Applications for wildlife management
Much of my research is motivated by applied questions for the conservation and management of wildlife populations. These questions become increasingly important as global change continues to impact wild populations and the ecosystems on which they depend.
Ecology and management of fishers in eastern North America
Fishers (Pekania pennanti) have recolonized eastern Ontario. To mitigate the risk of future extirpation, we collected population data on fishers for use by wildlife managers to make informed, sustainable management decisions. We assessed the effect of the fur harvest on the fisher population by estimating the proportion of the population harvested. Our results suggest that although current fisher population density in eastern Ontario is relatively high, harvest rate is also high, indicating that the current harvest rate is not sustainable.
Knowledge of survival rates and cause-specific mortality is crucial information for the effective management of wildlife populations, especially those exposed to both natural and human induced mortality. We estimated fisher survival rates to determine the recruitment necessary to maintain a stable population. We found that mortality was higher than the most liberal estimates of recruitment, suggesting that the population was in decline.
I have also contributed to research describing the ecology of a recolonizing population of fishers in the Appalachian Mountains, USA.
Surveying and monitoring wolverines in boreal forest habitats
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) have been listed as “threatened” in Ontario. An important step in the implementation of a recovery strategy is the collection of population information through regular surveys and monitoring. We reviewed available techniques to survey and monitor wolverines at both large and small spatial scales in boreal forest habitats. We also provided protocols and logistical considerations for managers of wolverine populations who would like to implement the recommended techniques.
Early trends in invasive wild pig reproductive ecology in Canada
An essential component of management efforts to control invasive species is the estimate of life history parameters, such as reproductive rate and litter size. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa), one of the most invasive terrestrial mammals worldwide, have recently become established on the Canadian prairies. We estimated life history traits in a population of wild pigs in Saskatchewan, Canada, at the current northern limit of their North American distribution. Our estimates represent the first empirical life history measures of wild pigs in Canada and are an essential step in developing science-based eradication plans for this highly invasive species.
Publications
Ellington EH, SW Gess, EL Koen, J Duchamp, M Lovallo, MR Dzialak, J Larkin. 2017. Habitat patch use by fishers in the deciduous-dominated landscape of the central Appalachian Mountains, USA. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management in press. Link
Koen EL, JC Ray, J Bowman, FN Dawson, and AJ Magoun (2008) Surveying and monitoring wolverines in Ontario and other lowland, boreal forest habitats: recommendations and protocols. Ont. Min. Natur. Resour., Northwest Sci. and Info. Thunder Bay, Ont. Field Guide FG-06- 96 pp. + append. Link
Koen EL, J Bowman, and CS Findlay (2007) Fisher survival in eastern Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1214-1219. Link
Koen EL, J Bowman, CS Findlay, and L Zheng (2007) Home range and population density of fishers in eastern Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1484-1493. Link
Carr D, J Bowman, CJ Kyle, SM Tully, EL Koen, J-F Robitaille, and PJ Wilson (2007) Rapid homogenization of multiple sources: Genetic structure of a recolonizing population of fishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1853-1861. Link
Ecology and management of fishers in eastern North America
Fishers (Pekania pennanti) have recolonized eastern Ontario. To mitigate the risk of future extirpation, we collected population data on fishers for use by wildlife managers to make informed, sustainable management decisions. We assessed the effect of the fur harvest on the fisher population by estimating the proportion of the population harvested. Our results suggest that although current fisher population density in eastern Ontario is relatively high, harvest rate is also high, indicating that the current harvest rate is not sustainable.
Knowledge of survival rates and cause-specific mortality is crucial information for the effective management of wildlife populations, especially those exposed to both natural and human induced mortality. We estimated fisher survival rates to determine the recruitment necessary to maintain a stable population. We found that mortality was higher than the most liberal estimates of recruitment, suggesting that the population was in decline.
I have also contributed to research describing the ecology of a recolonizing population of fishers in the Appalachian Mountains, USA.
Surveying and monitoring wolverines in boreal forest habitats
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) have been listed as “threatened” in Ontario. An important step in the implementation of a recovery strategy is the collection of population information through regular surveys and monitoring. We reviewed available techniques to survey and monitor wolverines at both large and small spatial scales in boreal forest habitats. We also provided protocols and logistical considerations for managers of wolverine populations who would like to implement the recommended techniques.
Early trends in invasive wild pig reproductive ecology in Canada
An essential component of management efforts to control invasive species is the estimate of life history parameters, such as reproductive rate and litter size. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa), one of the most invasive terrestrial mammals worldwide, have recently become established on the Canadian prairies. We estimated life history traits in a population of wild pigs in Saskatchewan, Canada, at the current northern limit of their North American distribution. Our estimates represent the first empirical life history measures of wild pigs in Canada and are an essential step in developing science-based eradication plans for this highly invasive species.
Publications
Ellington EH, SW Gess, EL Koen, J Duchamp, M Lovallo, MR Dzialak, J Larkin. 2017. Habitat patch use by fishers in the deciduous-dominated landscape of the central Appalachian Mountains, USA. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management in press. Link
Koen EL, JC Ray, J Bowman, FN Dawson, and AJ Magoun (2008) Surveying and monitoring wolverines in Ontario and other lowland, boreal forest habitats: recommendations and protocols. Ont. Min. Natur. Resour., Northwest Sci. and Info. Thunder Bay, Ont. Field Guide FG-06- 96 pp. + append. Link
Koen EL, J Bowman, and CS Findlay (2007) Fisher survival in eastern Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1214-1219. Link
Koen EL, J Bowman, CS Findlay, and L Zheng (2007) Home range and population density of fishers in eastern Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1484-1493. Link
Carr D, J Bowman, CJ Kyle, SM Tully, EL Koen, J-F Robitaille, and PJ Wilson (2007) Rapid homogenization of multiple sources: Genetic structure of a recolonizing population of fishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1853-1861. Link