The ecology of squirrels in spruce dominated plantations: implications for forest management

Lurz, Peter W. W.; Garson, Peter J.; Rushton, Steven

doi:10.1016/0378-1127(95)03617-2

Cited by 70 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Gray squirrels gain competitive advantage over red squirrels in Eur J Forest Res (2014) 133:1-11 7 conifer forests with oaks mixture (Lurz et al 1995), but have lower survival in pure conifer stands (Kenward and Holm 1993;Kenward et al 1998). Therefore, not planting oak species in large pine patches has been proposed as a part of conservation policy for red squirrels (Lurz et al 2003).…”

Section: Eurasian Red Squirrelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of small mammals to clear-cutting in temperate and boreal forests of Europe: a meta-analysis and review

Bogdziewicz

Zwolak

2013

Eur J Forest Res

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We analyzed the responses of small mammals to clear-cutting in temperate and boreal forests in Europe. We conducted a meta-analysis of published research on most often studied small mammal species (the striped field mouse, the yellow-necked mouse, the wood mouse, the field vole, the common vole, the bank vole, the Eurasian harvest mouse, the common shrew and the Eurasian pygmy shrew), comparing their abundance on clear-cuts and in unharvested stands. For four other species (the gray-sided vole, the Siberian flying squirrel, the Eurasian red squirrel and the hazel dormouse), we provide a qualitative review of their responses to forest harvest. Results of the metaanalysis suggest that common species of small mammals usually increase in abundance after clear-cutting or are unaffected by this disturbance. As an exception, the yellow-necked mouse declines after clear-cutting in boreal but not in temperate forest. The qualitative review suggests that the responses of more specialized (e.g., arboreal) species to forest harvest are more varied than the responses of generalist species included in the meta-analysis. For some species of small mammals (e.g., the Siberian flying squirrel), habitat loss resulting from forest harvest is a major threat.

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Section: Eurasian Red Squirrelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of small mammals to clear-cutting in temperate and boreal forests of Europe: a meta-analysis and review

Bogdziewicz

Zwolak

2013

Eur J Forest Res

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“…Consequently, annual fluctuations in tree seed crops and spatial variation in tree seed abundance are the main determinants of red squirrel population dynamics, in particular reproductive rate and dispersal behaviour (Wauters & Dhondt, 1990;Wauters & Lens 1995;Lurz et al, 1997), spacing behaviour and habitat use Piqué, 1997;Lurz et al, 1999). Red squirrel densities vary widely throughout their European range (reviewed in Lurz et al, 1995): they are lowest in young boreal forests and man-made conifer plantations in northern England, intermediate in mixed broadleaf-pine forests in southern Europe and in oak-hazel woodlands in England, and highest in Scots pine dominated woodlands and mixed oak-beech-Scots pine woodlands in western-Europe (Lurz et al, 1995;Wauters & Lens, 1995;Piqué, 1997;Kenward et al, 1998;Wauters & Gurnell, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use and population density of the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis, in the Sila Grande mountain range (Calabria, South Italy)

Cagnin

Aloise

Fiore

et al. 2000

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Counts of squirrel nests (dreys) and vegetation surveys in 32 1-ha census stations were carried out to estimate densities in different forest types and determine habitat selection of the subspecies of red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis in the Sila Grande forests, Calabria, South Italy. Dreys were not built randomly, but the majority was constructed at 60-70% of the total height of the nest-tree, pines and oaks being the preferred tree species. Mean drey densities, 2.75/ha, 2.78/ha, and 2.00/ha in, respectively, Calabrian black pine forest, beech dominated mixed forest, and chestnut woodlands, did not differ between forest types and extrapolated to estimated squirrel densities ranging from 0.44 to 0.61 squirrels/ha. Variation between stations in a tree species diversity index and in distance from the nearest plot of pine woodland significantly affected variation in drey density: squirrels preferred forest habitats dominated by beech, with also black pine and oak available, or chestnut woodlands that were within the range of one (male) squirrel home range diameter (310 m) of a plot of pine forest (mean drey density 5.4/ha). Fewer dreys were found in deciduous (beech or chestnut) woodland >310 m away from areas with pine forest (1.1 dreys/ha). Hence, the availability, at least in the vicinity of the census station, of pine seeds of the Calabrian black pine as main food resource strongly influenced habitat choice.

