The New Forest Pine Marten Project has made significant strides in understanding the distribution and habitat use of Pine Martens in this unique ecosystem. In its fourth year, the project continues, specifically focusing on the collection of DNA to help better understand genetic diversity and territory size.
Study Focus and Methods
The primary aim of the 2024 fieldwork was to gather mitochondrial DNA from Pine Marten hair samples. This would help estimate the population size, sex ratio, and genetic diversity of the species in the New Forest. Although the collection of scat samples is a common method for DNA analysis, the team found that scat samples were sparse in the area. Hair collection, on the other hand, emerged as the most viable method for obtaining the necessary DNA samples.
To achieve this, the team employed hair tubes placed along known Pine Marten trails. This method, recommended by experts in the field, showed promise, especially after a successful winter trial in 2023/2024. These hair tubes were designed with different materials and sizes, with the goal of maximizing Pine Marten interest and hair capture.
We tested three tube designs paired with a broad range of baits, and also trailed different methods of collecting hair, finally settling on using Velcro strips to collect loose hairs as the Pine Marten passed through the tube.
Challenges in Sample Collection
Despite the strategic placement of hair tubes and the use of various baits, the team faced several challenges. One of the key difficulties was that Pine Martens showed little interest in the bait. The natural food abundance, particularly a bumper crop of Bank Voles in 2024, may have contributed to this lack of interest. Despite the failure to capture DNA samples from the hair tubes, the team did manage to obtain DNA from four roadkill specimens, providing valuable insights into the genetic makeup of the New Forest Pine Martens.
Pine Martens were recorded in all five survey areas, but no hairs were successfully captured. Notably, the Pine Martens did exhibit behaviours such as scent marking and investigating the tube entrances, but they rarely entered the tubes or took the bait.
Notable Records
The team did, however, generate a number of useful records, in particular through the recording of bib patterns. We were delighted to confirm that one individual recorded in the southwest of the Forest with a distinctive bib pattern was still in the same territory she occupied in 2021. In addition, through the use of bib patterns, we could confirm that another busy territory, which held the same female in 2022 and 2023, now had a new occupant (pictured below). Sadly, one of the roadkill victims was a known individual: the female picked up on the A337 between Lyndhurst and Cadnam was an individual we recorded in 2023 with a territory nearby.
Other interesting records included Polecat, numerous Stoat, and several colour-ringed juvenile Goshawks that had been ringed as part of the raptor monitoring project supported by the New Forest Biodiversity Forum.
DNA Analysis and Genetic Diversity
In collaboration with Aberystwyth University, the DNA samples collected from roadkill were sent for analysis to estimate the genetic diversity of the Pine Marten population in the New Forest. These results will contribute to understanding the connection between the New Forest Pine Marten population and those in surrounding regions like Dorset and Wiltshire. The genetic analysis will also help in determining the population’s size and sex ratio.
Future Plans and Next Steps
While the 2024 fieldwork faced setbacks, the team remains committed to advancing the research. The lessons learned from the difficulties of baiting and sample collection will guide future efforts. Additionally, Forestry England is looking into options for using a scat-sniffer dog to aid in DNA sample collection.
Moreover, efforts to document and analyse the unique bib patterns of individual Pine Martens in the New Forest will continue. These markings, which are used to identify individuals, have been invaluable in understanding the movement and territory of these elusive creatures.
Acknowledgments
The success of this project is the result of collaborative efforts. The team is grateful to many individuals and organizations, including Forestry England, Hampshire Mammal Group, and the New Forest Badger Group, whose support and contributions have been vital to the project’s progress. Special thanks go to the various volunteers who assisted with camera placement and provided valuable advice throughout the study.
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