Chapter 6: Wildlife
| Authors: | Donald J. Brown, Hannah L. Clipp, Corinne A. Diggins, Craig Roghair, Andy Dolloff, Chad M. Landress, Matthew McKinney, Jakob T. Goldner, W. Mark Ford |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Book Chapter |
| Station: | Pacific Northwest Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-19616-3_6 |
| Source: | Ecology and Restoration of Red Spruce Ecosystems in the Central and Southern Appalachians. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. |
Abstract
A wide variety of wildlife species occur in red spruce (Picea rubens) and spruce-fir forests, and these forest types represent optimal habitat for several vertebrate and invertebrate species of conservation concern. In this chapter, we synthesized our understanding of wildlife diversity in red spruce and spruce-fir ecosystems in the central and southern Appalachians, and identified species that are reliant on occurrence of these ecosystems. We also reviewed six major insect pests of red spruce in our focal regions. Red spruce and spruce-fir ecosystems are important habitats for at least 1 fish, 7 amphibian, 14 avian, and 3 mammal species, with well over 100 additional vertebrate species known to occur in these forest types. Three federally listed species are strongly associated with red spruce or spruce-fir forests, including the Cheat Mountain salamander (Plethodon nettingi), Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus), and spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura montivaga). Our knowledge synthesis provides managers and biologists with a single reference to assist with identifying local wildlife species that would most benefit from restoration and management of red spruce and spruce-fir ecosystems.