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Effects of Clearcutting and Wildfire on Shrews (Soricidae: Sorex) in a Utah Coniferous Forest

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Effects of Clearcutting and Wildfire on Shrews (Soricidae: Sorex) in a Utah Coniferous Forest Western North American Naturalist Volume 63 Number 2 Article 14 4-30-2003 Effects of clearcutting and wildfire on shrews (Soricidae: Sorex) in a Utah coniferous forest J. Creed Clayton University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent, Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan 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, logging, disturbance. 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 habitat 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 biomass 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 forests 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 trees and understory 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 Wildlife 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 habitats 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 soil 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.
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