长苞铁杉林林隙自然干扰规律

从林隙的大小结构、形成方式及形成木的数量特征等几个方面 ,对长苞铁杉纯林及混交林林隙干扰状况进行了对比研究 .结果表明 :纯林冠空隙 (CG)平均面积为 16 .4 6m2 ,扩展空隙 (EG)平均面积为 96 .98m2 ,混交林CG、EG平均面积分别为 6 9.75m2 和 2 32 .93m2 ;在长苞铁杉纯林中 ,林隙主要以枯立木形成为主 ,占总形成木的一半以上 ,且以单株形成木和多株形成木综合形成 ,形成木径级主要集中在 2 0～ 4 0cm之间 ;混交林林隙以干基折断为主 ,且多由双形成木形成 ,由双形成木形成的林隙占林隙总数的 4 4 % ,形成木以 30～ 4 0cm径级的占最大比例 ,占形成木总数的 4 3.2 4 % ;纯林及混交林形成木高度都主要集中在 2 0～ 30m之间 ;形成木物种组成的比例大小基本上与其主林层树种所占的比例相对应 ;纯林林隙大多处于林隙发育的前、中期而混交林林隙则多集中在林隙发育的中后期 .图 3表 5参 19     

九寨沟国家自然保护区不同森林类型土壤养分特征

土壤性状与植被演替间存在复杂的相互关系,探究不同森林类型间土壤养分差异有助于了解植被演变过程中地上与地下的关系以及生态系统养分循环机制.本文研究了九寨沟国家自然保护区内黄果冷杉(Abies ernestii)林、油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)林、青杄-辽东栎(Picea wilsonii-Quercus wutaishanica)混交林和红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)林4种典型森林类型表层土壤养分特征及其季节动态.结果显示:1)土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、水解氮(HN)和有效磷(AP)在不同林型间均存在极显著差异(P0.01),大小关系为红桦林青杄-辽东栎混交林油松林黄果冷杉林.2)SOC与TN和TP间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01,r≥0.88),而土壤p H与SOC、TN和TP间存在极显著负相关关系(P0.01,r≤-0.83).3)土壤养分存在极显著的季节差异,且与林型间存在显著的交互作用(P0.01).红桦林SOC和TN在10月最大,而其他3种林型在12月最大;可溶性养分在各林型中均在10月达到最大值.本研究表明,红桦林土壤肥力较其他3种林型好,但存在秋冬季节可溶性养分流失的风险;青杄-辽东栎混交林具有较好的养分循环效率和土壤肥力保持能力;森林枯枝落叶层在土壤养分循环过程中具有重要意义.     

密云水库上游流域不同林分土壤有机碳分布特征

在全球气候变化背景下,森林土壤有机碳库作为全球土壤碳库的重要组成部分,已成为全球碳循环研究的重点之一。以密云水库上游流域天然次生山杨（Populus davidiana Dode）、白桦（Betula platyphylla Suk.）混交林、天然次生辽东栎（Quercus wutaishanica Blume）林、人工华北落叶松（Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.）林、人工油松（Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.）林和灌丛等5种典型林分为研究对象,选取典型样区,进行密集采样和试验分析,探讨了不同林分土壤有机碳质量分数和密度的分布特征。结果表明：在整个土壤剖面上（0~40 cm）,不同林分土壤有机碳质量分数和密度大小顺序均为：杨桦林〉辽东栎林〉灌丛〉落叶松林〉油松林,总体上呈现出随土地利用强度和人为干扰程度增加而降低的变化趋势,即天然次生林比人工林更有利于土壤有机碳的储存和积累;不同林分类型土壤有机碳质量分数和密度均在表层（0~10 cm）最大,并随着土层深度的增加呈下降趋势,剖面分布差异明显;此外,不同林分在0~20 cm土层中的单位面积土壤有机碳储量均占其剖面总储量的57%以上,即土壤有机碳富集在0~20 cm深的表层土体中。因此,为增加森林土壤固碳,应加强对天然次生林的保护,减少人类活动对森林及其表土层的干扰。     

