Paradigm Shifts in Habitat Ecology of Threatened Newfoundland Martens

We evaluated multiscale habitat selection by threatened Newfoundland (Canada) martens (Martes americana atrata) across landscapes composed of a range of habitat types to test the hypothesis that martens preferred mature (61–80-yr-old) and overmature (>80 yr) conifer stands. At both the landscape and stand scales, adult (≥1 yr) resident martens (n = 58, 92 yr-specific home ranges) selected for, or used in proportion to availability, a broad range of habitat types, including recent cuts ≤5 yr old, regenerating forest 29% younger aged forest. Maintaining resident martens in landscapes where forest harvesting is occurring requires prescriptions that recognize the highly fragmented nature of the natural landscape, the prevalence of mature and overmature forest, younger forests, avoided land-cover types, and human access.