THE EFFECTS OF FIRE AND OTHER DISTURBANCES ON SMALL MAMMALS AND THEIR PREDATORS: AN ANNOTATED .BIBLIOGRAPHY USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT -106 Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Sj) [ ~ .f\4S3 USDA Forest Service f\,0·/0l General Technical Report INT-106 March 1981 THE EFFECTS OF FIRE AND OTHER DISTURBANCES ON SMALL MAMMALS AND THEIR PREDATORS: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Compiler Catherine H. Ream 0') (") C'\1 LO "' "'0 0 0 LO LO (")"' (") INTERMOUNTAIN FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION U.S. Department.of Agriculture Forest Service Ogden, Utah 84401 ARLIS Alaska Resources 1 Library & Jnf~ft'3don Service~ , And~c-'.i .'g-~·. ~·Jaska 1__~~---------------------------------- THE COMPILER RESEARCH SUMMARY DR. CATHERINE H. REAM has her B.S., M.S. and This report contains an annotated bibliography of the Ph.D. degrees in zoology with a plant ecology minor effects of fire, logging, grazing, and spraying on small from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She mammals and their predators. Each citation lists key­ has done research and published on turtles, lizards, words. A brief summary of the general effects of fire on loons, small mammals, and the effects of recreation­ some of the more common small mammals in western ists on wildlife in backcountry areas, and has worked coniferous forests is included. on the vegetation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the effects of fire and logging on elk and other wildlife. The present bibliography was ac­ complished through an Interpersonal Loan Agree­ ment from the Forestry School of the University of. Montana to the Fire Effects-and. Use Research and Development Program at the Northern Forest Fire Laboratory in Missoula. CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION., ........... : .......................................................................... OVERVIEW OF FIRE EFFECTS ......................................................................... Shrews ................... ,............................................................................ 1 Rabbits and Snowshoe Hare........................................................................ 1 Beaver.............................................................................................. 2 Chipmunks.......................................................................................... 2 Ground Squirrels.................................................................................... 2 Red and Flying Squirrels............................................................................ 2 Pocket Gophers. 2 Deer Mice........................................................................................... 2 Voles ....................................................... :........................................ 2 Predators. 2 ORGANIZATION OF BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................... 3 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............... :......................................................................... 4 AUTHOR INDEX ......................................................................................... 50 KEYWORD INDEX ....................................................................................... 52 Geographical Area . 52 Treatments. 52 Effects of Treatments . 52 Fire Effects on Soil and Moisture . 52 Population Characteristics . 53 Plant Associations. 53 Plant Species . 53 Animal Species...................................................................................... 53 Mammals ............................................................................................ 54 General Reference Information ..................................................................... 55 i. INTRODUCTION numbers, largely due to the surge in growth of her­ baceous and seed-producing plants. Recently, there has been increased interest in the Much of the research on the effects of fire on small effects of disturbances on nongame species of wildlife mammals was initiated because of the high small mam­ such as small mammals and their predators. Because mal populations following timber harvests and the re­ time and good library facilities are required to find these sulting impacts on regeneration. Publications dealing references, an annotated bibliography has been com­ with the effects on small mammals, of wildfire, or pre~ piled to facilitate access to this information for land scribed fire for big game habitat, are relatively scarce. managers. In addition, a brief summary of the infor­ Although contradictions exist, general responses to mation on the habitat requirements and the effecJs of the effects of fire can be predicted for most species. fire and other disturbances on ·some of the· more­ The following summaries are a synopsis of information· studied small mammals has been included. from publications representing substantial research on The major effect of disturbances such as fire, logging, the common species of the Rocky Mountain area for grazing, and herbicides on small mammals is the modi­ which information is available. fication of vegetation. For this reason, references de­ scribing specific habitat requirements of the common small mammal species are included. Predators tend to be more closely tied to their food source than to other Shrews aspects of their habitat (such as vegetation type), so the (Sorex spp.) main effects of disturbance may be through the effects Shrews generally require a mat of ground vegetation on prey species. Therefore, publications dealing with for cover. Shrews are insectivores, so they depend predator-prey relationships, where small mammals are less on vegetation for food than do herbivorous species the prey species, have been included. (Rickard 1960). Shrews are temporarily eliminated from There are several small mammals, such as pikas and areas where fire has removed the duff and ground marmot, for which I found no references related to fire, probably because these animals are associated with vegetation, and will not return until a ground cover fire-resistant, rocky habitats. develops (Black and Hooven 1974). They are often Batsarecommonsmall mammalsforwhich I found no associated with downed logs (Dimock 197 4). , references on the effects of fire or other disturbances. ~ Certainly, foliage-roosting species are influenced by fire Rabbits and Snowshoe Hare or logging, but this, apparently, has not been re­ (Sylvilagus spp. and Lepus americanus) searched. Emphasis is on western coniferous forests, but pub­ Population highs of rabbits and showshoe hare are lications specifically concerned with the effects of fire associated with shrubs and small, pole-sized confiers on small mammals have been included, regardless of (Grange 1965). Hot fires that remove all cover make geographical area. This biblio"graphy should be useful areas unsuitable as habitat until these successional for references published through 1979. Additional stages are reached (Keith and Surrendi 1971). Slash references will be graciously received. piles can provide escape cover and improve the habitat This bibliography is the result of a literature search of logged areas for cottontails (Costa and others 1976). and the formation of a FAMULUS data file for the Fire Effects R&D Program, Northern Forest Fire Laboratory. Beaver The data file will be utilized in preparation of guidelines and state-of-the-art publications dealing with the ef­ (Castor canadensis) fects of fire on resource production. High beaver populations have historically followed disturbances such as fire (Rowe and Scotter 1973) or OVERVIEW OF FIRE EFFECTS logging (Patrick and Webb 1953) that initiate a succes­ sional sequence in which aspen is an intermediate The responses of small mammal populations to fire stage. Beaver population peaks are often correlated and other disturbances are directly related to the modi­ with the establishment of aspen (Lawrence 1954; fication of vegetation and food sources. Disturbance Patrick and Webb 1953). After a single generation, that removes dominant vegetation results in increased aspen is usually replaced by more tolerant climax temperature ranges and air movements at the ground species, and beaver populations decline (Lawrence surface. Moisture regimes are altered by changes in the 1954). amount of precipitation reaching the ground. Dew, evaporation, and transpiration rates are also altered. A few months after disturbance, there is a surge in the Chipmunks growth of herbaceous plants in response to these (Eutamias spp.) environmental changes. Short-term impacts of fire and other disturbance on Chipmunks prefer partially open areas, but need the animals include injury or death, loss of food and cover, shelter provided by fallen trees, limbs, or shrubs. Fire and increased exposure to predation. The long-term and other disturbances may improve chipmunk habitat response of many small mammal species is increased by creating openings, especially if these openings contain logging slash or rock outcrop cover (Davis dispersed conifer seeds, and seeds that remain in the 1976; Tevis 1956c). Chipmunks increase with the soil after burning), their nocturnal habits, erratic establishment of seed- and fruit-producing plants movements (that provide protection from predators), (Gashwiler 1970). and lack of competition from other species. Ground Squirrels Voles (Spermophilus spp.) (Ciethrionomys spp. and Microtus spp.) Ground squirrels prefer open areas. They feed on Red-backed voles, Clethrionomys spp., and voles of plant species that grow in open