Tation in the Winter and Dry Summers. Snowfall Varied from Slight to Trol Unit, a Clearcut Non-Burned Unit, and a Clearcut Slash
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF EDWARD FRANK HOOVEN for the DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Name) (Degree) uForest Management presented on N\', 'I ii (Major) ( te) Title: EFFECTS OF CLEARCUTTING A DOUGLAS-FIR STAND UPON SMALL ANIMAL POPUTIONS Ij1 WESTERN OREGON Signature redacted for privacy. Abstract approved: William Wheeler An ecological study of small forest mammals was conducted from 1964 to 1970.The objectives were to obtain chronological infor- mation relative to the effects of current logging practices on vegeta- tional succession and small mammal populations. The locale of the study was in the west-central Cascade Moun- tains of Oregon.The principal timber species was Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. The climate was characterized by heavy precipi- tation in the winter and dry summers. Snowfall varied from slight to heavy.Elevation was 3000 feet. The study areas were composed of a 125-year-old timbered con- trol unit, a clearcut non-burned unit, and a clearcut slash-burned unit. Density and distribution of the small mammals were determined by live-trapping and release of marked animals.Reproductive infor- mation of some species was noted. Home range areas was computed for the more numerous species of rodents. More than 4530 individual small mammals of 23 mammalian species were marked on the three areas during the six years ofthe study.Over 90 percent of the total animals caught consisted of five species: Sorex spp, Eutamias townsendii, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Microtus oregoni. The small mammal densities varied from year to year.They were comparable between units on a monthly basis exceptfor the unburned clearcut unit which differed for a year following logging. Shrew numbers, abund3nt in the forest, were less on the un- burned and sharply reduced on the slash-burned unit.Deermice, scarce in the closed forest, increased greatly in numbers onthe clear- cuts.Chipmunks were abundant in the forest, less on the slash- burned clearcut unit, and sharply reduced in numbers on the unburned unit. Creeping mice were scarce in the forest but their numbCrs erupted on the clearcuts.Snowshoe hares were, caught periOdically in'the timber but not on. the clearcuts. Some species, caught infrequently or known only by sign, are expected to increase and become more numerous as the vegetation becomes brushier.These include the snowshoe hare, mountain beaver, porcupine, and the pocket gopher. The results of this study suggest that more information is required relative to the diet of the small mammals. Effects of vegetational manipulation, by selective cutting practices or by the use of herbicides on small mammals should be examined. 1971 Edward Frank Hooven ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Effects of Clearcutting a Douglas-fir Stand Upon Small Animal Populations in Western Oregon by Edward Frank Hooven A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 1971 APPROVED Signature redacted for privacy. Professor of Forest Management in charge of major Signature redacted for privacy. Head ofepartznent of Forest Management Signature redacted for privacy. Dean of Graduate School Date thesis is presented May 10, 1971 Typed by Muriel Davis for Edward Frank Hooven ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was made possible by the help and cooperation of many persons. I wish to thank the personnel of the Blue River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest.Too many individuals were concerned, from the initiation of the problem to the present, to be able to acknowl- edge each one individually. I also wish to thank the many persons of the Forest Research Laboratory for their help and in particuLar the following: Lloyd Graham, Research Technician, who assisted with the establishment of the plots and helped conduct the live-trapping of small mammals during 1964. Brian Cleary, now associated with Weyerhaeuser Company, Forestry Research Center, Centralia, Washington, who helped estab- lish the study units in the Loon Creek area. Dr. R. H. Waring, Associate Professor of Forest Management, who advised on area selection, helped with the plot establishment and vegetation determinations. Richard Newman, presently with the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Bend, Oregon, for very capable assis- tance with the over-all field work during 1964 through 1969. James Overholser, editor and Assistant Professor, for help and advice on tables and figures. Dorothy Eberhardt for patience and consideration while typing the original hand-written material. Dr. Kim K. Ching, Dr. Denis P. Lavender, Dr. Richard K. Hermann, and Dr. Joe B. Zaerr for their warm encouragement in seeing the dissertation finished. Dr. William P. Wheeler, my major professor, for devoting his time for critical reviewand encouragement during the preparation of the manuscript. Charles E. Cone, who as Superintendent of Chelan High School of Chelan, Washington, was responsible for my acceptance by Washington State College as a special student and continuously offered encouragement during the inevitable periods of frustration. L. L. McCormick of Chelan, Washington, whose influence and friendship is deeply appreciated. