Characteristics of mammal abundance relative to habitat variables in temperate forests

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the characteristics of mammal abundance that are related to habitat variables in natural deciduous forest and Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) plantation in the national forest of Mt. Gariwang, Pyeongchang, Korea. Habitat variables differed between forest types. We counted the mammal trails of Korean hares (Lepus coreanus), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica), Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) during the study period. Eurasian badgers, water deer, and wild boars exhibited one or two significant correlations with coverage of understory, downed trees, and coverage of overstory, as determined using a stepwise approach. Habitat variables could be used as predictors of mammal abundance, and thus forest managers should consider such variables in mammal conservation and management activities.

Effects of forestry practices on habitat variables and mammal abundance in a Japanese larch plantation

“…Foliage cover in each vegetation layer was measured and classified according the following four categories: 0 (percentage cover = 0%), 1 (1-33%), 2 (34-66%) and 3 (67-100%). We surveyed the number of standing trees and the volume of felled tree and coarse woody debris (CWD) (Rhim andLee 2007, Son et al 2017).…”

Influence of tree thinning on the abundance of mammals in a Japanese larchLarix kaempferiplantation

“…The annual mean temperature was 8.76°C (range 26.4°C to −18.2°C) and annual precipitation was 1,069 mm. The altitude of the study area ranges from 1100 to 1300 m above sea level (Rhim et al 2015). The study area was natural deciduous forest.…”

“…In August 2015, we measured nine habitat variables describing vegetation structure at 100 random sampling points in 14 transects per stand. Circles measuring 5.64 m in diameter were established at each random sampling point (Lee et al 2008;Rhim et al 2015). We recorded the following data: (1) number of standing trees, (2) the diameter at breast height of trees >6 cm diameter at breast height, (3) coverage of overstory (20-30 m) vegetation, (4) coverage of sub-overstory (8-20 m) vegetation, (5) coverage of mid-story (2-8 m) vegetation, (6) coverage of understory (1-2 m) vegetation, (7) coverage of ground (0-1 m) vegetation, (8) number of downed trees, and (9) length and diameter of downed trees with tape measure for calculation of volume of downed trees (Rhim & Lee 2007).…”

“…Forest practices, especially tree thinning, have been very popular in Japanese larch plantations. However, there is little information about the influence of such tree thinning on mammals in Japanese larch plantations (Kang et al 2013;Rhim et al 2015). We need more detailed knowledge for conservation of biodiversity in Japanese larch plantation.…”

Influence of tree thinning on abundance and survival probability of small rodents in a natural deciduous forest

“…In this study area, the number of standing trees was dramatically decreased after tree thinning. This process resulted in decrease in the coverage of overstory vegetation, which led to an increased amount of light reaching the ground (Richards and Coley, 2007;Rhim et al, 2015). Since light is a crucial factor for vegetation growth, the ground vegetation was densely developed in the postthinning period (Costa and Magnusson, 2003;Krebs, 2008).…”