Demography of southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) after logging in north-central Ontario

Abstract

Populations of Clethrionomys gapperi and Peromyscus maniculatus were investigated on newly harvested upland black spruce (Picea mariana) clear-cuttings and in control areas (uncut, selective cut, older clear-cuttings) near Manitouwadge, Ontario. On control areas Clethrionomys had increased breeding intensity, better summer survival rates, and a relatively greater number of young in 1978 relative to 1976 and 1977. Those conditions appeared to be unrelated to summer weather and occurred after a cold, wet spring with a delayed snowmelt. Numbers of Clethrionomys on new clear-cuttings declined to nil over the first two summers following timber harvest. Demography on new clear-cuttings was similar to that on control areas except for poorer juvenile survival rates and fewer young. The disappearance of Clethrionomys from recent clear-cuttings was likely due to direct mortality. Demography of Peromyscus on control areas was similar each year except in 1978 when there was an increase in the breeding intensity of males and a decrease in the proportion of young. Numbers of Peromyscus on new clear-cuttings increased over the 3 years. Demography was similar on clear-cuttings and control areas in 1978, but in 1976 and 1977 the clear-cutting population had an excess of males, greater reproductive intensity of both males and females, more wounding of males, and less wounding of females. A highly mobile, young, male-dominated population with a high reproductive rate and a good summer survival rate was present on the 1- and 2-year-old cuts. Recent clear-cuttings in upland black spruce act as dispersal sinks for Peromyscus and provide new habitat for colonization by presaturation dispersers.

Genetic estimates of immigration and emigration rates in relation to population density and forest patch area in Peromyscus leucopus

“…One example of a habitat with a relatively high immigration rate is a sink habitat (Pulliam 1988;Hanski and Simberloff 1997). Source-sink dynamics have been documented in a number of small mammal species (Martell 1983;Skupski 1995) but not all (Diffendorfer et al 1995). If the negative densityarea relationship is due to differences in immigration rates, then migration into small patches should be relatively higher compared to large patches.…”

Flammulated, boreal, and great gray owls in the United States: A technical conservation assessment

“…In these regions red-backed voles decline sharply after clearcutting , Halvorson 1982, Martell 1983a, Medin 1986). Martell (1983b) showed that the loss of red-backed voles from clearcuts may lag 2-3 years, but the voles were still rare after 13 years. In contrast to the radical population changes observed after clearcutting, red-backed vole populations remained abundant after patch cutting (3 acre clearcuts) and selection harvest in several locales , Scott et al 1982, Martell 1983b).…”

“…Martell (1983b) showed that the loss of red-backed voles from clearcuts may lag 2-3 years, but the voles were still rare after 13 years. In contrast to the radical population changes observed after clearcutting, red-backed vole populations remained abundant after patch cutting (3 acre clearcuts) and selection harvest in several locales , Scott et al 1982, Martell 1983b). Wywialowski (1985), using voles caught in Utah and placed in an artificial experimental arena, showed that the voles preferred areas with greater overstory cover.…”

Meeting the Habitat Needs of Non-game Forest Wildlife

“…In Ontario, (Martell 1979(Martell ,1981 found that seed predation on conifers was unlikely to significantly affect the stocking rates in natural or man-made disturbances since small mammals do not include appreciable quantities of conifer seeds in their diets. He did show (Martell 1983a, b) that dramatic changes occur in some small mammal communities following cutting and as you might expect the pattern of change varied considerably with stand type.…”