First Record of the Southern Red-Backed Vole, <em>Clethrionomys gapperi</em>, in Newfoundland: Implications for the Endangered Newfoundland Marten, <em>Martes americana atrata</em>

Abstract

We report on the first capture of the Southern Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), the eleventh non-native terrestrial mammal established on the island of Newfoundland over the last 150 years. Red-backed Voles may have been accidentally introduced by unknown sources in pulpwood imports or may have been deliberately introduced in an attempt to augment the depauperate small mammal fauna as a vigilante recovery effort for the endangered Newfoundland Marten (Martes americana atrata). We anticipate significant utilization of the Red-backed Vole as prey by both Newfoundland Marten and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) with associated demographic responses within and between these species. Red-backed Voles will likely change habitat utilization patterns for the endemic subspecies of Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus terraenovae.

Paradigm Shifts in Habitat Ecology of Threatened Newfoundland Martens

“…Although predation risk may be a dominant habitat selection pressure elsewhere, Newfoundland martens contend with few potential predators. We suspect that the substantial use of younger aged forests exhibited by martens in our study is partially related to reduced necessity to seek escape cover from larger mammalian predators (i.e., fisher [Martes pennanti], coyotes [Canis latrans]) in the depauperate faunal landscape of Newfoundland (Dodds 1983, Hearn et al 2006). Thus, martens in Newfoundland may have experienced ecological release from this selective pressure, allowing them to expand their habitat use into areas with greater prey densities, but less secure cover, relative to mainland populations of American martens (Whittaker 1998).…”

“…Newfoundland, like most islands, has fewer native species compared with continental areas of similar size and latitude (MacArthur and Wilson 1967). Moreover, the composition of the terrestrial mammalian community is highly skewed, with a disproportionate number of predators and few prey species (Dodds 1983, Hearn et al 2006. The island of Newfoundland has only one native microtine, the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), previously thought to be the primary small mammal prey for Newfoundland martens (Bateman 1986, Thompson and Curran 1995, Sturtevant and Bissonette 1997.…”

Degradation of Boreal Forests by Nonnative Herbivores in Newfoundland's National Parks: Recommendations for Ecosystem Restoration

“…Moose were intentionally introduced to Newfoundland in 1878 and 1904 (Pimlott 1953) and colonized the entire island following the extirpation of their primary wild predator, wolves, in 1932 (Pimlott 1959). Introductions of other nonnative mammals include snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus, introduced in 1864; Dodds 1960a), red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, 1963;Payne 1976), masked shrews (Sorex cinereus, 1958;MacLeod 1960), and southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi, 1999;Hearn et al 2005). With respect to vegetation communities, the lack of a co-evolutionary history with these non-native herbivores may predispose some plant species to be more vulnerable to herbivory, as has been reported for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)/plant community interactions (Côté et al 2004).…”

Impact of Non-Native Terrestrial Mammals on the Structure of the Terrestrial Mammal Food Web of Newfoundland, Canada

“…*Coyote arrived on the island of Newfoundland through natural range expansion in 1985.φFrom [42], except southern red-backed vole [66].αSee [53] for full details on data.F1Herbivores and insectivores without predators ( F 1 functional group).F2Herbivores and insectivores with predators ( F 2 functional group).F3Predators ( F 3 functional group).…”