Western North American Naturalist

Volume 63 Number 2 Article 14

4-30-2003

Effects of clearcutting and on shrews (Soricidae: Sorex) in a Utah coniferous

J. Creed Clayton University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent, Maine

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Recommended Citation Clayton, J. Creed (2003) "Effects of clearcutting and wildfire on shrews (Soricidae: Sorex) in a Utah coniferous forest," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 63 : No. 2 , Article 14. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol63/iss2/14

This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 63(2), ©2003, pp. 264-267

EFFECTS OF CLEARCUTTING AND WILDFIRE ON SHREWS (SORICIDAE: SOREX) IN A UTAH CONIFEROUS FOREST

J. Creed Clayton'

Key words: shrew, Soricidae, Sorex cinereus, Sorex monticolus, clearcut, fire, , .

Although much is, kuown about the biology a hot summer fire, but not during a cool spring of shrews, relatively few studies document the fire in mixed boreal forest in Ontario. Regard­ response of shrews to disturbances ing shrews in general, most studies have docu­ such as timber harvesting and fire. No consen­ mented temporary reductions in shrew num­ sus has been reached that would enable us to bers following fire (Stout et al. 1971, Kirkland predict how a given shrew species might be et al. 1996). This note discusses the response affected by these disturbances. Research doc­ ofS. cinereus and S. monticolus to clearcutting umenting the response of the masked shrew and wildfire in a coniferous forest in the Inter­ (Sorex cinereus) to clearcutting has reported mountain West region of the United States. both increases and decreases after cIearcut­ Sampling of shrews occurred at 3 study ting. Lawrence (1996) classified S. cinereus as sites within the Bear River Range near Logan, a late-successional forest specialist with high­ utah (41°50'N, UJ030'W). All sites were located est abundance and in uncut, mature between elevations of 2280 m and 2520 m in spruce forest in Ontario; it disappeared fol­ the coniferous forest zone dominated by lodge­ lowing clearcutting. In Colorado, Spencer and pole pine (Pinus contona), subalpine fir (Abies Pettus (1966) found that S. cinereus preferred lasiocarpa), and Engelmann spruce (Picea engel­ uncut coniferous forest to clearcuts. In contrast, mannii). All plots were located in mature Kirkland (1977) found significantly more S. forested stands 70 to 140 years old (including cinereus in clearcuts <5 years old in both de­ the disturbed plots, just prior to the time of ciduous and red spruce in West Virginia disturbance). than in mature (>25 years) forests. Similarly, SLIDEOUT CANYON.-Four plots were located Monthey and Soutiere (1985) found more S. in undisturbed forest, which acted as controls, cinereus in 1- to 3-year-old cIearcuts than in from 1995 to 1997. During the winter of 1997 uncut spruce-fir forest in Maine. one of these 4 plots was clearcut. Trapping con­ Fewer data about the effects of clearcutting tinued in 1998 and 1999 in the 3 controls and on the montane or dusky shrew (Sorex monti­ the new clearcut. This latter plot is situated 35 colus) are available. Spencer and Pettus (1966) m into the approximately 4-ha clearcut. found that S. monticolus (= S. vagmns) pre­ LOG CABIN RIDGE.-Three plots were ferred cIearcut areas to coniferous forest in located in undisturbed forest (controls) and 3 Colorado. Slightly more S. monticolus were in clearcuts (3-4 ha each) harvested 2--4 years also trapped in cIearcuts than in mature previously. Trapping was conducted during conifer forest by Gunther et al. (1983) in the the growing seasons of 1996 and 1997. This Pacific Northwest. site is approximately 3 km south of Slideout The effects offire on S. cinereus or S. mon­ Canyon. , ticolus are relatively unknown. Ford et al. TEMPLE CANYON.-Three plots were located (1999) reported that numbers of S. cinereus did in undisturbed forest (controls) and 3 in areas not change significantly after burning pitch burned in summer 1994. In the 3 burned plots, pine stands in North Carolina. Martell (1984) all and plants were killed by documented a decline in S. cinereus following high-intensity, stand-replacing wildfire, but

'Department of Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent, ME 04743. Present addrelis: U.S. FIsh and Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003,

