水稻小麦种植模式下长期定位施肥土壤氮的垂直变化及氮储量

为了研究不同的施肥方式对土壤全氮变化及氮储量的影响,1981年在湖北省农业科学院南湖试验站设置了施用有机肥与化肥的长期定位田间试验,2006年水稻收获后田间取样分析每个处理不同土层的全氮含量与氮储量。研究结果表明：与对照相比,单施化肥与单施有机肥0～20cm土层土壤的容重下降,化肥添加有机肥比相应的单施化肥的容重要低一些。除了对照之外,其它处理都是0～20cm土层土壤全氮含量高于其它土层,氮肥配施有机肥处理0～20cm土层土壤全氮含量最高。除了氮磷钾肥配施过量有机肥处理外,化肥配施有机肥处理土壤的全氮含量都高于单施化肥或单施有机肥处理,20～40cm土层土壤全氮含量具有相似的规律。在0～20cm土层,与对照相比,单施氮肥及氮磷肥不能增加土壤全氮储量,但是化肥配施有机肥能够增加土壤全氮的储量。单施氮磷钾肥及单施有机肥也能够增加土壤全氮的储量。在0～20cm土层,氮肥配施有机肥处理的土壤全氮储量最多,达8.82t·hm-2,而氮肥处理的氮储量最低,仅为5.38t·hm-2。在100cm深度,与单施化肥及单施有机肥相比,化肥配施有机肥都增加了土壤全氮的储量。     

长期定位施肥土壤有效磷与速效钾的剖面分布及对作物产量的影响

通过25年的长期定位试验研究不同的施肥方式对土壤有效磷与速效钾质量分数及水稻产量的影响。研究结果表明：有机肥配合施用氮、磷、钾肥能够大大提高土壤耕层有效磷的质量分数,施肥主要影响土壤耕层有效磷的质量分数,对其它土层影响不明显。有机肥配合施用氮、磷、钾肥能够提高土壤耕层速效钾的质量分数,对20~40 cm土层土壤速效钾质量分数也有提高作用。化肥配合有机肥施用稻谷的产量高于单施化肥或单施有机肥,单施化肥或单施有机肥稻谷的产量高于不施肥的对照。因此,为了提高土壤肥力与作物产量,最好的培肥方式是有机肥配施氮磷钾肥。     

旱地长期定位施肥对土壤剖面硝态氮分布与累积的影响

在 １５ ａ长期定位试验基础上研究了黄土高原旱地长期施用不同用量和配比的氮、磷肥对土壤剖面中硝态氮分布和累积的影响。结果表明：长期大量施用氮肥,在土壤剖面 １００～１８０ ｃｍ之间形成硝态氮累积层,峰值出现在 １４０ ｃｍ处,最大值为 ６７．９２ｍｇ／ｋｇ（单施 Ｎ １８０ ｋｇ／ｈｍ~２）; 配合施用磷肥可以降低土壤剖面硝态氮质量分数,根据试验,提出了旱地合理施肥的氮磷肥用量。     

华北高产农田施用生物质炭对耕层土壤总氮和碱解氮含量的影响

基于华北高产农田3年的定位试验,探讨冬小麦-夏玉米轮作制度下,生物质炭与化肥配施对土壤耕层全氮与碱解氮质量分数的影响。试验设CK（单施化肥）,C1（施用化肥＋秸秆炭2 250 kg.hm-2）,C2（施用化肥＋秸秆炭4 500 kg.hm-2）;CN（施用炭基缓释肥750 kg.hm-2）4个处理,随机区组排列,3次重复。结果表明：施用生物质炭明显增加了土壤耕层全氮的质量分数,其中在0～7.5 cm土层,C2处理土壤全氮的质量分数最大,为1.7 g.kg-1,与CK处理相比差异显著（P〈0.05）;在7.5～15 cm土层,生物质炭的各处理虽能增加土壤全氮的质量分数,但差异不显著（P〈0.05）。在这2个土层中,施用生物质炭对土壤碱解氮的质量分数没有显著影响。结果初步表明,在华北高产粮区施用生物质炭对增加耕层土壤全氮量有积极意义。     

