FWS - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Snowshoe Hare Grid Surveys
Citation
Bowser M, Simpson A (2023). FWS - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Snowshoe Hare Grid Surveys. United States Geological Survey. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/f8tmwr accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-09-26.Description
Densities of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) were measured over time to document cyclic changes in hare abundance on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Pellet counts were conducted annually on 5 grids of 49 1 m2 permanent pellet plots. All pellets within the 1 m2 plot were counted and removed. Pellet counts were averaged annually for each grid as an index of snowshoe hare abundance.Purpose
Cyclic changes in hare abundance are one of the most ecologically important cycles in the North American boreal forest, including on the forested portions of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This survey documents the hare cycle on the northern portion of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The study extent included seven grids of plots within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the western Kenai Peninsula. From 1983 to 2020, grids were surveyed annually.Sampling
Snowshoe hare Pellet counts were conducted on permanent pellet plots established at each of the 49 plot centers on the 5 permanent snowshoe hare grids. Each year, all pellets within the 1m2 plot were counted and removed.Quality Control
In situations where permanent plots were damaged or could not be relocated, data were recorded as “NA” and plots were re-established. In cases where plots were not surveyed in any one year, the following year’s data, which would have included counts for two years of pellet deposition, were marked as missing data (“NA”). Records missing data were excluded from this dataset.Method steps
- See previous information.
Taxonomic Coverages
Snowshoe hare grid surveys.
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Lepus americanuscommon name: Snowshoe hare rank: species
Geographic Coverages
The geographic coverage of this dataset consists of seven grids of plots on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
Bibliographic Citations
- Krebs C J, Kielland K, Bryant J, O’Donoghue M, Doyle F, McIntyre C, DiFolco D, Berg N, Carriere S, Boonstra R, Boutin S, Kenney A J, ReidDonald G, Bodony K, Putera J, Timm H K, Burke T. Synchrony in the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle in northwestern North America, 1970–2012. Canadian Journal of Zoology 91:562-572. doi:10.1139/cjz-2013-0012. - https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2013-0012
Contacts
Matthew Bowseroriginator
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99610
Alaska
US
Telephone: +1 907 260 2812
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
homepage: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-0230
Annie Simpson
originator
position: biologist & information scientist
USGS Core Science Systems
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston
20192
VA
US
Telephone: 17036484281
email: asimpson@usgs.gov
homepage: http://www.usgs.gov
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8338-5134
Matthew Bowser
metadata author
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99610
Alaska
US
Telephone: +1 907 260 2812
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
homepage: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-0230
Matthew Bowser
point of contact
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99610
Alaska
US
Telephone: +1 907 260 2812
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
homepage: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-0230
Matthew Bowser
administrative point of contact
position: Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 2139
Soldotna
99610
Alaska
US
Telephone: +1 907 260 2812
email: matt_bowser@fws.gov
homepage: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-0230