composition

## Habitat Relationships of Primary Prey (cont.)

- Woodrats occupy brushy openings, riparian and early-seral habitats; may disperse into adjacent mature stands
- Woodrat populations are often unstable at local level, woodrat habitat is short-lived due to succession
- Flying Squirrels are most abundant in mature, closed canopied stands, often use cavities in snags as den/nest sites

## Habitat Relationships of Primary Prey

- This could be you....

## Conclusions

- Spatial characteristics of NSO home range use, combined with the influence of abiotic factors, can be used to assist planning of silvicultural and fuels treatments (and risk assessments)
- Integrating spatial/abiotic influences with evaluation of stand characteristics (owl suitability versus fuel model?) before and after treatment can provide a consistent approach for planning treatments