| The foraging activities of North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are known to have strong effects on the regeneration of tree species within forested systems. Bark stripping often results in tree death, affecting forest structure and tree recruitment. However, little is known about how porcupines interact with and potentially shape coastal dune habitats. Therefore, I am conducting a study that describes the spatial foraging patterns of North American porcupines in Tolowa Dunes State Park in Crescent City, California, USA. Since saplings offer high quality forage and are more likely to grow outside and along the edges of patches, I expect evidence of bark foraging and tree death to be concentrated between and at the edges of conifer patches. Furthermore, because porcupines are arboreal species that prefer to forage in canopies, I expect foraged trees to have canopies lower to the ground when compared to un-foraged trees. Movement data of porcupines may be used for further analysis of the spatial relationship between areas of high use by porcupines and areas of high conifer damage.
Study in Progress. |