Small Mammals
Mark Peyton, Ruth Passernig, Robert Parmenter
Monitoring
Objectives:
Forest Landscape Restoration Act (PL 11111, Sec. 4003(c)), the natural resources
monitoring program objectives are:
(1) contribute toward the restoration of the
structure and composition of pre-firesuppression old growth stands,
(2) reduce the risk of uncharacteristic
wildfire, and/or maintain or re-establish
natural fire regimes,
(3) improve fish and wildlife habitat,
including endangered, threatened and
sensitive species,
(4) maintain or improve water quality and
watershed function, and
(5) prevent, remediate, or control invasions
of exotic species.
Monitoring
Objectives:
Forest Landscape Restoration Act (PL 11111, Sec. 4003(c)), the natural resources
monitoring program objectives are:
(1) contribute toward the restoration of the
structure and composition of pre-firesuppression old growth stands,
(2) reduce the risk of uncharacteristic
wildfire, and/or maintain or re-establish
natural fire regimes,
(3) improve fish and wildlife habitat,
including endangered, threatened and
sensitive species,
(4) maintain or improve water quality and
watershed function, and
(5) prevent, remediate, or control invasions
of exotic species.
16 sites, 88 traps per site
Expected outcomes and timeframe:
Response of small mammal populations will
vary based on natural history of species
2012-2014: 14 species captured. 688 small mammals.
Species
Deer mouse
Brush mouse
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Least chipmunk
Colorado chipmunk
Mexican woodrat
Bushy-tailed woodrat
Nuttal's cottontail
Red Squirrel
Montane Vole
Long-tailed Vole
Shrews
Mixed Conifer
Ponderosa Pine
Burn
114
0
92
3
0
1
0
3
0
9
0
1
Burn
73
0
5
0
0
1
0
0
0
11
9
2
Control
117
0
27
42
6
6
3
7
34
2
0
10
Control
56
2
8
18
13
4
0
2
5
0
0
2
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel- Mixed Conifer
Mean number per plot
18
16
Control
14
Burn
12
10
ANOVA:
Fire: P<0.02
Season: P=0.03
Year: P<0.03
8
6
4
2
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Least Chipmunk- Mixed Conifer
5
Mean number per plot
Control
Burn
4
3
ANOVA:
Fire: P=0.0002
Season: NS
Year: NS
2
1
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Colorado Chipmunk- Ponderosa Pine
2.0
Control
Mean number per plot
Burn
1.5
ANOVA:
Fire: NS
Season: NS
Year: NS
1.0
0.5
0.0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Red Squirrel- Mixed Conifer
4
Mean number per plot
Control
Burn
3
ANOVA:
Fire: P<0.0001
Season: P<0.02
Year: NS
2
1
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Montane Vole- Ponderosa Pine
4
Mean number per plot
Control
Burn
3
ANOVA:
Fire: NS
Season: NS
Year: NS
2
1
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Long-tailed Vole- Ponderosa Pine
4
Mean number per plot
Control
Burn
3
ANOVA:
Fire: P=0.0152
Season: P=0.0152
Year: P=0.0038
2
1
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Shrews- Mixed Conifer
3
Mean number per plot
Control
Burn
2
ANOVA:
Fire: P=0.018
Season: P=0.006
Year: NS
1
0
Spring12
Fall12
Spring13
Fall13
Spring14
Fall14
Mixed Conifer %Plant Cover
120
100
Burned
Control
% Cover
80
% Plant Cover was lower
immediately post fire- 2011. But
quickly returned and is now
higher on burned sites in both
mixed conifer and ponderosa
pine forest types.
*
60
40
20
0
-20
2011
2012
2013
2014
Ponderosa Pine %Plant Cover
120
Burned
100
*
*
Control
% Cover
80
60
*
40
20
0
2011
2012
2013
2014
Observed outcomes:
Observed outcomes match expected outcomes
Acknowledgments