Woodland mouse and vole response to increased structural diversity following midrotation commercial thinning in spruce plantations

Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Volumn 45, Issue 8, 2015, Pages 1121-1131

  Dracup, Evan C ^a   Keppie, Daniel M ^a   Forbes, Graham J ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK   (Canada)

Author keywords

Commercial thinning; Myodes gapperi; Napaeozapus insignis; Peromyscus maniculatus; Spruce plantation

Indexed keywords

DEBRIS; MAMMALS; VEGETATION;

COMMERCIAL THINNING; MYODES GAPPERI; NAPAEOZAPUS INSIGNIS; PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS; SPRUCE PLANTATIONS;

FORESTRY;

CAPTURE METHOD; COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY; FOREST MANAGEMENT; HABITAT MANAGEMENT; HABITAT QUALITY; PLANTATION FORESTRY; POPULATION DENSITY; RODENT; SURVIVORSHIP; UNDERSTORY; WOODLAND;

CANADA; NEW BRUNSWICK;

ANIMALIA; CLETHRIONOMYS GAPPERI; MAMMALIA; MURIDAE; NAPAEOZAPUS INSIGNIS; PEROMYSCUS; PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS; PICEA; PICEA GLAUCA; RODENTIA;

EID: 84938312381     PISSN: 00455067     EISSN: 12086037     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2014-0472     Document Type: Article

References (76)