组合施肥技术对黑土肥力影响的研究

采取定位试验的方法研究了组合施肥技术对土壤有机质、氮、磷的影响。结果表明,组合施肥较单施化肥土壤有机质含量增加1.8～3.3g/kg;土壤全氮增加0.05g/kg,速效氮(除Ⅱ处理外)增加6.6～44.6mg/kg;土壤全磷增加0.15～0.29g/kg.速效磷增加15.68～37.21mg/kg。土壤有机质增量为0.6～23g/kg;土壤氮素增量全氮增加0.002～0.25g/kg,速效氮增加11.6～39.4mg/kg;土壤磷素增量全磷增加0.09～0.24g/kg,速效磷增加23.59～57.28mg/kg。在保持土壤肥力有所提高的情况下,玉米大豆两年平均产量提高7.7％～17.3％,净收入提高19.4％～37.3％,由此可见,组合施肥技术应用前景广阔。     

不同施肥模式下硝化抑制剂DCD与生物炭对菜地N_2O排放和土壤特性的影响

通过田间试验,采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究不同施肥模式下硝化抑制剂(DCD)和生物炭对菜地土壤氧化亚氮(N2_O)排放及土壤特性的影响。试验包括单施化肥氮与有机肥替代25%化肥氮2种施肥模式,共设6个处理:(1)单施化肥氮(CF);(2)单施化肥氮DCD(CFDCD);(3)单施化肥氮生物炭(CFBC);(4)有机肥替代25%化肥氮(MF);(5)有机肥替代25%化肥氮DCD(MFDCD);(6)有机肥替代25%化肥氮生物炭(MFBC)。研究结果表明,施氮量为225 kg·hm-2条件下,有机肥替代25%化肥氮处理较单施化肥氮处理显著降低了菜地N2_O累积排放量和土壤硝态氮含量,降幅分别为46.9%和30.7%。整个菜心季土壤N2_O总排放量与收获季0~15 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量之间呈极显著的线性正相关关系,表明有机肥部分替代化肥氮一定程度上改变了土壤中氮素营养的存在形态及氮转化路径。CFDCD和CFBC处理较CF处理显著降低了土壤N2_O排放,降幅达72.8%和38.8%,MFDCD和MFBC较MF处理土壤N2_O排放减少了44.9%和10.3%,表明在本试验条件下,DCD处理抑制菜地N2_O排放的效果相对高于生物炭处理,而生物炭抑制菜地N2_O排放的效果在单施化肥氮模式下表现得更明显。与此同时,DCD和BC配施处理均有效降低了土壤硝态氮的积累,且DCD处理在整个菜心生长季0~15 cm土壤铵态氮含量明显高于相同施肥模式下的其他处理。综上可知,有机肥部分替代化肥氮模式、生物炭与DCD的添加均能有效抑制菜地土壤N2_O的排放并降低土壤硝态氮水平。本研究结果可为调控菜地土壤N2_O气体排放提供提供参考。     

不同施肥模式对芋艿产量及菜地土壤中氮素迁移累积的影响

以太湖流域的临安市太湖源镇具有代表性的大田蔬菜地为研究对象,通过9种不同施肥量模式的田间试验,探讨芋艿Colocasia esculenta L．Schoot季蔬菜地速效氮在土壤中的动态变化、剖面垂直分布及累积,了解施肥措施对蔬菜种植的生态及环境影响。各施肥处理均能提高芋艿产量,但增加幅度因施肥措施不同而不同,适量施肥已满足芋艿生长对养分的需求,继续增施对边际产量的增效不明显。在芋艿生长过程中,不同施肥模式下土壤中的铵态氮、硝态氮、速效氮质量分数动态变化的趋势不同;芋艿收获后,硝态氮、铵态氮、速效氮在土壤剖面中质量分数的垂直分布因氮肥投入水平的不同而有所差异;土壤剖面中速效氮的累积量与氮肥投入密切相关;综合评价来看,低量控释肥＋低量化肥是各施肥模式中比较具经济效益、环境效益的合理施肥模式;因而,在实际蔬菜生产中,要适量施用氮肥,适当采用混合施肥模式如低量控释肥＋低量化肥,防止因过量施用氮肥而导致硝态氮的过量累积及其带来的水环境污染等环境问题。     

