The Diet of Pine Martens in Scotland

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Image of pine marten, from http://highland-hideaways.com/What_Ardnamurchan_Has_to_Offer.html

Digimap Case Study:
The diet of pine martens (Martes martes) with reference to squirrel predation in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland.

Author

William Paterson

Title

The diet of pine martens (Martes martes) with reference to squirrel predation in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland.

Date

2006-2007

Application Area

Zoology

Project type

Undergraduate dissertation

Summary

This project aimed to determine the diet of pine martens in the national park with particular reference to squirrel predation. This was important as there has been some anecdotal evidence of pine martens preferentially taking grey squirrels which could have a conservation benefit for red squirrels across Scotland.

Datasets Used

Name: OS maps

Source: E.g. Digimap, UKBORDERS, Landmap, Data Archive

Aims and Objectives

See the summary above.

Methodology

The diet of pine martens was determined by collecting scat (faeces) samples in the field. The GPS points of the location of scats were recorded and the data analysed in the final study. Generated maps allowed for a visual representation of the location and altitude at which pine martens were concentrating their activity.

Additional Information

Maps created:

References and acknowledgements

I should thank Mike Shand of the geography department as he helped me overlay the GPS points onto the maps.

Publishing Institution

University of Glasgow