The effects of forest management upon amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals within MOFEP

The effects of forest management upon

amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals

within MOFEP

Purpose

Evaluate the effects of even-aged, uneven-aged, and no-

harvest forest management strategies upon the species

composition and abundance of amphibians, reptiles, and small

mammals on MOFEP study sites.

This species is in a family of salamanders without lungs. It lives in the ground, under rocks , and in and under logs. There could be as many as 11,000 per acre in the forest.

What is it?

Southern Red-backed Salamander

Have we seen any changes in species composition?

No.

Spring AMMA Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

Spring EULU Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

Spring DIPU Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

This lizard species lives within 62 square yards, or about one-hundredth of an acre, on the forest floor.

What is it?

Little Brown Skink

Have we observed any changes in abundance?

Very few.

Total Spring Captures, All Objective 1 Arrays .

0

400

800

1200

1600

1992 1993 1994 1995 1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Year

Cap

ture

s Amphibians - ELT 17Amphibians - ELT 18Reptiles - ELT 17Reptiles - ELT 18

Harvested 1996

Spring Amphibian Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring Reptile Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-10

0

10

20

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring AMMA Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring BUAM Capture Rates, ELT 17Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-5.5

-4.5

-3.5

-2.5

-1.5

-0.5

0.5

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring EUFA Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-1.5

0

1.5

3

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No-HarvestEven-agedUneven-aged

Mea

n N

umbe

r of I

ndiv

idua

l Peromyscus

spp.

Mic

e

94/95 1998 1999 2000 2001

Conclusions thus far

With only the disturbance from the 1996 harvest, we have

not been able to detect a large-scale impact of forest

management upon most amphibians and reptiles on MOFEP

sites.

Climate appears to play a large role in observed trends in

abundance for most amphibians and some reptiles.

Small mammal abundance did seem to be impacted by

forest management because a natural decline observed on

no-harvest sites was not observed on even-aged management

sites.

Future Plans

Sample amphibian, reptile, and small mammal

communities in 2009 and 2010. Sample amphibian, reptile, and small mammal

communities in 2012-2014 following the 2011 harvest. Integrate results with other subproject results so

that a more encompassing picture is derived about

what happens with forest management.