Relative importance of early-successional forests and shrubland habitats to mammals in the northeastern United States

Abstract

The majority of the 60 native terrestrial mammal species that reside in the northeastern United States (US) utilize resources from several habitats on a seasonal basis. However, as many as 20 species demonstrate some preference for early-successional forests, shrublands, or old-field habitats. A few of these (e.g. lagomorphs) can be considered obligate users of these habitats, and the specialist carnivores (e.g. felids) that prey on them may consequently also prefer such habitats. Other mammal species that prefer these habitats certainly depend on them to lesser and varying degrees; thus, the consequences of reducing or eliminating early-successional forests, shrublands, or old-field habitats across the landscape will likely have varying demographic consequences, and thus importance, to those species. #

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) Brood Microhabitat Selection in the Southern Appalachians

“…This hypothesis is supported by the observation that numerous other species that require similar early successional habitat also are declining in the region. (Askins 2000, Litvaitis 2001, Fuller & DeStefano 2003.…”

An Incremental Economic Analysis of Establishing Early Successional Habitat for Biodiversity

“…Prescriptions C and D are financially feasible alternatives to increase ESHs in the forest and may be more effective in supporting wildlife such as birds [9], although the effects of cut size on amphibians and reptiles are unknown [73]. The activity of bats in this area did not vary with patch size [55], showing that feasible options for the current forest management regime exist.…”

“…The early stage of succession, with an openness caused by the absence of a closed canopy, harbors more pioneer species of grasses and shrubs that better coexist with some endangered, threatened, or sensitive plant and animal species [2,6,7]. The importance of ESH to wildlife is especially well-documented for certain birds [8] and various mammals [9].…”

“…Forestry and natural resources management professionals have clearly demonstrated the benefits ESH can play within an ecosystem, but its use for conservation purposes is a relatively new idea. However, foresters, wildlife biologists, and conservationists throughout the United States now consider it an increasingly important issue, and set-asides of clearcuts for protection have been shown to be an attractive cost-effective strategy when accounting for the habitat requirements of multiple species [9,18].…”

Conservation potential of prescribed fire for maintaining habitats and populations of an endangered rattlesnake Sistrurus c. catenatus

“…The diversity of plant species and functional groups (e.g. forbs, grasses, woody species) in early successional systems provides a diversity of important microhabitats for a variety of types of wildlife, including rare reptiles (Shoemaker et al 2009), mammals (Fuller & DeStefano 2003), birds (Thompson & DeGraaf 2001), and invertebrates (Broome et al 2011, D'Aniello et al 2011. Thus, anthropogenic changes in disturbance regimes (e.g.…”