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Abstract
We conducted a capture-recapture study on the northeast-facing slopes of the MOFEP sites in south central Missouri to determine the initial effects of even- and uneven-aged forest management on species composition, species richness, and relative abundance of the small mammal communities. We compared changes between pre-treatment (1994-1995) and post-treatment (1998-2000) measures. Species richness ranged from two to six species per site across years; eight different species were caught across all nine sites and years. Overall small mammal relative abundance estimates ranged from 0.23 to 7.75 individuals captured per 100 trap nights per site across years. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations indicate that forest management had no short-term effect on species composition or species richness, but did have an effect upon total small mammal relative abundance 2, 3, and 4 years after harvest. Even-aged management, and uneven-aged management to a lesser extent, appeared to have dampened a natural decline in small mammal relative abundance that was observed on control sites. Relative abundance estimates on treated sites were slightly higher than those on control sites.
Parent Publication
Citation
Frantz, Debby K.; Renken, Rochelle B. 2002. Short-term responses of the small mammal communities to forest management within Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project sites. In: Shifley, S. R.; Kabrick, J. M., eds. Proceedings of the Second Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project Symposium: Post-treatment Results of the Landscape Experiment. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-227. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 161-170.