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 8 Small Animals and Reforestation 8 Effects of Forest Tree Removal 11 Abiotic 11 Slash 13 Effects of Fire 16 Abiotic 16 Wildlife 18 Birds 18 Game Animals 21 Small Animals 23 Effects of Trapping Procedures 25 Snap-trapping 25 Live-trapping 26 Baits 28 STUDY AREA 30 General Geology 30 General Climate 33 Location of Study Area 38 Description of Study Plots 43 PROCEDURES Plot Establishment 51 Trapping 53 Baits 63 Marking 65 Analysis of Vegetation 66 RESULTS 68 Vegetation 68 Loon Creek Control 68 Loon Creek Sale 74 Starr Creek Sale 83 Mammals 87 Insectivora 91 Sorex 91 Neurotrichus 98 Scapanus 98 Pagç RESULTS (continued) Lagornorpha Ochotona 99 Lepus 99 Rodentia 101 Aplodontia 101 Citellus 104 Glaucomys 104 Tamiasciurus 105 Neotoma 107 Phenacomys 107 Clethrionomys 107 Zapus 109 Eutamias 110 Peromyscus 114 Microtus 121 Predators 127 DISCUSSION 130 Season and Weather 130 Dynamics 133 Habitat 134 Small-mammal Habitat Preference 139 CONCLUSION 148 BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 APPENDIX 164 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Annual precipitation 1964 to 1970 37 2 Climatological data for 1969 and 1970 39 3 Plant species by frequency and cover 1968-1970 69 4 Summary of total separate individuaL animals caught during all trapping periods 88 5 Total untagged individual animals caught during 1968, 1969, and 1970 94 6 Total separate individual animals caught annually by plots 95 Home range data for Eutamias townsendii, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Microtus oregoni 115 8 Peromyscus: comparison of yearly catch with over- wintering survivors 118 9 Peromyscus: home range summary 119 10 Average number of individuals caught per acre per trapping period, 1967-1970 122 11 Densities of all animals caught 1967-1970 135 12 Percent new individuals caught per trapping period 131 13 Plants on study area by family 164 15 List of mammals on the study units 169 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Clearcut staggered settings 3 2 Loon Creek Sale 15 3 Utilization of cavities in standing snags by birds 20 4 Result of wildfire 24 5 Geological areas of western Oregon 31 6 Areas of climatic comparability 35 7 Isohyets indicating areas of equal rainfall 36 8 Location of study area 42 9 Loon Creek study area prior to logging 45 10 Starr Creek study area during slash-burning 47 11 Map of timber sale study unit Locations 52 12 Map of Loon Creek study areas 54 13 Map of Starr Creek study area 55 14 Small mammal traps protected from rain 58 15 Small mammal traps protected from direct exposure 59 16 Small mammal traps protected from direct exposure 60 17 Welded-wire live-trap used for hares and mountain beaver 61 18 Loon Creek control 75 19 Understory vegetation of Loon Creek unit 76 20 Loon Creek Sale unit after logging 78 21 Loon Creek Sale unit October 1969 81 Figure Page 22 Starr Creek Sale unit 84 23 Loon Creek Sale: vegetational development on unit August 1970 144 EFFECTS OF CLEARCUTTING A DOUGLAS-FIR STAND UPON SMALL ANIMAL POPULATIONS IN WESTERN OREGON INTRODUCTION The reproduction and survLval of a wildlife species is dependent ipon certain conditions of food and cover.Depending upon the condi- tion of the habitat, manipulation by either supplementation or distur- bance is required to maintain or develop vegetative associations. Disturbance causes vegetation to return to an earlier stage of plant succession, the effect upon succession often being dependent upon; the kindand severity of the disturbance. In the past, wildfire has been a significant natural factor in determining vegetational stages.The succession during revegetation of a burn does not always follow the same course but develops at dif- ferent rates because of pre-burning vegetation, edaphic conditions, microclimatic variations, season, and available seed (McMinn, 1951). Logging has become a major additional factor within the past century in the Douglas-fir region.Logging practices and procedures have varied with the available technology and economic demands. Clearcutting of Douglas-fir (Pseu.dotsu.ga menzie sii [Mirb.] Franco) timber is considered the best and most appropriate method for stand removal in the Pacific Northwest.Douglas-fir is an intolerant sub- climax coniferous species that, in Oregon, makes its best growth west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.It will not develop in its own shade. Normal forest development is in even-aged stands but occasionally