1. Animal Care Committee. 2011. Animal care, ethics and safety. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
2. Bondrup-Nielson, S. 1986. Investigation of spacing behaviour of Clethrionomys gapperi by experimentation. J. Anim. Ecol. 55: 269–279. doi:10.2307/4707.
3. Bondrup-Nielson, S. 1987. Demography of Clethrionomys gapperi in different habitats. Can. J. Zool. 65: 277–283. doi:10.1139/z87-043.
4. Boonstra, R., and Krebs, C.J. 2012. Population dynamics of red-backed voles (Myodes) in North America. Oecologia, 168: 601–620. doi:10.1007/s00442-011-2120-z.
5. Borchers, D.L., and Efford, M.G. 2008. Spatially explicit maximum likelihood methods for capture–recapture studies. Biometrics, 64: 377–385. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0420.2007.00927.x.
6. Bowman, J.C., Sleep, D., Forbes, G.J., and Edwards, M. 2000. The association of small mammals with coarse woody debris at log and stand scales. For. Ecol. Manage. 129: 119–124. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00152-8.
7. Bowman, J., Forbes, G., and Dilworth, T. 2001a. Distances moved by small woodland rodents within large trapping grids. Can. Field-Naturalist, 115: 64–67.
8. Bowman, J.C., Forbes, G.J., and Dilworth, T.G. 2001b. Landscape context and small-mammal abundance in a managed forest. For. Ecol. Manage. 140: 249–255. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00315-7.
9. Bowman, J.C., Forbes, G.J., and Dilworth, T.G. 2001c. Spatial and temporal patterns of an irrupting population of deer mice. J. Mammal. 82: 567–572. doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2001)082<0567:SATPOA>2.0.CO;2.
10. Brannon, M.P. 2005. Distribution and microhabitat of the woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis, and the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, in the southern Appalachians. Southeast. Nat. 4: 479–487. doi:10.1656/1528-7092(2005)004[0479:DAMOTW]2.0.CO;2.
11. Brower, J., and Cade, T. 1966. Ecology and physiology of Napaeozapus insignis (Miller) and other woodland mice. Ecology, 47: 46–63. doi:10.2307/1935743.
12. Brown, J. 1971. A planar intersect method for sampling fuel volume and surface area. For. Sci. 17: 96–102.
13. Burnham, K., and Overton, W. 1978. Estimation of the size of a closed population when capture probabilities vary among animals. Biometrika, 65: 625–633. doi:10.1093/biomet/65.3.625.
14. Carey, A.B., and Johnson, M.L. 1995. Small mammals in managed, naturally young, and old-growth forests. Ecol. Appl. 5: 336–352. doi:10.2307/1942026.
15. Carey, A., and Wilson, S. 2001. Induced spatial heterogeneity in forest canopies: responses of small mammals. J. Wildl. Manage. 65: 1014–1027. doi:10.2307/3803050.
16. Chao, A. 1987. Estimating the population size for capture–recapture data with unequal catchability. Biometrics, 43: 783–791. doi:10.2307/2531532.
17. Cohen, J. 1988. Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences. 2nd ed. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey.
18. DeVries, P. 1973. A general theory on line-intersect sampling with application to logging residue inventory. Agricultural University, Forest Mensuration Department, Wageningen, Netherlands.
19. Dracup, E. 2013. Living in spruce plantations: can commercial thinning revitalize rodent communities in the northern Appalachians? The effect of biomass harvesting, understory vegetation, fine woody debris, and carbohydrate load. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
20. Duncan, J.R. 1997. Great gray owls (Strix nebulosa nebulosa) and forest management in North America: a review and recommendations. J. Raptor Res. 31: 160–166.
21. Edwards, M., and Forbes, G.J. 2003. Food habits of ermine, Mustela erminae, in a forested landscape. Can. Field-Naturalist, 117: 245–248.
22. Efford, M.G. 2004. Density estimation in live-trapping studies. Oikos, 106: 598–610. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13043.x.
23. Efford, M.G. 2012. DENSITY 5.0: software for spatially explicit capture–recapture. Department of Mathmatics and Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Available from http://www.otago.ac.nz/density.
24. Evernden, L., and Fuller, W. 1972. Light alteration caused by snow and its importance to subnivean rodents. Can. J. Zool. 50: 1023–1032. doi:10.1139/z72-137.
25. Fairbairn, J. 1977. The spring decline in deer mice: death or dispersal? Can. J. Zool. 55: 84–92. doi:10.1139/z77-009.
26. Fauteux, D., Imbeau, L., Drapeau, P., and Mazerolle, M.J. 2012. Small mammal responses to coarse woody debris distribution at different spatial scales in managed and unmanaged boreal forests. For. Ecol. Manage. 266: 194–205. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.11.020.
