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Streamside Management Zones and Wildlife
in the Southern Coastal Plain1
James G. Dickson and Jimmy
c.
Huntley2
Abstract.--We are assessing the impacts of presence
and vegetative composition of Streamside Management Zones
(SMZ) on squirrels, deer, furbearers, small mammals, birds,
reptiles, and amphibians. Preliminary results for
squirrels show gray and fox squirrels were abundant in the
wide SMZ, but virtually absent from medium and narrow SMZ.
INTRODUCTION
(Stransky and Halls 1968). In Mississippi,
time-area counts of squirrels (SciuPus spp.) was
higher in SMZ than in pine-hardwood stands
(Warren and Hurst 1980). In eastern Texas,
McElfresh et al. (1980) captured squirrels regularly in Sweetbay Magnolia-Redbay Persea
"stringers" but rarely in adjacent pine plantations. Retention of mature vegetation along
streams in clearcuts has been recommended for
deer, turkeys (MeteagPis gattopavo), squirrels,
and song birds. In the south the retention of
SMZ in clearcuts is policy for the u.s. Forest
Service and several large industrial forest
landowners.
There are some 81 million ha in commercial
forests in the southern coastal plain. On much
of this land, especially industrial forest land,
mature mixed pine-hardwood forests are being cut
and replaced by pine (Pinus spp.) plantations.
In young pine plantations a large variety and
quantity of herbaceous and woody vegetation make
young plantations good wildlife habitat for many
species of wildlife. White-tailed deer
(Odocoiteus viPginianus), cotton rats (Sigmodon
hispidus), cottontail rabbits (Sytvitagus
ftoPidanus), and many birds fare well in young
clearcuts. But wildlife habitat for most species deteriorates after 7 to 10 years when pine
canopies close and non-pine vegetation dwindles.
Quantitative data on effects of SMZ on
wildlife populations are generally lacking.
Wildlife managers are being asked to justify
retention of SMZ in land-use plans on a biological and economical basis. What differences do
SMZ make in populations of various species?
What differences are there in wildlife populations in areas with SMZ and areas without SMZ?
What are the relationships between SMZ width and
vegetative composition, and wildlife abundance?
The Wildlife Habitat and Silviculture
Laboratory, Southern Forest Experiment Station,
USDA Forest Service is conducting research to
help answer these questions by assessing the
impact of presence, vegetative composition, and
extent of SMZ on various segments of the
wildlife community. The purpose of this paper
is to provide background information on the
nature of SMZ in the southern coastal plain,
present approach and techniques for our
research, and outline tentative results for one
animal group.
Mature vegetation along permanent and intermittent streams bisecting upland sites often is
retained to reduce non-point source pollution
and to enhance wildlife habitat. These areas of
hardwood or mixed pine-hardwoods are called
stringers, streamers, or streamside management
zones. Streamside Management Zones (SMZ)
throughout a pine plantation create habitat
diversity and edge. They serve as corridors and
are limited habitat for species associated with
mature forests. Nesting sites, food, and cover
probably are increased for many species of
wildlife. Hard and soft mast are produced by
the residual trees, and nesting and foraging
sites are provided by the shrub and canopy vegetation. Studies have shown that floodplain
forests support more birds than upland pine
stands (Dickson 1978, Stauffer and Best 1980),
probably due to their greater vegetation structural diversity. Bottomland hardwood forests
are also prime habitat for white-tailed deer
METHODS
Nine recent clearcuts 2-4 years old, from 49
to 121 ha in size and located in East Texas were
selected for study areas. Selection of nine
areas was based on similarity of topography,
soils, vegetation, and surrounding land use.
All areas were previously vegetated by second
growth pine-hardwoods, had been recently clearcut, mechanically site prepared, planted to
loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) and were transversed by SMZ. Pines were generally 0.5 to 1.5m
1Paper presented at the North American
Riparian Conference. [University of Arizona,
Tucson, April 16-18, 1985].
