Bioenergetics and Water Requirements of the Redback Vole, Clethrionomys gapperi

Long-term responses of ecosystem components to stand thinning in young lodgepole pine forest

“…The distribution of this microtine extends across Canada (south of the tundra) and northern regions of the United States with southern extensions into the Rocky and Appalachian mountain chains (Merritt, 1981). Its dependence on mesic habitats in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests with an abundance of stumps, rotting logs, and exposed roots that help to provide a moist microclimate is likely related to its high water requirements (McManus, 1974;Getz, 1968). Development of understory shrubs and young conifers also appear to be important habitat elements for this species (Carey and Johnson, 1995;Moses and Boutin, 2001), and may help to ameliorate microclimatic conditions (Miller and Getz, 1973).…”

Small mammal abundance and habitat relationships on deciduous forested sites with different susceptibility to gypsy moth defoliation

“…Factors affecting between-year abundance patterns ntay include differences in weather and food resources, but based on regional precipitation totals in June and July (obtained from the l'enn Slate University Weather Station, Universily Park), more faw)rable moisture conditions for small manunals (e.g., Chew 1951, McManus 1974 were expected in 1984 than in 1985. In June and July 1985, raintall amounts were 12% and 13% lower, respectively, than corresponding months in 1984.…”

“…At Rothrock, 45 (62%) of 72 individual masked shrews and 11 (85%) of 13 individual red-backed voles individuals were captured on north-facing sites. An affinity for north-facing sites by masked shrews and redbacked voles is attributed to preferences by these species for moist microenvironments (e.g., Getz 1961, McManus 1974, because north-facing sites are cooler and wetter than south-facing sites (Spurr and Barnes 1973). Abundance of individuals of all species combined also differed with aspect and forest (P < 0.01); in particular, 281 (56%) of 502 individuals of all species combined at Rothrock were captured on south-facing sites.…”

Maintaining wildlife habitat in southeastern Alaska: implications of new knowledge for forest management and research

“…This species is reputedly associated with old-growth coniferous forests (Nordyke and Buskirk, 1988;Aubry et al, 1991;Smith, this issue). Regardless of forest type, voles seem to favor mesic habitat and moist microenvironments (Odum, 1944), probably because of an unusually high physiological need of free water (Getz, 1962(Getz, , 1968McManus, 1974). In southeastern Alaska, voles occurred in old-growth forest, recently thinned young-growth stands (20-25 years old), and to a much lesser extent peatland/mixed-conifer forests (Smith and Nichols, 2004).…”