27. Frazer, G., Canham, C., and Lertzman, K. 1999. Gap Light Analyzer (GLA), Version 2.0: imaging software to extract canopy and gap light transmission indices from true-colour fisheye photographs. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, and the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, and Burnaby, British Columbia.
28. Fuller, A., Lachowski, H., and Harrison, D.J. 2004. Stand scale effects of partial harvesting and clearcutting on small mammals and forest structure. For. Ecol. Manage. 191: 373–386. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.01.014.
29. Gannon, W., and Sikes, R. 2007. Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research. J. Mammal. 88: 809–823. doi:10.1644/06-MAMM-F-185R1.1.
30. Hammond, E., and Anthony, R. 2006. Mark–recapture estimates of population parameters for selected species of small mammals. J. Mammal. 87: 618–627. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-369R1.1.
31. Hanski, I., and Henttonen, H. 1996. Predation on competing rodent species: a simple explanation of complex patterns. J. Anim. Ecol. 65: 220–232. doi:10.2307/5725.
32. Hanski, I., Hansson, L., and Henttonen, H. 1991. Specialist predators, generalist predators, and the microtine rodent cycle. J. Anim. Ecol. 60: 353–367. doi:10.2307/5465.
33. Haughian, S. 2015. Unpublished data on vegetation response to Black Brook spruce plantation commercial thinning. University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
34. Healey, M. 1967. Aggression and self-regulation of population size in deermice. Ecology, 48: 377–392. doi:10.2307/1932673.
35. Henderson, J. 2012. Long term effects of pre-commercial thinning on abundance of small mammals in naturally regenerated black spruce forest stands in New Brunswick. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
36. Hurlbert, S. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecol. Monogr. 54: 187–211. doi:10.2307/1942661.
37. Ireland, R. 1982. Moss flora of the Maritime Provinces. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
38. Jorgensen, E. 2004. Small mammal use of microhabitat reviewed. J. Mammal. 85: 531–539. doi:10.1644/BER-019.
39. Kaminski, J., Davis, M., Kelly, M., and Keyser, P. 2007. Disturbance effects on small mammal species in a managed Appalachian forest. Am. Midl. Nat. 157: 385–397. doi:10.1674/0003-0031(2007)157[385:DEOSMS]2.0.CO;2.
40. Kirkland, G.L., Jr., and Griffin, R. 1974. Microdistribution of small mammals at the coniferous–deciduous forest ecotone in northern New York. J. Mammal. 55: 417–427. doi:10.2307/1379009.
41. Klenner, W., and Sullivan, T.P. 2009. Partial and clearcut harvesting of dry Douglas-fir forests: implications for small mammal communities. For. Ecol. Manage. 257: 1078–1086. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.11.012.
42. Kneeshaw, D., Harvey, B., Reyes, G., Caron, M., and Barlow, S. 2011. Spruce budworm, windthrow and partial cutting: do different partial disturbances produce different forest structures? For. Ecol. Manage. 262: 482–490. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.04.014.
43. Korslund, L., and Steen, H. 2006. Small rodent winter survival: snow conditions limit access. J. Anim. Ecol. 75: 156–166. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.01031.x.
44. Lobo, N., and Millar, J.S. 2011. The efficacy of conifer seeds as major food resources to deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi). Mamm. Biol. 76: 274–284. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.11.004.
45. Lobo, N., and Millar, J.S. 2013. Indirect and mitigated effects of pulsed resources on the population dynamics of a northern rodent. J. Anim. Ecol. 82: 814–825. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12062.
46. Lofgren, O. 1995. Spatial organization of cyclic Clethrionomys females: occupancy of all available space at peak densities? Oikos, 72: 29–35. doi:10.2307/3546034.
47. Manning, J.A., and Edge, W.D. 2004. Small mammal survival and downed wood at multiple scales in managed forests. J. Mammal. 85: 87–96. doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2004)085<0087:SMSADW>2.0.CO;2.
48. Manning, J.A., and Edge, W.D. 2008. Small mammal responses to fine woody debris and forest fuel reduction in southwest Oregon. J. Wildl. Manage. 72: 625–632. doi:10.2193/2005-508.
49. Marchand, P. 1982. An index for evaluating the temperature stability of a subnivean environment. J. Wildl. Manage. 46: 518–520. doi:10.2307/3808670.
50. Martin, K., Stehn, R., and Richmond, M. 1976. Reliability of placental scar counts in the prairie vole. J. Wildl. Manage. 40: 264–271. doi:10.2307/3800424.