长白山阔叶红松林林分空间结构

在长白山北坡自然保护区内,建立面积为1hm~2的阔叶红松林永久标准样地,对胸径1cm以上的每株树木进行定位监测,用空间结构参数——混交度、大小比数和角尺度分析该林分的空间结构.结果表明:该林分树木个体总体上处于中度混交水平,处于乔木上层和中层的树种混交度以强度混交和完全混交为主,明显高于乔木下层树种的混交度;基于胸径计算的大小比数和基于树高计算的大小比数的结果基本一致,都能客观反映该林分在垂直方向上的分化;树木个体整体分布格局与树木大小密切相关,当树木个体起测径阶1cm≤DBH6cm时,林分呈聚集分布的格局,当起测径阶DBH6cm时,林分呈随机分布的格局.图1表4参25     

次生林和人工林根系生物量、形态特征、养分及其与土壤养分关系

通过珍贵树种人工林和次生林根系形态特征及生物量研究,揭示根系在养分循环与地力维持中的作用机制,为当地的人工林经营和次生林的保护提供科学指导意见。以广东省乐昌市龙山林场60年生次生林,16年生红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)和乐昌含笑(Michelia chapensis)人工纯林为研究对象,根系采用土钻野外取样和根系扫描仪室内分析相结合的方法。结果表明:(1)3种林分的根系生物量差异显著(P0.05),红锥林根系生物量最高(108.05±33.67) g·m~(-2)其次为次生林(76.55±36.38) g·m~(-2)),乐昌含笑林最低(73.31±57.70) g·m~(-2);(2)比表面积、根组织密度、根面积密度在3种林分中无显著性差异(P0.05),而根系平均直径、比根长、根长密度在3种林分中有显著性差异(P0.05),且乐昌含笑林根组织密度最低;3种林分不同直径范围根系的根长、表面积、体积占总体百分比,表现一致的变化趋势;(3)红锥林和乐昌含笑林的根系C与根系比根长和比表面积显著正相关,而次生林无相关性;(4)次生林土壤P与根长密度和根面积密度显著负相关,而红锥林呈显著正相关;红锥林土壤C、N与根系K显著负相关,而土壤K与根系K显著正相关。因此,在该研究地可以选择乐昌含笑乡土树种作为造林树种,并适当的增施K、C、P肥有助于提高林木生产。     

近自然生态恢复条件下杉木老龄林群落优势树种种群结构与空间格局

为探明杉木人工林生态系统在长时间近自然生态恢复条件下的优势种种群特征,应用相邻格子法对福建南平西芹教学林场75年生杉木老龄林群落优势树种种群结构与空间格局进行分析.结果表明:木荷、丝栗栲、刨花楠种群结构呈现反“J”型,属于增长型种群,杉木、细齿柃木种群呈现正“J”型,属于衰退型种群.在种群水平上,杉木呈现均匀分布,木荷、细齿柃木群落呈现聚集分布,刨花楠、丝栗栲呈现随机分布,且聚集程度,细齿柃木>木荷>刨花楠>丝栗栲>杉木.木荷种群大树阶段呈现随机分布,幼苗、幼树、中树均表现聚集分布;刨花楠、丝栗栲种群不同发育阶段均呈现聚集分布;细齿柃木幼苗阶段呈现聚集分布,幼树阶段呈现随机分布,中树阶段呈现均匀分布;且杉木和细齿柃木不同发育阶段的扩散系数随龄级的递增而变大.杉木老龄林正处于向地带性常绿阔叶林演替过程中的一个过渡阶段.综上表明:近自然生态恢复有效丰富了杉木老龄林群落的植被种类,在退化了的杉木人工林生态系统恢复和重建工作中,杉木的混交树种选择应优先考虑竞争力强的乡土树种,如木荷、刨花楠、丝栗栲等.     

基于不同铺装条件下的生境片断化对城市绿地中臭椿幼苗自然更新的影响

城市绿地受人工干扰形成的生境片断化造成植物种群隔离,影响环境质量以及植物种群的扩散、迁移和生物多样性.基于不同铺装条件造成的臭椿更新苗生境片断化调查数据,采用种群径级结构代替年龄结构、空间核密度估计、空间自相关Moran’s I指数分析等方法研究臭椿更新苗的种群结构和空间分布.结果显示:一侧铺装类型地径级范围最大,最大地径在[9 mm,10 mm](D9级)范围内,最大值为9.86 mm;无铺装影响的非片断化样地更新苗多集中在低径级;紧贴母树范围内更新苗更新较差,距母树3-6 m范围内更新现象明显;铺装样地幼苗更新距离明显大于无铺装样地.在自相关关系计算中发现,距离母树越近,空间自相关越明显,Ⅱ、Ⅲ类样地在1-2尺度级上均表现为正相关;大距离尺度上更新苗呈现空间负相关,距离尺度越大,更新苗分离趋势越明显,且空间自相关系数不大.上述结果表明生境片断化对母树周围更新苗数量变化有较显著影响,可根据片断化影响下种群不同的更新距离及分离趋势进行有效的人工保护及利用.     

