Synthesis of Science to Inform Land Management Within the Northwest Forest Plan Area Chapter 6: Other Species and Biodiversity of Older Forests Bruce G. Marcot, Karen L. Pope, Keith Slauson, findings on amphibians, reptiles, and birds, and on selected Hartwell H. Welsh, Clara A. Wheeler, Matthew J. Reilly, carnivore species including fisher Pekania( pennanti), and William J. Zielinski1 marten (Martes americana), and wolverine (Gulo gulo), and on red tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) and bats. Introduction We close the section with a brief review of the value of This chapter focuses mostly on terrestrial conditions of spe- early-seral vegetation environments. We next review recent cies and biodiversity associated with late-successional and advances in development of new tools and datasets for old-growth forests in the area of the Northwest Forest Plan species and biodiversity conservation in late-successional (NWFP). We do not address the northern spotted owl (Strix and old-growth forests, and then review recent and ongoing occidentalis caurina) or marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus challenges and opportunities for ameliorating threats marmoratus)—those species and their habitat needs are and addressing dynamic system changes. We end with a covered in chapters 4 and 5, respectively. Also, the NWFP’s set of management considerations drawn from research Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy and associated conducted since the 10-year science synthesis and suggest fish species are addressed in chapter 7, and early-succes- areas of further study. sional vegetation and other conditions are covered more in The general themes reviewed in this chapter were chapters 3 and 12. guided by a set of questions provided by the U.S. Forest We begin by summarizing a set of questions provided Service Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6) and Pacific by management. We then review the state of knowledge Southwest Region (Region 5). The scientific publications of species, biodiversity, and ecosystem conditions gained we review were selected based on the specific subjects from studies conducted since the 10-year synthesis of mon- listed above, as pertinent to science findings on other itoring and research results (Haynes et al. 2006). We review species and biodiversity of late-successional and old-growth agency programs on other species and biodiversity of older forest ecosystems in the area of the NWFP in the Pacific forests of the Pacific Northwest, including implementation Northwest, United States. We include selected references of the NWFP Survey and Manage standards and guide- on studies outside the NWFP and Pacific Northwest and lines, the Interagency Special Status and Sensitive Species references dating prior to the previous NWFP science Program (ISSSSP), and other biodiversity consortia. We synthesis, when such studies are nonetheless pertinent to then review new findings on selected individual species understanding biological and ecological topics within the and groups of species including fungi, lichens, bryophytes, NWFP and Pacific Northwest. We also address selected and plants, as well as invertebrates. We also summarize topics such as early-successional forest ecosystems and effects of wildfire, fire suppression, and climate change, as guided by the availability of recent literature on NWFP 1 Bruce G. Marcot is a research wildlife biologist, U.S. Depart- species and biodiversity; these topics, raised by managers, ment of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 620 SW Main St., Suite 400, Portland, OR 97205; Karen are also covered more fully in other chapters of this science L. Pope is a research wildlife biologist, Keith Slauson is a synthesis. The final chapter of this synthesis discusses research fellow, Hartwell H. Welsh is a research wildlife biologist emeritus, Clara A. Wheeler is an ecologist, and William J. the conceptual and practical implications of new science Zielinski is a research ecologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview findings, remaining scientific uncertainties and research Drive, Arcata, CA 95521; Matthew J. Reilly is a postdoctoral needs, and overall conclusions. researcher, Humboldt State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521. 371 GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-966 Setting and Background fine-filter (species-specific) planning direction (Hayward et 2 Originally, the NWFP was developed as an ecosystem al. 2016, Schultz et al. 2013). management plan to provide for the full suite of biodiver- Also, although not part of the NWFP per se, some sity at all taxonomic and functional levels, particularly previous elements of the U.S. Forest Service’ Forest Inven- 3 in late-successional and old-growth environments, under tory and Analysis (FIA) program —which have since been an adaptive learning and management approach. The drastically reduced or are no longer being carried out—pro- first decade of the NWFP, however, focused on the status vided much-needed information for monitoring biodiversity 4 of species; no biodiversity monitoring program per se of trees, vegetation, and lichens. The FIA program has was instituted under the NWFP (Marcot and Molina become a de facto biodiversity monitoring program, at least 2006). Since then, a broad assumption has been made for selected vegetation and floral elements. that older-forest biodiversity in its full capacity would be In the previous science synthesis, Marcot and Molina provided by two complementary approaches of managing (2006) concluded that NWFP directions for establishing for “coarse filter” elements such as the dispersion and effectiveness monitoring of forest biodiversity elements distribution of late-successional forest reserves and for other than selected species remained mostly unmet aquatic and riparian corridors, along with managing for (beyond the FIA-identified biodiversity indicators). “fine filter” elements of habitat needs of selected, individ- This remains true today, but much information has ual late-successional and old-growth-associated species. been provided by research studies and gathered by The combined coarse- and fine-filter approach is intended agency programs on basic occurrence, distribution, and to provide the same level of protection as would man- ecology of rare and poorly known late-successional and agement and monitoring directed at specific biodiversity old-growth-associated species. The 2006 synthesis also elements such as ecosystem processes of nutrient cycling, provided the following suggestions: species’ ecological functions, and population genetics and • Engage research partnerships to fill key information viability (e.g., Noss 1990). A current challenge is to test gaps on rare and little-known late-successional and this assumption within the changing tapestry of ecolog- old-growth species. ical processes and disturbance-influenced ecosystems of • Clarify objectives and expectations of implementing a the Northwest. coarse- and fine-filter conservation approach to man- The 2012 planning rule for guiding land and resource aging for viable and persistent species populations. management plans on national forests differs from the 1982 • Validate the use of surrogates (e.g., indicator and rule that was in place when the NWFP was first instituted focal species) for species and conservation objec- and that guided the NWFP. The 2012 planning rule puts tives. more weight on coarse-filter approaches and on ecological • Develop and maintain databases from ongoing integrity (based in part on natural range of variation) but inventory, survey, and any monitoring programs. still calls for both coarse- and fine-filter approaches. In the Forest Service’s evaluations of the alternatives to the planning rule (USDA FS 2012), the terms coarse filter and 2 Hayward, G.D.; Flather, C.H.; Rowland, M.M.; Terney, R.; Mellen-Mclean, K.; Malcolm, K.D.; McCarthy, C.; Boyce, D.A. fine filter are referred to extensively as “well-developed 2016. Applying the 2012 planning rule to conserve species: a concept[s] in the scientific literature [with] broad support practitioner’s reference. Unpublished paper. On file with: Bruce Marcot, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 620 SW Main, Portland, from the scientific community and many stakeholders.” OR 97205. 78 p. 3 However, the debate continues on an appropriate balance http://www.fia.fs.fed.us/. 4 McCune, B. Personal communication. Professor, Department of between coarse-filter (ecosystem and biodiversity) and Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, 2082 Cord- ley Hall Corvallis, OR 97331-2902. http://bmccune.weebly.com/. 372 Synthesis of Science to Inform Land Management Within the Northwest Forest Plan Area • Develop, test, and implement species survey designs. Guiding Questions • Explore habitat modeling and decision-support tools This chapter reviews the scientific understanding of the to meet some conservation objectives. ecology and conservation of species associated with • Develop and implement an effectiveness monitoring late-successional and old-growth forests. We summarize framework. science findings on the conservation strategy of the NWFP The current synthesis determines the degree to which and its provision for these species; scientific progress these suggestions have been met. since the previous NWFP evaluations (Diaz and Haynes 2002, Haynes and Perez 2001, Haynes et al. 2006); and the New Learning and Recent Issues outcome of the NWFP Survey and Manage program. Much