264 2003J NOTES 265 nearly all burned trees remained standing were ever trapped in the Log Cabin Ridge throughout the course of the study. Trapping clearcuts despite an effort of 2430 pitfall trap­ was conducted during the growing season, nights. The only S. einereus trapped in a clear­ 1995 through 1997. Temple Canyon is approx­ cut came from the Slideout Canyon clearcut. imately 2 km south ofLog Cabin Ridge. In contrast, the trap rate for S. montieolus in At each plot 15 traps were placed in a 3 X 5 Slideout Canyon was greater in the clearcut trap grid with 5 m spacing. Each trap con­ than in the controls. However, not enough S. sisted of a tin can (8 em in diameter, 11 em monticolus were trapped at any of the sites to deep) sunk into the ground. Traps were show a statistically significant habitat preferenoe. equipped with funnels and wooden rain cov­ The different outcomes reported in the lit­ ers elevated 2.5 em aboveground on nails. A erature cODgerning the effects of clearcutting smaller can partially filled with 15% ethanol on S. einereus and S. montieolus are likely due, was placed inside the outer can for ease of at least in part, to different harvest and site removal and preservation of specimens. Traps preparation methods, differing speeds ofregen­ were opened for 9 consecutive days up to 3 eration, and different regional climates of the times over the course of the growing season. various timber-sale areas. These factors shape Shrews were identified using the annotated the quality of the habitat found in a new key by Junge and Hoffmann (1981). clearcut. Sorex cirwreus is an ecological gener­ Goodness-of-fit tests using an exact P-value alist and occurs in a variety of includ­ (Cytel 1997) were performed on shrew cap­ ing coniferous and deciduous forests, tundra, tures within control plots (combined across all grasslands, marshes, swamps, and riparian areas sites) to test for differences in abundance (Yahner 1992, Pagels et al. 1994). It is most between S. einereus and S. monticolus. Habi­ numerous in moist areas such as those near tat preferences (control VB. bum or control VS. bogs, marshes, or flowing water or in shady clearcut) at each site, individually, were tested locations with high humidity and moisture in this way as well. A direct comparison be­ (Getz 1961, Pagels et al. 1994). tween the number of shrews in cIearcuts and Those studies in which S. einereus preferred burns could not be made as the trapping peri­ clearcuts were primarily in forests of the east­ ods among sites did not correspond exactly. ern United States where herbaceous vegeta­ Over the course of 16,740 pitfall trap-nights tion is likely to cover much of the clearcut (Table 1), 40 S. einereus, 9 S. monticolus, 1 S. within the 1st or 2nd growing season. Those vagrans, and 1 S. merriami were trapped studies in which S. einereus preferred mature among the Slideout Canyon, Temple Canyon, forest over cIearcuts were conducted in the and Log Cabin Ridge sites. Within the control Intermountain West with relatively drier grow­ plots, S. einereus was trapped roughly 6 times ing seasons, or in cooler Canadian boreal forests, more frequently than S. monticolus (P < 0.001; where revegetation is likely to proceed at a Fig. 1). There was no statistically significant slower paoe. The clearcuts sampled in this study difference between the numbers ofS. montico­ were all slow to revegetate, had <40% ground­ /wi and S. einereus trapped within clearcuts or cover during the sampling period, experienced within burns (too few shrews were trapped in high soil temperatures, and appeared very dry these habitats for an adequate comparison). once the moisture from snowmelt disappeared. Care should be taken when comparing across Sorex cinereus prefers not to invade clearcuts habitats in Figure 1 (e.g., S. einereus in controls until adequate groundcover is established, vs. in clearcuts), as trapping periods differed which provides cover from predators, shade, somewhat among the 3 sites. moderated temperatures, and higher relative When considering shrew captures from one humidities (Getz 1961, Pagels et al. 1994). In site at a time (rather than within one habitat some forests this may take only a few months; type, across sites), shrew habitat preferences in others (such as in this study) it may take could be analyzed. At the Temple Canyon site, several years. Thus, the absence or reduced S. cinereus was trapped more often in control number of S. cinereus in clearcuts during this plots than burned plots (P = 0.036). Sorex study was likely due to sparse herbaceous cinereus was also trapped more often in con­ groundcover and hot, dry surfaoe conditions in trol plots than in clearcut plots at the Log clearcuts that were slow to revegetate. Of the Cabin Ridge site (P = 0.006); no S. einereus 4 clearcuts sampled in this study, S. cinereus 266 WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 63

TABLE 1. Total shrew captures. Trap success rate in parentheses (per 100 trap-nights).