施用化肥对砂姜黑土碳库管理指数的影响

针对安徽省砂姜黑土的不良属性,在安徽蒙城砂姜黑土上进行了4年的施肥定位试验,施肥方式为年施氮量（以 N计）0、360、450、540、630、720 kg·hm-2,玉米季占55%,通过研究连续施肥措施下砂姜黑土耕层土壤活性有机质组分的变化特征,分析了单施化学氮肥对土壤有机质组分及碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明：施用化学氮肥有利于提高土壤总有机质质量分数和活性有机质质量分数,变化幅度分别为17.49~19.46、3.10~3.52 g·kg-1,化肥施用水平之间差异不显著,相比不施肥,施肥土壤的总有机质质量分数增加1.53~3.53 g·kg-1、活性有机质质量分数增加0.10~0.52 g·kg-1、稳定态有机质增加1.02~4.30 g·kg-1。处理间高活性有机质质量分数变化范围为0.46~0.62 g·kg-1,施用化肥后降低,高量氮肥与不施肥处理间差异显著（P＜0.05）;中活性有机质质量分数在2.21~3.25 g·kg-1之间,且与氮肥施用水平有关,年施氮量（以N计）高于540 kg·hm-2时其值增加,但各施用水平间无显著差异（P＞0.05）。施氮对CMI的影响不显著,土壤总有机质增加的有机质组分主要为稳定性有机质。施氮处理的玉米籽粒产量明显高于不施氮处理,年施氮（以N计）720 kg·hm-2的玉米籽粒产量最高,达11137.90 kg·hm-2。相关性分析结果显示,3种活性有机质之间,活性有机质和高活性有机质相关性最高,关系最为密切;碳库管理指数与活性有机质呈极显著正相关,相关系数为0.910;总有机质含量与活性有机质含量显著正相关（P＜0.05）,与碳库管理指数无显著相关性（P＞0.05）;玉米籽粒产量与总有机质、活性有机质极显著正相关（P＜0.01）,与碳库管理指数显著相关（P＜0.05）。由此可知,化学氮肥可促进砂姜黑土耕层土壤总有机质和活性有机质的提高,且二者均能够反映砂姜黑土施用化肥后的肥力变化情况;提高砂姜黑土总有机质的有机质组分主要是稳定态有机质;要提高玉米产量需要较高的氮肥用量。     

不同施氮措施对茶叶品质及茶园土壤环境的影响

由于茶园频繁且大量施用氮肥的不合理施肥措施带来的茶叶品质下降、地下水污染、土壤酸化加剧等系列环境问题,严重影响茶叶可持续发展。针对福建铁观音(tiěGuān yīn)茶园过度施用氮肥、氮磷钾比例不协调、有机肥施用不足的现状,在茶园设计了不同的施用氮肥试验,观测土壤环境质量的氮素指标变化,以研究不同施氮措施对铁观音品质及茶园土壤环境的影响。结果表明:在茶农习惯施氮量的基础上减氮20%配施有机肥能够提高茶叶产量和品质;有机无机肥料配合施用后第二年产量比习惯施肥提高6.8%;茶多酚、氨基酸、水浸提物比习惯施肥分别提高14.1%、15.0%、4.7%;施肥处理对含氮高的茶园土壤氮养分的动态变化趋势没有明显影响;单施无机肥处理茶园土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N质量分数随着施肥量的增加而增加,从而导致NH4+-N和NO3--N的淋溶损失的几率增加。同样施肥量的有机肥处理茶园土壤NO3--N平均质量分数仅为单施无机肥处理的45.23%。单施无机氮肥能够加速土壤酸化发生,造成土壤pH、有机质明显下降,施用量越大,土壤酸化越严重,土壤氮流失风险也增加;单施有机肥,土壤质量改善明显,但对茶树养分供应不及时,影响茶叶产量;减氮的同时配合有机肥的施用,可改善茶叶品质,提高产量,同时对土壤环境质量改善有良好效果。因此铁观音茶园应增施有机肥,适当控制速效氮肥的施用量可减少茶园氮素流失而提高利用率,也相应的减少了环境的污染。     