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“…Population fluctuations of holarctic tree squirrels (Tamiasciurus and Sciurus) have been related to availability of seed crops of coniferous trees (M.C. Kemp and Keith 1970;Gurnell 1987;Andren and Lemnell 1992;Lurz et al 1995). Recent work in northern Canada has confirmed this important relationship between red squirrels and coniferous seed crops, particularly white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) (Boonstra et al 2001;Fletcher et al 2010;LaMontagne et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the ongoing conversion of old-growth conifer forests to younger seral stages and the association of tree squirrels with conifer seed crops, Raphael (1988) and Buchanan et al (1990) have predicted long-term population declines for tree squirrels and other old forest-dwelling small mammals. It may also be helpful to conservation of the beleaguered Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L.), which, because of competition with the introduced American gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis L.), now exists primarily in non-mature conifer forests in the United King-dom (Lurz et al 1995) and potentially in Europe as well. Benkman (1993) and Holimon et al (1998) have made similar predictions for conifer seed dependent crossbills (Loxia spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree squirrel abundance and demography in managed coniferous forests of British Columbia are within the range of natural fluctuations of old-growth stands

Sullivan

Ransome²,

Sullivan³

et al. 2017

Can. J. For. Res.

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Abstract:The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Exrleben) and northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) are important mammal species in coniferous forests that are widely distributed across temperate and boreal ecological zones. Although T. hudsonicus and G. sabrinus apparently prefer late-successional forests, their population dynamics show no clear pattern in young second-growth and old-growth conifer forests. We used a compilation of study results that had standardized methodology and sampling effort to compare tree squirrel responses across a range of forest conditions. We tested the hypotheses (H) that abundance, reproduction, recruitment, and survival would be higher in (H 1 ) old-growth than second-growth stands, (H 2 ) unthinned than thinned second-growth stands, and (H 3 ) lightly than heavily thinned stands. Tree squirrel populations in old-growth stands were considered the "standard" treatment to which other treatments in second-growth stands (unthinned and variously thinned) were compared. Thinned stands were grouped into low, medium, and high densities of trees. Datasets from seven published studies included 2804 Tamiasciurus and 837 G. sabrinus individuals, 25 study years, and 158 trapping periods. Mean abundance of Tamiasciurus was similar among treatment stands, ranging from 0.62 to 1.29·ha −1 . Mean numbers of G. sabrinus were highest in old-growth stands at 0.65·ha −1 , followed by the low-and medium-density stands at 0.50·ha −1 , the high-density stands at 0.25·ha −1 , and finally the unthinned second-growth stands at a low of 0.12·ha −1 . In terms of effect size, mean proportional change in abundance, relative to that within old-growth stands, of both squirrel species in the three thinned stands were within the range of natural fluctuations in old-growth stands. Populations of Tamiasciurus in the unthinned stands were not within the range of fluctuations in the old-growth stands. Mean number of successful pregnancies and total recruits were similar among stands for Tamiasciurus, with variability in female breeding and winter survival. Mean number of recruits of G. sabrinus was highest in old-growth stands with no other differences in demographic attributes among stands. The biological significance of these differences in demographic variables was small in terms of effect sizes. Tamiasciurus and G. sabrinus seem to persist in a relatively broad range of young managed forest habitats, as well as in old-growth stands.Key words: coniferous forests, Glaucomys sabrinus, managed stands, old-growth forest, population dynamics, Tamiasciurus.Résumé : L'écureuil roux américain (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Exrleben) et le grand polatouche (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) sont deux espèces de mammifères d'importance dans les forêts de conifères qui couvrent une grande partie des biomes tempérés et boréaux. Mis à part le fait que T. hudsonicus et G. sabrinus semblent préférer les forêts de fin de succession, leur dynamique des populations ne montre pas de tendances nettes dans les jeunes forêts d...

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The ecology of squirrels in spruce dominated plantations: implications for forest management

Cited by 70 publications

References 41 publications

Responses of small mammals to clear-cutting in temperate and boreal forests of Europe: a meta-analysis and review

Responses of small mammals to clear-cutting in temperate and boreal forests of Europe: a meta-analysis and review

Habitat use and population density of the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis, in the Sila Grande mountain range (Calabria, South Italy)

Tree squirrel abundance and demography in managed coniferous forests of British Columbia are within the range of natural fluctuations of old-growth stands

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