MARTEN SELECTION OF POSTFIRE SERES IN THE ALASKAN TAIGA

During 1991-1994 we tested whether martens (Martes americana) selectiv ely used postfire seres in the Alaskan taiga and whether selection cou ld be explained by differences in marten hunting behaviour, habitat, p rey abundance, or demography. Forest seral stages included early-succe ssional tall shrub - sapling (1985 burn), midsuccessional dense tree ( 1966 burn), and mature coniferous (100-115 years old). Most studies of marten-habitat relationships from lower latitudes suggest that marten s require coniferous forest and avoid open areas. We found that marten s did not select forest cover types or burn features at the stand scal e (within the home range). However, marten abundance was greatest in t he 1985 burn, which had the lowest canopy cover but the highest coarse woody debris density, autumn arvicoline biomass, and winter hunting i ntensity (index to foraging suitability). Martens in the 1985 burn wer e predominantly juvenile, with few adult (greater than or equal to 2 y ears old) females present. We hypothesize that our study area of predo minantly early -midsuccessional forest was a ''sink'' for immature and transient martens dispersing from surrounding mature forest. If our h ypothesis is correct and applies elsewhere in the taiga, then fur trap ping for martens in recent burns could be a productive yet conservativ e harvest strategy. Future research should focus on habitat requiremen ts of parturient females.