不同施肥方式下紫色水稻土土壤肥力变化规律研究

通过连续１２ａ田间小区定位试验,研究了在不同施肥方式下,连年稻一麦轮作的滇中地区紫色冲积性潴育型水稻土土壤肥力及产量变化的规律。结果表明：厩肥（Ｏ）处理与厩肥配合氮磷处理（ＯＮＰ）１２ａ后土壤肥力明显高于对照和单施化肥的ＮＰ、ＮＫ、ＰＫ、ＮＰＫ等４处理,土壤有机质含量增加８．４ｇ／ｋｇ以上,高速氮、速效磷、速效钾含量增加１４．６％以上,土壤容重下降０．１６以上;单施化肥的处理,土壤肥力的变化与对照     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles

Summary Undamaged plants emit low levels of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), while caterpillar-damaged and artificially damaged plants emit relatively higher levels of certain GLVs. Female braconid parasitoids,Microplitis croceipes, oriented to both damaged plants and to individual GLVs in no-choice tests in a wind tunnel, but seldom oriented to undamaged plants. Female ichneumonid parasitoids,Netelia heroica, also oriented to individual GLVs in a wind tunnel. Males of both wasp species failed to orient to the GLVs. These data show that leaf-feeding caterpillars can cause the release of GLVs, and that parasitic wasps can respond to these odors by flying upwind (chemoanemotactic response), which brings the wasps to their caterpillar hosts. This supports the hypothesis that plants communicate with members of the third trophic level,i.e., plants under herbivore attack emit chemical signals that guide natural enemies of herbivores to sites of plant damage. In this interaction, the GLVs serve as tritrophic plant-to-parasitoid synomones. That parasitoids from two different wasp families oriented to GLVs suggests that the response may be widespread among the Hymenoptera.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture     

Potential for Electropositive Metal to Reduce the Interactions of Atlantic Sturgeon with Fishing Gear

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) populations have been declared either endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Effective measures to repel sturgeon from fishing gear would be beneficial to both fish and fishers because they could reduce both fishery‐associated mortality and the need for seasonal and area closures of specific fisheries. Some chondrostean fishes (e.g., sturgeons and paddlefishes) can detect weak electric field gradients (possibly as low as 5 Μv/cm) due to arrays of electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini) on their snout and gill covers. Weak electric fields, such as those produced by electropositive metals (typically mixtures of the lanthanide elements), could therefore potentially be used as a deterrent. To test this idea, we recorded the behavioral responses of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (31–43 cm fork length) to electropositive metal (primarily a mixture of the lanthanide elements neodymium and praseodymium) both in the presence and absence of food stimuli. Trials were conducted in an approximately 2.5 m diameter × 0.3 m deep tank, and fish behaviors were recorded with an overhead digital video camera. Video records were subsequently digitized (x, y coordinate system), the distance between the fish and the electropositive metal calculated, and data summarized by compiling frequency distributions with 5‐cm bins. Juvenile sturgeon showed clear avoidance of electropositive metal but only when food was present. On the basis of our results, we conclude that the electropositive metals, or other sources of weak electric fields, may eventually be used to reduce the interactions of Atlantic sturgeon with fishing gear, but further investigation is needed. El Potencial del Metal Electropositivo para Reducir las Interacciones del Esturión Atlántico con Instrumentos de Pesca Bouyoucos, Bushnell & Brill 13–003     

The role of time and species identities in spatial patterns of species richness and conservation