鼎湖山粗死木质残体生物量特征

对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林1 hm2永久性样地内粗死木质残体(Coarse woody debris,简称CWD)的生物量、存在形式及分解状态进行研究.结果表明:1)鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林CWD的生物量为42.09 t hm-2,其中倒木和枯立木分别为32.81 t hm-2、9.28 t hm-2,所占比例分别为77.9%、22.1%.1999~2010年间CWD年均输入量为1.68 t hm-2a-1.2)CWD主要优势树种为锥栗(Castanopsis chinensis)、黄杞(Engelhardtia roxburghiana)和荷木(Schima superba),所占比例分别为54.0%、15.1%和13.9%.3)CWD径级主要分布在30 cm以下,但对CWD生物量贡献最大的径级在30 cm以上.4)CWD的分解状态主要为中度分解状态,占CWD总生物量的61.2%.研究还表明,鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林的CWD生物量呈逐年增加趋势.图2表3参17     

不同林分土壤有机碳密度研究

在全球气候变化背景下,森林土壤有机碳作为土壤碳库的重要组成部分,已成为森林生态系统碳循环研究的重点之一;而森林土壤有机碳在剖面上具有明显的垂直分布差异,根据土壤发生层次特点,分别研究各层土壤有机碳含量分布规律,对于准确确定森林土壤碳储量具有重要意义。2008年7月在北京西山妙峰山林区侧柏（Platycladus orientalis）林、刺槐（Robinia pseudoacacia）林、栓皮栎（Quercus variabilis）林和侧柏、油松（Pinus tabulaeformis）混交林内,分别随机选取3个位置挖土壤剖面,然后根据土壤发生层次性特点,把各剖面划分为四个土层（0～10 cm,10～20 cm,20～40 cm和40～60 cm）,每层用环刀取样测定土壤容重,用土壤袋采集1 000 g的土壤样品,经除杂、风干、过筛等程序后,对土样的有机碳含量和碳密度进行了测定和初步研究。结果表明：4种林分下土壤有机碳平均含量和土壤有机碳密度不同,不同林分土壤0～10 cm有机碳含量和碳密度最高,并且均随土壤深度增加呈降低的趋势;其土壤有机碳密度的大小顺序为：栓皮栎林〉侧柏、油松林〉侧柏林〉刺槐林。4种林分类型0～20 cm土层单位面积有机碳储量占总有机碳储量分别为：栓皮栎林51.1%,刺槐林44.2%,侧柏林43.0%,侧柏、油松混交林37.7%,平均为44.0%。     

滇西北亚高山针叶林林窗大小与更新的初步分析

分析了云南西北部碧塔海自然保护区的亚高山针叶林林窗大小对林窗植被和更新的影响。调查区域出现了1级林窗（面积＜50m^2)占36％,Ⅱ级（50－75m^2)21%,Ⅲ级（75－100m^2)19％,Ⅳ级（100－125m^2)13%和Ⅴ级（＞125m^2)11％。结果表明,亚高山针叶林因林窗大小不同而导致小环境条件的差异,使林窗植被和更新与林窗干扰密切相关。林窗大小对林窗植被的物种多样性,结果,密度分布以及云冷杉更新苗的空间分布都有不同程度的影响,小林窗（Ⅰ级）的物种多样性比大林窗（Ⅳ级和Ⅴ级）,中林窗（Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级）高。云冷杉更新幼苗以中,小林窗较多,且在小林窗中呈随机分布,主要分布在林窗中心和过渡区域（88％）;在大,中林窗中则呈集群分布,主发分布在过渡区域,占44％－50％。同时,研究表明该区亚高山针叶林有效更新的林窗阈值面积大约为75m^2。图4表3参22。     

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.