Habitat Connectivity for Fishers and Martens in the Klamath Basin Region of California and Oregon

This report identifies important landscape connectivity areas in the mid-Klamath Basin of northern California and southern Oregon for two forest species of conservation concern: Pacific marten (Martes caurina) and Pacific fisher (Pekania pennanti). It assesses current connectivity status and identifies where connectivity could be improved through restoration or other actions. Results for the current condition could serve as a baseline against which to compare potential future conditions due to the effects of land management, climate change, fire, or other factors.

The project team used habitat suitability models (also known as species distribution models, or SDM) to define habitat core areas for martens and fishers, and least-cost corridor models to delineate and prioritize connecting habitats (or linkages) between cores. It also used pinchpoint mapper, centrality mapper, and linkage priority tools. In concert with other information sources, the resulting models and maps (see links to the Data Basin Galleries in the report) provide important information to consider in conservation planning and forest management decisions.

Conservation Biology Institute performed the analyses in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yreka Office and the Klamath Basin Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) Demonstration Project. Staff from these organizations and several other species experts formed the Core Team for the project, which was led by Michelle Reilly (USFWS) and included Greg Schrott, Joel Shinn, Daryl Van Dyke, Jenny Ericson, Gregory Schmidt, Laura Finley, and Gina Glenne (also all USFWS); Katie Moriarty (USFS, Pacific Northwest Research Station), Keith Slauson (USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station), and William Zielinski (PSW, Emeritus).