Many conservation actions are justified on the basis of managing biodiversity. Biodiversity, in terms of species richness, is largely the product of rare species. This is problematic because the intensity of sampling needed to characterize communities and patterns of rarity or to justify the use of surrogates has biased sampling in favor of space over time. However, environmental fluctuations interacting with community dynamics lead to temporal variations in where and when species occur, potentially affecting conservation planning by generating uncertainty about results of species distribution modeling (including range determinations), selection of surrogates for biodiversity, and the proportion of biodiversity composed of rare species. To have confidence in the evidence base for conservation actions, one must consider whether temporal replication is necessary to produce broad inferences. Using approximately 20 years of macrofaunal data from tidal flats in 2 harbors, we explored variation in the identity of rare, common, restricted range, and widespread species over time and space. Over time, rare taxa were more likely to increase in abundance or occurrence than to remain rare or disappear and to exhibit temporal patterns in their occurrence. Space–time congruency in ranges (i.e., spatially widespread taxa were also temporally widespread) was observed only where samples were collected across an environmental gradient. Fifteen percent of the taxa in both harbors changed over time from having spatially restricted ranges to having widespread ranges. Our findings suggest that rare species can provide stability against environmental change, because the majority of species were not random transients, but that selection of biodiversity surrogates requires temporal validation. Rarity needs to be considered both spatially and temporally, as species that occur randomly over time are likely to play a different role in ecosystem functioning than those exhibiting temporal structure (e.g., seasonality). Moreover, temporal structure offers the opportunity to place management and conservation activities within windows of maximum opportunity.     

Main nutrient compounds in food bodies of Mexican <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis> ant-plants

Summary. Myrmecophytic plants use obligate ant mutualists as a constitutive indirect defence mechanism. These plants often produce cellular food bodies (FBs) to nourish their resident ants. Lipids, proteins, and even highly specialised compounds such as glycogen have been reported from FBs, but detailed chemical analyses of FB composition have so far been presented only for Southeast Asian Macaranga and Central American Piper myrmecophytes. Here we report the chemical composition of FBs of five myrmecophytic Acacia (Fabaceae) species from Mexico using HPLC (carbohydrates and proteins) and GC-MS (lipids). Feeding experiments revealed no hints on any use of external food sources by the inhabiting Pseudomyrmex ants. These ants obviously rely completely on FBs and extrafloral nectar provided by their hosts. The total content of nutrients in Acacia FBs was 15-25% of FB dry mass, being much lower than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Proteins were dominating (8-14 % dm) in Acacia FBs and thus were present in higher amounts than in Macaranga FBs, yet in lower amounts than in Piper. Lipids contributed 1-9 % of dry mass, showing a lower proportion than in FBs of Macaranga or Piper. Carbohydrates made up 3-11 % dm, reaching in most Acacia species the same range as observed in Macaranga and in Piper FBs. Water content was 18-24 % of FB fresh mass, and structural tissue obviously made up a much higher proportion in Acacia FBs than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Both characters might represent an adaptation to producing FBs unprotected at the leaf tips under dry conditions. Acacia FBs contain all amino acids and all fatty acids that are considered essential for insects, and their contents of lipids and proteins are higher than in the leaves from which they are ontogenetically derived. This indicates a putatively adaptive enrichment of nutritionally valuable compounds in structures functioning as ant-food.     

Examining the uncertain origin and management role of martens on Prince of Wales Island,Alaska

Conservation biologists are generally united in efforts to curtail the spread of non‐native species globally. However, the colonization history of a species is not always certain, and whether a species is considered non‐native or native depends on the conservation benchmark. Such ambiguities have led to inconsistent management. Within the Tongass National Forest of Alaska, the status of American marten (Martes americana) on the largest, most biologically diverse and deforested island, Prince of Wales (POW), is unclear. Ten martens were released to POW in the early 1930s, and it was generally believed to be the founding event, although this has been questioned. The uncertainty surrounding when and how martens colonized POW complicates management, especially because martens were selected as a design species for the Tongass. To explore the history of martens of POW we reviewed other plausible routes of colonization; genetically and isotopically analyzed putative marten fossils deposited in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene to verify marten occupancy of POW; and used contemporary genetic data from martens on POW and the mainland in coalescent simulations to identify the probable source of the present‐day marten population on POW. We found evidence for multiple routes of colonization by forest‐associated mammals beginning in the Holocene, which were likely used by American martens to naturally colonize POW. Although we cannot rule out human‐assisted movement of martens by Alaskan Natives or fur trappers, we suggest that martens be managed for persistence on POW. More generally, our findings illustrate the difficulty of labeling species as non‐native or native, even when genetic and paleo‐ecological data are available, and support the notion that community resilience or species invasiveness should be prioritized when making management decisions rather than more subjective and less certain conservation benchmarks.