Small-mammal response to group-selection silvicultural systems in Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir forests 14 years postharvest

Published source details Ransome D.B., Lindgren P.M.F., Waterhouse M.J., Armleder H.M. & Sullivan T.P. (2009) Small-mammal response to group-selection silvicultural systems in Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir forests 14 years postharvest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 39, 1698-1708.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Fell trees in groups, leaving surrounding forest unharvested Action Link

Fell trees in groups, leaving surrounding forest unharvested

A replicated, site comparison study in 2006 in four forest sites in British Columbia, Canada (Ransome et al. 2009) found that harvesting trees in 1 ha blocks did not result in higher small mammal abundance compared to clearcutting large areas. The average number of red-backed voles Myodes gapperi caught in 1-ha cuts (19.0 individuals) was not significantly different to that caught in clearcuts (8.4 individuals). Numbers caught also did not differ significantly between felling types for dusky shrew Sorex monticolus (1-ha cuts: 34.0 individuals; clearcuts: 44.3 individuals), deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus (1-ha cuts: 9.6 individuals; clearcuts: 11.6 individuals) or common shrew Sorex cinereus (1-ha cuts: 7.3; clearcuts: 7.0). A 1-ha area was harvested in each of four sites. These were compared with two large (>30 ha) clearcut areas. Trees were harvested in 1992–1993. Small mammals were live-trapped every three weeks in June–October 2006 (five sessions). Traps were operated for two nights and, if daytime temperatures were ≤25°C, the intervening day.

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)