The effects of forest management upon amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals within MOFEP
Feb 24, 2016
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.