2James G. Dickson is Supervisory Research
Wildlife Biologist and Jimmy C. Huntley is a
Research Wildlife Biologist for USDA Forest
Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station,
Wildlife Habitat and Silviculture Laboratory,
Nacogdoches, TX. (In cooperation with School of
Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University)
263
high. The stands were dominated by hardwood
browse, and other woody and herbaceous vegetation. Oak (Quepcus spp.) and hickory (CaPya
spp.) sprouts, CaZZicaPpa amePicana, Rubus spp.,
and Rhus spp. were abundant. Dominant overstory
vegetation in SMZ included southern red oak
(Quepcus faZcata), white oak (Q. alba), post oak
(Q. steZZata), sweetgum (LiquidambaP
styPacifZua), and American beech (Fagus
gPandifoZia). Assigned treatments were SMZ of 3
widths; narrow SMZ (<20m wide), medium SMZ
(25-50 m), and wide SMZ (> 50 m). Three replications of each treatment were applied. Four
sample transects (200 m each) have been
established in each of the 9 study areas--2 in
the SMZ and 2 in the adjoining pine plantation.
Along each transect, understory, midstory, and
overstory vegetation has been sampled from 4
points on each transect. Additionally, hard
mast is being sampled from visual estimates
corrected by collection in barrels.
The number of squirrels seen per hour in the
wide, medium, and narrow was respectively 1.5,
0.1, and 0.0. No squirrels were seen using the
young (2-4 years old) pine plantations that
surround the SMZ.
Substantial detections plus numerous signs
of heavy feeding indicate that squirrels were
permanent residents in the 2 wide SMZ, which
averaged 93 m and 73 m in width. The 2 medium
SMZ, which averaged 36 m and 37 m in width,
appeared not to support permanent squirrel populations, although light feeding sign were present. Sign of squirrel feeding were not present
in the narrow SMZ. Gray and fox squirrels were
equally abundant. Only gray squirrels were
observed in one wide SMZ and fox squirrels were
predominant in the other. One fox squirrel was
seen in the medium SMZ.
Primary results from the early phase of this
study will be published after the second year of
data collection.
The vertebrate community is being sampled by
various means. Deer tracks and pellet groups
are being counted on plots in SMZ and plantations. Scent stations baited with bobcat
urine and fish oil are used to survey furbearers. Small mammal abundance is being determined from live trapping and marking. Bird
censuses from transects during winter and the
breeding season are being conducted. Reptiles
and amphibians in SMZ and plantation slopes are
being surveyed by visual counts, by inspection
of artificial covers, and by captures from drift
fences and funnel traps.
LITERATURE CITED
Bouffard, s. H., and D. Rein. 1978. Census
methods for eastern gray squirrels. J.
Wild!. Manage. 42:550-557.
Dickson, J. G. 1978. Forest bird communities
of the bottomland hardwoods. Pages 66-73 in
R.M. DeGraaf, Tech. Coor., Proc. workshop on
management of southern forests for nongame
birds. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep.
SE-14. Atlanta, GA.
Gray squirrel (SciuPus caPoZinensis) and fox
squirrel (SciuPus nigeP) abundance was estimated
with time-area counts on 6 of the 9 study areas,
2 each with narrow, medium, or wide streamside
management zones (SMZ). Four observation points
at least 100 m apart were located in each SMZ.
Three counts were conducted by different observers for a total of 12 observation periods in
each SMZ. Observation time at each point was 20
minutes as recommended by Bouffard and Rein
(1978). Counts were conducted in late September
before squirrel hunting season, between 0700 and
1030 hours.
McElfresh, R. w., J. M. Inglis, and B. A. Brown.
1980. Gray squirrel usage of hardwood
ravines within pine plantations. La. State
Univ. Ann. For. Symp. 19:79-89.
Stauffer, D. E., and L. B. Best. 1980. Habitat
selection by birds of riparian communities:
evaluating effects of habitat alterations.
J. Wild!. Manage. 44:1-15.
Stransky, J. J., and L. K. Halls. 1968.
Woodland management trends that affect game
in coastal plain forest types. Proc. Ann.
Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game and Fish Comm.
21:104-108.
Warren, R. c., and G. A. Hurst. 1980. Squirrel
densities in pine-hardwood forests and
streamside management zones. Proc. Ann.
Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wild!.
Agencies. 34:492-498.
RESULTS
Squirrels were aetected regularly in
wide SMZ, and rarely in the medium SMZ.
were detected in the narrow SMZ. Total
squirrels seen were 4 and 8 in wide SMZ,
in medium SMZ, and none in either narrow
the
None
0 and 1
SMZ.
264