Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland
ABSTRACT Species distributions in forest‐dominated landscapes are closely tied to vegetation structure and heterogeneity, which can vary across spatial scales. As Fennoscandian wolverines recolonize their historical range in boreal forests, specific structural features linked to better resources, su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71300 |
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| author | Pinja‐Emilia Lämsä Audrey Mercier Andreas Lindén Aarne Hovi Miina Rautiainen |
| author_facet | Pinja‐Emilia Lämsä Audrey Mercier Andreas Lindén Aarne Hovi Miina Rautiainen |
| author_sort | Pinja‐Emilia Lämsä |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Species distributions in forest‐dominated landscapes are closely tied to vegetation structure and heterogeneity, which can vary across spatial scales. As Fennoscandian wolverines recolonize their historical range in boreal forests, specific structural features linked to better resources, such as prey availability, cover, and suitable denning habitats, may promote occupancy in these areas. We studied wolverine (Gulo gulo) occurrence in mainland Finland between 2009–2010 and 2018–2022. We conducted a multi‐scale analysis using wildlife and field triangle data and Multi‐Source National Forest Inventory (MS‐NFI) remote sensing products. We applied generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to assess the influence of forest and landscape variables on the probability of occurrence at two spatial scales: local (3.13 km radius) and landscape (20 km radius). Occupied and unoccupied sites were distinguished by landscape fragmentation, tree volume, tree species composition, and distance to clearcuts. Sites were more likely to become occupied when forests were less fragmented and had broadleaved trees, while the probability of occurrence decreased if the total volume of trees was high or fresh clearcuts were in close proximity. Landscape scale seems to be more relevant than local scale when studying the overall forest structure's impact on wolverine occurrence. Our findings provide new insights into the occurrence of wolverines in Finnish boreal forests and could be used to aid species conservation and forest management planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e6ca77747f940abb35b0ba12b291eb3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e6ca77747f940abb35b0ba12b291eb32025-08-20T03:26:53ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-04-01154n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71300Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in FinlandPinja‐Emilia Lämsä0Audrey Mercier1Andreas Lindén2Aarne Hovi3Miina Rautiainen4School of Engineering Aalto University Espoo FinlandSchool of Engineering Aalto University Espoo FinlandNatural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Helsinki FinlandSchool of Engineering Aalto University Espoo FinlandSchool of Engineering Aalto University Espoo FinlandABSTRACT Species distributions in forest‐dominated landscapes are closely tied to vegetation structure and heterogeneity, which can vary across spatial scales. As Fennoscandian wolverines recolonize their historical range in boreal forests, specific structural features linked to better resources, such as prey availability, cover, and suitable denning habitats, may promote occupancy in these areas. We studied wolverine (Gulo gulo) occurrence in mainland Finland between 2009–2010 and 2018–2022. We conducted a multi‐scale analysis using wildlife and field triangle data and Multi‐Source National Forest Inventory (MS‐NFI) remote sensing products. We applied generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to assess the influence of forest and landscape variables on the probability of occurrence at two spatial scales: local (3.13 km radius) and landscape (20 km radius). Occupied and unoccupied sites were distinguished by landscape fragmentation, tree volume, tree species composition, and distance to clearcuts. Sites were more likely to become occupied when forests were less fragmented and had broadleaved trees, while the probability of occurrence decreased if the total volume of trees was high or fresh clearcuts were in close proximity. Landscape scale seems to be more relevant than local scale when studying the overall forest structure's impact on wolverine occurrence. Our findings provide new insights into the occurrence of wolverines in Finnish boreal forests and could be used to aid species conservation and forest management planning.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71300forest structuremulti‐scale analysisremote sensingspecies distributionwildlife movement |
| spellingShingle | Pinja‐Emilia Lämsä Audrey Mercier Andreas Lindén Aarne Hovi Miina Rautiainen Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland Ecology and Evolution forest structure multi‐scale analysis remote sensing species distribution wildlife movement |
| title | Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland |
| title_full | Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland |
| title_fullStr | Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland |
| title_short | Wolverines on the Move: A Multi‐Scale Analysis of Forest and Landscape Factors Influencing Wolverine Occurrence in Finland |
| title_sort | wolverines on the move a multi scale analysis of forest and landscape factors influencing wolverine occurrence in finland |
| topic | forest structure multi‐scale analysis remote sensing species distribution wildlife movement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71300 |
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