Conifer species mixtures, cone crops and red squirrel conservation

Lurz, P. W. W.; Garson, Peter J.; Ogilvie, J. F.

doi:10.1093/forestry/71.1.67

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Tree seed crop patterns were simulated using cumulative frequency distributions based on seed and cone crop data collected in Kielder Forest between 1991 and 2000 (Lurz, 1995;Lurz et al, 1998;S. Petty, personal communication) and published information from the literature (Table 1).…”

Section: Seed Crop Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recommendations on restructuring for second rotation forests in the north of Britain to benefit small mammals, raptors and song-bird communities (Petty and Avery, 1990) are compatible with squirrel conservation management. Plantings of a small proportion of Norway spruce and Scots pine in upland conifer forests to increase songbird densities (Petty and Avery, 1990) or the establishment of corridors of Betula and Salix to provide foraging habitat for bats (Mayle, 1990) mirror or complement suggested tree species mixtures for red squirrels (Gurnell and Pepper, 1993;Lurz et al, 1998).…”

Section: Percentage Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The forest district includes the largest remaining red squirrel population in England. For many years the potential value of the forests to contribute to the conservation of red squirrels has been recognized, and the forest district has been co-operating on research projects into the conservation of the species (Lurz, 1995;Lurz et al, 1998. The northern half of the forest district is at present free of grey squirrels and the forest district Red Squirrel Species Action Plan has identified five key areas or refuges, Kielder, Harwood, Kidland, Uswayford and Threestoneburn, where red squirrel conservation is a priority.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Planning a red squirrel conservation area: using a spatially explicit population dynamics model to predict the impact of felling and forest design plans

Lurz¹,

Geddes²,

Lloyd³

et al. 2003

Forestry

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SummaryThis paper describes the use of a spatially explicit population model (SEPM) to investigate the effects of different forest management strategies on a red squirrel conservation area. The study was based in woodland managed by Forest Enterprise, which manages 75 000 ha of woodlands in Northumberland, Co. Durham, Tyne and Wear, and east Cumbria. The forests contain the largest remaining red squirrel populations in northern England and the area of the study, Kidland Forest, is one of five key areas or refuges where red squirrel conservation is a priority. The SEPM integrates expert knowledge on red and grey squirrels, based on 10 years of fieldwork in the area and information from the scientific literature. We investigated the current tree species composition, distribution and proposed felling plans as well as the future restocking for Kidland Forest, an area of 2050 ha of predominantly conifer species. The assessment also included a proposed planting of 15 ha of oak and its likely consequences on grey squirrel population viability. These results were then applied to develop a forest design plan to ensure red squirrel persistence over the next rotation. Results indicated that red squirrels were at risk of extinction due to a drastic reduction in the availability of suitable habitats through clear-felling. Furthermore the proposed planting of 15 ha of oak could lead to a substantial grey squirrel population at Kidland once the trees matured and assuming that grey squirrels colonize the area. The felling profile was therefore revised, allocating a proportion of the tree crop on more wind-firm sites to long-term retentions. The approach adopted at Kidland illustrates how geographical information systems, expert knowledge on the threatened species and spatially explicit models can be integrated to assist forest managers in assessing the suitability of a site for red squirrel conservation.

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Section: Seed Crop Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Percentage Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Planning a red squirrel conservation area: using a spatially explicit population dynamics model to predict the impact of felling and forest design plans

Lurz¹,

Geddes²,

Lloyd³

et al. 2003

Forestry

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“…In areas where conifers are common, cone line feeding transects have been used to study squirrels in Britain, Belgium and Italy (Moller 1986;Wauters & Dhondt 1987Wauters & Lens 1995;Lurz et al 1998Lurz et al , 2000Gurnell et al 2004;Wauters et al 2004). In areas where both red and grey squirrels occur, this technique does not allow differentiation between the two species since the two congeners leave similar-shaped stripped cones after feeding on the seeds (Gurnell et al 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In areas where both red and grey squirrels occur, this technique does not allow differentiation between the two species since the two congeners leave similar-shaped stripped cones after feeding on the seeds (Gurnell et al 2004). Where no grey squirrels occur, the presence of these cone remains have always been considered as a certain proof of the occurrence of red squirrels and counts of intact and stripped cones have been used to determine habitat use/preferences among blocks of different conifer species, to calculate relative or absolute squirrel densities from daily-rates of cone consumption (Andrén & Lemnell 1992;Bryce et al 1997;Lurz et al 1998;Gurnell et al 2004), or to estimate the proportion of the total conifer seed crop consumed by squirrels prior to seed dispersal (Steele et al 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of species‐specific cone remains of sympatric arboreal rodents to monitor their distribution

Rima

Aloise

Cagnin

et al. 2007

Italian Journal of Zoology

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The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is threatened with local extinction in those parts of its distribution range colonised by introduced alien squirrel species. Therefore, developing fast and economic monitoring techniques is becoming of increasing importance in relation to conservation and/or management of this species as well as for developing early-warning systems for undesired species (e.g. non-native, invasive species). We present a detailed description of cone-feeding techniques by edible dormouse (Glis glis), black rat (Rattus rattus) and Finlayson's squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii), that recently colonised a small area in the south of Italy, and compare these with signs left by red squirrels in conifer forests dominated by different tree species (Pinus halepensis, P. nigra, P. laricio, P. pinaster and P. leucodermis) in southern Italy. A total of 15,777 consumed cones were collected in 1997-2005 from 33 localities in Calabria and Lucania. Exact determination of consumer species of 100 cone remains by five trained observers was high (98.8%). We conclude that determination of consumed cones on cone feeding transects is an accurate and economic method for monitoring presence/absence of red squirrels in those parts of their range where they are sympatric with either edible dormice and/or black rats.

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Differences in habitat use between the native Eurasian beaver and the invasive North American beaver in Finland

2019

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Habitat requirements largely determine the distribution and abundance of a species. An invasive species can therefore threaten the survival of a native species, if the two species are similar in niche use. In Finland, the distribution of the invasive North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is approaching the range of the native Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) possibly creating a threat for the latter. We compared the habitat use of the native and invasive beaver species in Finland in the main distribution of the species and within a smaller area where the species live in sympatry. We compared the used habitats (volume of birch and other deciduous trees and distance to agricultural and urban areas) at beaver lodges and at random locations in the available riparian habitat with (conditional) logistic regression models. Results indicated that the native beaver lodges were located closer to agriculture than those of the invasive beaver. The volume of birch was also slightly greater near the lodges of the native beaver than those of the invasive beaver. However, habitat use of both of the species seemed quite flexible, because the habitat near lodges did not differ much from the available habitat. We conclude that the probability that the North American beaver will invade the distribution area of the Eurasian beaver in Finland depends, at least partly, on the ability of the former to live in proximity to agricultural areas. However, methods other than those related to managing habitat quality may be the best approach to controlling the invasive species.

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Conifer species mixtures, cone crops and red squirrel conservation

Cited by 21 publications

References 6 publications

Planning a red squirrel conservation area: using a spatially explicit population dynamics model to predict the impact of felling and forest design plans

Planning a red squirrel conservation area: using a spatially explicit population dynamics model to predict the impact of felling and forest design plans

The use of species‐specific cone remains of sympatric arboreal rodents to monitor their distribution

Differences in habitat use between the native Eurasian beaver and the invasive North American beaver in Finland

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