Small Mammals and Bats in Forests of the Pacific Northwest Most of the Lecture on Small Mammals & Bats is Courtesy of Professor Stephen West, School of Environmental & Forest Sciences, UW THREADS – LOOK AT THEM AS ULTIMATE INTERCONNECTORS to keep ecosystems resilient CASE STUDIES: Animal species dependent upon forests for some phase of their survival, not generalist species that can live anywhere, some are keystone species important in the recovery rate of forest landscapes impacted by disturbances, they are important interconnectors of structures/functions in forests TODAY: Mammals and bats – adapted to disturbances & different phases of forest growth, utilize the entire landscape and not just a few habitats, greatly impacted by land use, some are on endangered species lists, some are part of human mythological stories continuing case studies Coqui – highly adapted to disturbances, increase the resilience of tropical forests to disturbances, loved in Puerto Rico and hated in Hawaii [cultural reasons] Salmon – keystone species that is also a cultural symbol, fertilizes forests with ocean nutrients Mycorrhizas – allow forests to grow in nutrient poor and toxic environments, symbionts that nitrogen enrichment kills, humans eat their fruiting bodies (mushrooms) 2 Mammals in Washington Shrews, Predators Moles, & • Most species are small & Large Bats • Most are rodents, Mammals 30% shrews, moles, or bats 20% • The most familiar mammals (big and Rodents diurnal) are the most 50% uncommon Who are active at night and not daytime? 1 Mammals in Washington • 84 of 107 Do Not terrestrial Use species use Use Forest Forest forests Habitat Habitat • Details of natural 79% 21% history and geographic distribution vary widely Small Mammals & Forest Q: When species shift occurs Succession with small mammals?? [not talking about bats] A: 15 – 25 years or when tree canopies close cover Marsh and Trowbridge’s shrews Shrew-mole Vagrant shrew Coast mole Townsend’s mole Tree and flying squirrels Meadow voles Southern red-backed vole Jumping mice Keen’s mouse Deer mouse Gophers Ground squirrels Chipmunks Within a Forest Stand: Logs as Habitat for Small Mammals STRUCTURES IMPORTANT • Protection from physical environment • Protection from predators • Food sources – insects [like a kitchen in your house] • Lookout structures • Travel routes 2 Logs as Habitat for Small Mammals • Large logs provide more habitat and they last longer • We are still realizing benefits from stumps and logs from the original forest • We are not replacing these elements as we lose our old growth forests [small logs have been tied together to mimic old logs but not work as well] Only Bats & Forest Succession • Use early successional areas Roosting & water bodies for Foraging foraging • Roost in forests with suitable trees & snags • High quality habitat 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grass- Shrub- Pole- Young Mature Old is close to food, forb seedling sapling growth water, and roosts Successional Stages • Commuting a hassle for bats as well! HABITAT or LIVING QUARTERS: Bats, such as the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), sometimes roost beneath loose bark http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/images/ic/credit/640x395/b/br/brown_long-eared_bat/brown_long- eared_bat_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Brown_long- eared_bat&h=395&w=640&sz=44&tbnid=Y6VhPnuaIbpZuM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=146&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bbrown%2Blong- eared%2Bbat%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=picture+of+brown+long- 9 eared+bat&docid=f60vvXRuSvxvgM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gJaUT8PKNqmsjALM8Mwu&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAg&dur=1656 3 Bat Day Roosts: Large Living Trees • Exfoliating bark of old trees provides roosts unlike young conifers • Source for large snags • Roosts often are on southern exposures and on forest edges Silver-haired bat photo by J. Scott Altenbach “Some bats roost under slabs of bark Bats have few predators, and human activity causes them the most harm. Some “tree bats”, such as Keen’s Long-eared Myotis, are dependent on old growth forest for roosting.” http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MtmZOTq8oGw/UZq59NcjYnI/AAAAAAAAHyk/a9XLf6YFWlk/s1600/underbark.jpg http://pellawildlifecompany.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/silver-haired-bat-falls- creek-pest-control.jpg http://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/images/NewsRoom/Silver-haired%20bat.jpg Bat Day Roosts: Large Snags [dead trees] • Provide thermal choices for bats • Cavities provide space for maternity colonies 4 Bats need to drink water and there are more insects to eat around water bodies http://hoothollow.com/Images%20May%202009/Bat%20drinking%20Q%202757.jp; http://hoothollow.com/Image%20Super%20Folder/Images%20- %20Mammal%20Super%20Folder/Mammals%20-%20Bats%20Arizona/Bat%20drinking%20Q_2798.jpg g A little history of small mammals in the Pacific Northwest and why early European settlers thought forests were biological deserts in the western parts of Washington state 12% disturbed by humans http://www.lonewolfguides.com/rifle-elk-deer-combo/ TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST (Old growth Douglas-fir) 5 12% disturbed by humans TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS FOREST (Old growth Douglas-fir) Why were small mammals, e.g., rodents or rats, not thought to be “GOOD EATS” by most people of Western European ancestry? Plague of 1348-49 spread in London Bubonic plague victims of 14th century London, uncovered in the 1980s in an excavation at the Old Royal Mint. Photograph: Rex Features http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/17/black-death-rats-off-hook I am the small mammal that carried the fleas that carried the bacteria causing plague!! http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/plague.html 6 “Rattus Rattus, the Black Rat: Besides terrorizing many a rodent-phobe, rats have served as vehicles for various human diseases throughout history. Along with fleas, they have been responsible for numerous outbreaks of the bubonic plague” http://www.history.com/topics/black-death/photos RESULT OF the BLACK PLAGUE or DEATH Black Death is estimated to have killed 30–60% of Europe's total population It took 150 years for Start here Europe's population to recover http://www.ucalgary.ca/HIST/ tutor/imagemid/blackdeath.gif 'Ratatouille‘ – cook was a rat with a whisk and a dream http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ratatouille-gallery-1.99622?pmSlide=1.9977; http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/dining/13rata.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 7 Small Mammals and Bats – There is another side to their story as important animals who need forests as part of their life-cycle • Some characteristics of the fauna – Who are these guys? • A brief natural history of the Insectivores, Rodents, and Bats • Forest environments as habitat – Important habitat elements, their occurrence, and arrangement in space and time • Influences of forest management on communities of small mammals and bats They’re Everywhere… They use every stratum of the forest Species are: – in the ground – on the ground – in the shrubs – in the trees Creeping vole – In the air Golden-mantled ground squirrel • Forest layers are one key to their diversity Townsend’s Big-eared Townsend’s Bat mole hills Steve never talked about these guys: Almost Small… But Still Famous Ermine Mountain beaver Snowshoe hare 8 Mammals in Washington • Most species are small • Most are rodents, shrews, moles, or bats • The most familiar mammals (big and diurnal) are the most uncommon FIRST GROUP: The Shrew-moles They are Insectivores – What does it mean to be an insectivore?? • Shrews, the shrew- mole, and moles Masked shrew • 12 species – nine shrews and three Mole hills moles • Along with bats (flying shrews), the least known of our mammalian fauna Shrew-mole Shrew-mole • A prized oddity of the Pacific Northwest • Smallest mole in North Shrews, America Predators Moles, & • In form and behavior Bats & Large halfway between a Mammals 30% shrew and a mole 20% • Related species in Japan and China Rodents • Common in forests west 50% of the Cascade crest Eats earthworms, insects, snails and slugs 9 Range, Canada it is considered an endangered species Townsend’s mole • Both species larger than shrew- mole & fully subterranean • Feed exclusively on soil invertebrates [these are mostly insects] – not garden plants!! Feeding Habits The Townsend Mole feeds primarily on insect larvae and earthworms. Moles are also known to eat other pest's in the lawn that damage roots of plants. Steve said to give these guys a break since they don’t eat garden Townsend’s mole plants. They are good for us because they eat insects. http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moles.html Moles: MOLE FACTS: spend almost their entire lives underground . Come to the surface at have small weak eyes, small hips for night to search for food, turning around in tight places nesting material, and velvety fur that is reversible to make new territories backing up easy. Because secluded life underground and their strong, musky odor, moles are unpalatable to most mammalian predators; however, raccoons and coyotes do dig them out, presumably to eat them Townsend’s . Moles are also killed by mole hill domestic dogs and cats, but rarely eaten Moles are fast diggers - . Maximum life span tunnel at a rate of 15 ranges from four to six feet per hour. years. http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moles.html Mammals in Washington Shrews, Predators Moles, & • Most species are small & Large Bats • Most are rodents, Mammals 30% shrews, moles, or bats 20% • The most familiar mammals (big and Rodents diurnal) are the most 50% uncommon 10 SECOND GROUP: The Rodents according to Professor West • If God is inordinately fond of beetles, rodents must also be on the list… • More rodents worldwide than any other group • 50% of Washington’s terrestrial mammals are rodents (51 species) Columbian ground squirrel Squirrels: Chipmunks • Familiar to most people as they are BLEND IN WITH FOREST fairly large, diurnal – COLOR: active during the day Townsend’s chipmunk – west time, distinctively side forests marked • Three species in Washington forests • Feed on variety of BLEND IN WITH plant material, esp.