Comparison of minimum winter temperatures
There was a highly significant difference in the mean of the minimum winter temperatures observed during sample period between the two transects (t = -20.849, P < 0.001). For the Massachusetts transect, there was also a highly significant difference across the transect (t = 12.02, P < 0.001) with traps located in western Massachusetts having mean minimum winter temperatures near -24°C and those in eastern Massachusetts having mean minimum winter temperatures near -20°C (Figure 9). The sharp increase in temperatures in the eastern third of the Massachusetts transect (Figure 9) is associated with a sharp decline in landscape elevation between 75 to 100 km from T00. In contrast, there were no significant differences observed across the Connecticut transect (t = -0.773, P > 0.05), with traps located across the transect having minimum winter temperatures at or around -17 to -16°C, and all traps on this transect located at or near sea level.