Changes in small mammal abundance and habitat caused by shoreline cottage development in central Ontario were studied in the summers of 1978 and 1979. This development significantly altered the vegetation composition and structure in the vicinity of cottages. These alterations, in turn, had an impact on small mammal abundance. These animals were classified in three response categories: tolerant (existing, at some level, regardless of degree of development), intolerant (extirpated at high levels of development), and indifferent to development. Tolerant species were the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus); intolerant species were the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), and woodland jumping mouse (Napeozapus insignis). The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) was indifferent to development. Small mammal diversity was highest on mixed shorelines at moderate levels of development. Species diversity appeared to respond positively to vegetative composition, edge effect, and irregularity of habitat. These characteristics were all dependent on the level of cottage development.

Crown survey notes from the late 1800s were used to reconstruct forest cover at that time in four forest management units in central Ontario, Canada. Historic forest cover was then compared to forest cover in 1990 based on Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) maps. Regional results indicate that the proportions of maple (Acer spp.) in the forest increased by 12.5%, while balsam fir (Abies balsamea) declined by 3.5%, hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) by 2.3% and other conifers (larch (Larix laricina) and cedar (Thuja occidentalis)) by 2.1%. The frequency of occurrence of maple, ash (Fraxinus spp.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), poplar (Populus spp.) and spruce (Picea spp.) also increased while white birch (Betula papyrifera), hemlock and other hardwoods (e.g., oak (Quercus spp.), basswood (Tilia americana), beech (Fagus grandifolia), elm (Ulmus spp.), ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.)) declined. The region-wide proportional increase in maple is likely due to timber harvest techniques such as selective logging, effective fire suppression and the ecology of the maple species. Crown survey notes have been a useful tool in reconstructing presettlement forest cover. Survey notes can easily be obtained and used by forest managers and planners to understand presettlement conditions of this forest. Managers can achieve zero net loss of forest types in relation to the presettlement condition by using appropriate silvicultural practices to reduce the proportion of maple.Key words: Crown Survey records, presettlement forest, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest, working group, frequency of occurrence Les relevés d'arpentage des terres publiques de la fin des années 1800 ont été utilisés pour reconstituer le couvert forestier de l'époque dans quatre unités d'aménagement forestier du centre de l'Ontario au Canada. Le couvert forestier de cette époque a été comparé par la suite au couvert forestier de 1990 en fonction des cartes de l'Inventaire des ressources forestières. Les résultats régionaux indiquent que la proportion d'érable (Acer spp.) dans les forêts a augmenté de 12,5 % tandis que le sapin baumier (Abies balsamea) a diminué de 3,5 %, la pruche (Tsuga canadensis) de 2,3 % et les autres conifères (le mélèze (Larix laricina) et le thuya (Thuja occidentalis)) de 2,1 %. La fréquence de la présence de l'érable, du frêne (Fraxinus spp.), du bouleau jaune (Betula alleghaniensis), du peuplier (Populus spp.) et de l'épinette (Picea spp.) a également augmenté tandis que le bouleau blanc (Betula papyrifera), la pruche et les autres bois francs (par ex., le chêne (Quercus spp.), le tilleul (Tilia americana), le hêtre (Fagus grandifolia), l'orme (Ulmus spp.), l'ostryer (Ostrya virginiana) et le cerisier tardif (Prunus serotina Ehrh.)) ont décliné. L'accroissement proportionnel dans toute la région pour l'érable est vraisemblablement dû aux techniques de récolte telle la coupe sélective, à la suppression totale des feux de forêt et à l'écolo-gie des érables. Les relevés d'arpentage des terres publiques o...

Winter browsing patterns by moose (Alces alces) were studied on three cutovers in northern Ontario during spring and summer of 1975 and 1976. The three cutovers were 5 to 6 years old and ranged from 24 to 525 ha in area. Browse patterns were determined by examining 2 m × 4 m plots spaced at 25 m intervals along selected cruise lines. The distance from cover for each plot was calculated from large scale maps. No correlation was found between distance from cover and browse abundance, and moose browsing was independent of food distribution. In 1975, it was found that 95% of all browsing activity was confined to within 80 m of cover. Browse use tended to be greater in 1976, with significant use extending as far as 260 m from cover in one cutover. Food abundance and snow depths up to 75 cm apparently did not determine moose distribution.

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