Site Trap-nights Sorex cinerus Sorex monticolw Sorex merriami Sorex vagrans

Slideout Canyon controls 1995-97 2430 14 (0.58) 2 (0.08) 0 0 controls 1998-99 1215 3 (0.25) 1 (0.08) 0 0 clearcut 1998-99 405 1 (0.25) 2 (0.49) 0 0 Log Cabin Ridge controls 1996-97 2295 7 (0.31) 0 1 (0.04) 0 clearcuts 1996-97 2430 0 0 0 1 (0.04) Temple Canyon controls 1995-98 4095 12 (0.29) 3 (0.07) 0 0 bums 1995-98 3870 3 (0.08) 1 (0.03) 0 0

TOTAL 16,740 40 (0.24) 9 (0.05) 1 (0.01) 1 (0.01)

0.45 1m Sorex cinereus 0.40 o Sorex monticolus

!l 0.35 LO

'"~ 0.30 m "~ ~ 0.25 ~ g" 0.20 l;; ~ 0.15

w~ LO ~ 0.10

0.05

0.00 Controls Clearcuts Burns

Fig. L Combined shrew captures across sites, 1995-1999 Gines show 1 standard error).

was trapped only in the Slideout Canyou ous forest; they concluded that S. monticolus dearcut, the one with the least extreme soil is less dependent, physiologically, on a moist temperatures. environment than is S. cinereus. Brown (1967) Sorex nwnticolus is considered a montane found more S. ciruweus in moist plant commu­ species associated with spruce-fir forests and nities and more S. rruJnticolus (= S. vagrans) in alpine tundra in the Interior West, but it also drier sites. Negus and Findley (1959) reported inhabits western temperate and tbat S. monticolus seemed more capable than S. boreal forests (Junge and Hoffmann 1981, cinereus of existing in more xeric habitats. In Smitb and Belk 1996). Occasionally, S. monti­ this study no S. monticolus were trapped in calus is found in more xeric habitats such as the Log Cabin Ridge dearcuts. These clearcuts pinyon-juniper (Hennings and Hoff­ were perhaps too bot and dry even for S. mon­ mann 1977). Wbile too few S. monticolus were ticolus. They experienced maximum soil tem­ trapped in this study to reach any definitive peratures more than lOoC higher than in the conclusions, the results agree with Spencer Slideout Canyon dearcut when averaged over and Pettus (1966), who stated tbat S. montico­ the course of the growing season. Clearcuts at Ius (= S. vagrans) prefers clearcuts to conifer- botb Slideout Canyon and Log Cabin Ridge 2003J NOTES 267 had higher soil temperatute maxima than near­ fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the south­ by forested controls (Clayton 2001). em Appalachians. and Management 114,227-232. Although the number of shrews trapped at GETZ, L.L. 1961. Factors influencing the local distribution the Temple Canyon site was relatively low, the ofshrews. American Midland NabJralist 65:67-88. results of this study support most of the previ­ GUNTHER, P.M., B.S. HORN, AND G.D. BABB. 1983. Small ously mentioned studies that found shrew mammal populations and food selection in relation numbers to be depressed following fire. Sorex to timber hmvest practices in westem Cascade Moun­ tains. Northwest Science 57:32-44. cinereus was trapped at a lower rate in burned HENNINGS, D., AND RS. HOFFMANN. 1977. A review of plots than in control plots. This may be partly the taxonomy of the Sorex vagrans species complex due to the fact that daytime soil temperatures from western . Occasional Papers of in burned plots were more than IDoe warmer the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 68,1-35. than in controls (Clayton 2001). Additionally, HOOVEN, E.F. 1973. A wildlife brief for the clearcut log­ Hooven (1973) speculated that shrews which ging ofDouglas fir. Journal ofForestry 71:211-214. survive a fire may be adversely affected by the JUNGE, ].A., AND RS. HOFFMANN. 1981. An annotated key resulting ash layer. to the long-tailed shrews (genus Sorex) of the United The apparent habitat preferences exhibited States and Canada, with notes on Middle American Sorex. