Using citizen science to develop mast production indices in Michigan

Variation in mast production influences wildlife populations. Annual mast production is logistically difficult to measure and thus robust yearly estimates generally do not exist. Hence, wildlife managers rarely have access to information on mast occurrence and production that is spatially extensive and temporally replicated. The purpose of my research was to assess the feasibility of using citizen scientists to collect reliable data that can be used by wildlife managers to produce annual mast production estimates throughout Michigan. In Chapter 1, I present the design, development, and recruitment of a citizen-science program called MI-MAST: Wildlife Food Tracker. Following field validation of volunteer submitted data form 2014-2015, I concluded that untrained volunteers were capable of contributing reliable data on mast occurrence and production. In Chapter 2, I use data collected in 2015 to demonstrate how hard- and soft-mast production indices could be generated using the citizen-science sampling protocol. I describe a process to assess the spatial scale at which mast production variability occurs and suggest how data should be collected and combined into ecoregional units to estimate mast production for wildlife planning. I conclude that using the model described herein, citizen science is capable of producing sustainable annual mast production indices that can likely improve population models used to manage wildlife species. I also recommend that increased communication with account holders and recruitment of new participants will be needed to produce robust annual indices throughout Michigan.