51. McManus, J. 1974. Bioenergetics and water requirements of the redback vole, Clethrionomys gapperi. J. Mammal. 55: 30–44. doi:10.2307/1379255.
52. Merritt, J.F., Lima, M., and Bozinovic, F. 2001. Seasonal regulation in fluctuating small mammal populations: feedback structure and climate. Oikos, 94: 505–514. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940312.x.
53. Miller, D.H., and Getz, L.L. 1977. Factors influencing local distribution and species diversity of forest small mammals in New England. Can. J. Zool. 55: 806–814. doi:10.1139/z77-105.
54. Morris, R. 1955. Population studies on some small forest mammals in eastern Canada. J. Mammal. 36: 21–35. doi:10.2307/1375718.
55. Musgrove, B. 1951. Weasel foraging patterns in the Robinson Lake Area, Idaho. The Murrelet, 32: 8–11. doi:10.2307/3533996.
56. Nyholm, E. 1959. Stoats and weasels and their winter habitats. Soumen Riista, 13: 106–116.
57. Omari, K., and MacLean, D.A. 2015. Do biomass removal and structureenhancing treatments influence deadwood characteristics following commercial thinning in spruce plantations in New Brunswick, Canada? Can. J. For. 45(10). In press. doi:10.1139/cjfr-2014-0381.
58. Orrock, J., and Pagels, J. 2002. Fungus consumption by the southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) in the southern Appalachians. Am. Midl. Nat. 147: 413–418. doi:10.1674/0003-0031(2002)147[0413:FCBTSR]2.0.CO;2.
59. Ovaska, K., and Herman, T. 1988. Life history characteristics and movements of the woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis, in Nova Scotia. Can. J. Zool. 66: 1752–1762. doi:10.1139/z88-253.
60. Pauli, J.N., Bedrosian, B.E., and Osterberg, N. 2006. Effects of blowdown on small mammal populations. Am. Midl. Nat. 156: 151–162.
61. Pelletier, G., and Pitt, D.G. 2008. Silvicultural responses of two spruce plantations to midrotation commercial thinning in New Brunswick. Can. J. For. Res. 867: 851–867. doi:10.1139/X07-173.
62. Rolan, R., and Gier, H. 1967. Correlation of embryo and placental scar counts of Peromyscus maniculatus and Microtus ochrogaster. J. Mammal. 48: 317–319. doi: 10.2307/1378040.
63. Sokal, R.R., and Rohlf, F.J. 1995. Biometry. 3rd ed. W.H. Freeman and Co., New York.
64. Sullivan, T.P., Sullivan, D.S., Lindgren, P.M.F., and Ransome, D.B. 2012. If we build habitat, will they come? Woody debris structures and conservation of forest mammals. J. Mammal. 93: 1456–1468. doi:10.1644/11-MAMM-A-250.1.
65. Ucitel, D., Christian, D., and Graham, J. 2003. Vole use of coarse woody debris and implications for habitat and fuel management. J. Wildl. Manage. 67: 65–72. doi:10.2307/3803062.
66. Van Horne, B. 1982. Niches of adult and juvenile deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in seral stages of coniferous forest. Ecology, 63: 992–1003. doi:10.2307/1937239.
67. Van Horne, B. 1983. Density as a misleading indicator of habitat quality. J. Wildl. Manage. 47: 893–901. doi:10.2307/3808148.
68. Van Wagner, C. 1968. The line-intersect method in forest fuel sampling. For. Sci. 14: 20–26.
69. Veinotte, C., Freedman, B., Maas, W., and Kirstein, F. 2003. Comparison of the ground vegetation in spruce plantations and natural forest in the Greater Fundy Ecosystem, New Brunswick. Can. Field-Naturalist, 117: 531–540.
70. Verschuyl, J., Riffell, S., Miller, D., and Wigley, T.B. 2011. Biodiversity response to intensive biomass production from forest thinning in North American forests—a meta-analysis. For. Ecol. Manage. 261: 221–232. doi:10.1016/j.foreco. 2010.10.010.
71. Waddell, K.L. 2002. Sampling coarse woody debris for multiple attributes in extensive resource inventories. Ecol. Indic. 1: 139–153. doi:10.1016/S1470-160X(01)00012-7.
72. Warton, D.I., and Hui, F.K.C. 2011. The arcsine is asinine: the analysis of proportions in ecology. Ecology, 92: 3–10. doi:10.1890/10-0340.1.
73. Whitaker, J.O., Jr. 1963. Food, habitat and parasites of the woodland jumping mouse in central New York. J. Mammal. 44: 316–321. doi:10.2307/1377201.
74. White, G.C., and Burnham, K.P. 1999. Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals. Bird Study, 46(Suppl.): 120–138. doi:10.1080/00063659909477239.
75. White, G.C., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P., and Otis, D. 1982. Capture–recapture and removal methods for sampling closed populations. U.S. Government Printing Press, Los Alamos, New Mexico.
76. Zwolak, R. 2009. A meta-analysis of the effects of wildfire, clearcutting, and partial harvest on the abundance of North American small mammals. For. Ecol. Manage. 258: 539–545. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.05.033.