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural by these shrew species apply only to the grow­ History, University ofKansas 94:1-48. ing season. Overwinter survival may be more KIRKLAND, C.L., JR. 1977. Responses of small mammals to of a limiting factor for shrew populations in the clearcutting of northern Appalachian forests. this area and should also be considered when Journal of Mammalogy 58,600-609. KIRKLAND, G.L., H.W SNODDY, AND T.L. AMSLER. 1996. applying the results of this study to any man­ Impact of fire on small mammals and in agement decisions. Because the number of a central Appalachian deciduous forest. American shrews taken in this study was relatively small, Midland Naturalist 135:253-260. further research is needed to confirm the pref­ LAWRENCE, S.W. 1996. Demographic changes in small im~ erence of S. cinereus for mature forest over mammal populations on black spruce peatlands pacted by clearcut and careful-cut forest manage­ recent clearcuts or bums and of S. monticolus ment practices (Ontario, Sorex arcticu8, Sorex cinereus, for c1earcuts over mature forest. Along with Tarniasciurus hudsonious, Clethrionomys gappeti, microclimate and microhabitat parameters, Mia'otus penmylvatJicus, Synaptomys cooperi, Micro­ particular attention needs to be given to the tus chrotorrhinus). Master's thesis, Laurentian Uni­ versity ofSudbury, Sudbury, Canada. regeneration stage, rather than age, ofa recent­ MARTELL, A.M. 1984. Changes in small mammal commu~ 1y disturbed site. nities after fire in north central Ontario. Canadian Field Naturalist 98:223-226. I thank James A. MacMahon for reviewing MONTHEY, RW, AND E.G SOUTIERE. 1985. Responses of a draft of this manuscript and providing the small mammals to forest harvesting in northern Maine. Canadian Field Naturalist 99:13-18. pitfall trapping materials used in this study. NEGUS, N.C., AND ].S. FINDLEY. 1959. Mammals ofJackson This research was also supported by the United Hole, Wyoming. Journal of Mammalogy 40:371-381. States Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research PAGELS, ].R, K.L. UTHUS, AND H.E. DUVAL. 1994. The Station in Logan, Utah, a scholarship from the masked shrew, Sorex cinereus, in a relictual habitat of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Pages Gifford Pinchot Institute for Conservation, 103-106 in J.F. Merritt, C.L. Kirkland, Jr., and RK. and an Ecology Center scholarship from Utah Rose, editors, Advances in the biology of shrews. State University, Special Publication of Carnegie Museum of Natural History 18. Pittsburgh, PA. . SMITH, M.E., AND M.C. BELK. 1996. Sorex monticolus. LITERATURE CITED Mammalian Species 528:1-5. SPENCER, A.W, AND D. PETIus.1966. Habitat preferences BROWN, L.N. 1967. Ecological distribution of six species offive sympatric species oflong-tailed shrews. Ecol­ of shrews and comparison of sampling methods in ogy 4H77-683. the central Rocky Mountains. Journal of MammaI­ STOUT, J., A.L. FARRIS, AND Y.L. WRIGHT. 1971. Small mam­ ogy 48,617-623. mal populations ofan area in northern Idaho severe­ c1earcut~ CLAYTON, le. 2001. Community-level effects of ly burned in 1967. Northwest Science 45:219-226. ling and wildfire on shrews, grasshoppers, and YAHNER, RH. 1992. Dynamics of small mammal commu­ ground-dwelling beetles. Doctoral dissertation, Utah nity in a fragmented forest. American Midland Natu­ State University, Logan, UT. ralist 127:381-391. CyTEL SOFlWARE CORPORATION. 1997. StatXact3 for Win­ dows. Cytel Software Corp., Cambridge, MA. Received 20 February 2001 FORD, WM., M.A. MENZEL, D.W MCGILL.]. WRM, AND Accepted 13 March 2002 T.S. McCAY. 1999. Effects ofa community restoration