Preliminary effects of fire and mechanical fuel treatments on the abundance of small mammals in the mixed-conifer forest of the Sierra Nevada

Native forest replacement by exotic plantations triggers changes in prey selection of mesocarnivores

“…We found monito del monte and Chilean climbing mouse in exotic plantations, contrary to previous studies conducted in other landscapes of south-central Chile dominated by exotic plantations (Saavedra and Simonetti, 2005). The presence of mature plantations containing higher herbaceous-shrub cover across some grids could explain the presence of these forest-specialist species considering understory cover is recognized as an ecologically important habitat component for small mammals (Carey and Johnson, 1995;Kelt, 2000;Bellows et al, 2001;Lindenmayer and Franklin, 2002;Hayes et al, 2005;Amacher et al, 2008).…”

Landscape disturbance and sporadic hybridization complicate field identification of chipmunks

“…As with changes in habitat use with fire disturbance, we have limited understanding of how urbanization affects forest mammal communities of western North America, although dramatic shifts in small‐mammal communities are associated with urbanization elsewhere (Gomes et al , Wells et al ). In general, disturbed habitats are expected to have altered forage resources and rates of predation, and reduced habitat complexity (Amacher et al ), all potentially contributing to changes in habitat use. The underlying source of high rates of misidentification we have identified in disturbed sites warrants further investigation, especially if they are partly due to ecological shifts in habitat use.…”

Aspen Stands as Small Mammal “Hotspots” Within Dry Forest Ecosystems of British Columbia

“…Key candidate mechanisms in the Sierra Nevada include the legacy of a century of fire exclusion and timber extraction, as well as their interaction (Naficy et al 2010). Fire has obvious impacts on wildlife habitat and may substantially influence small mammal assemblage composition (Converse et al 2006c;Amacher et al 2008;Zwolak 2009). Fire suppression was standard policy through most of the 20th Century (Kauffman 2004;Stephens and Ruth 2005), wheras extractive efforts amplified greatly after the 2nd World War (Ruth 1996).…”