(and what might we do about it?)

Stand-level Niches: Stand-level Niches: How Does Everybody How Does Everybody

Fit In?Fit In?

Gradient in Tree UseGradient in Tree Use

Ground volesShrewsMoles

Tree volesFlying squirrels

Other tree squirrels

MiceChipmunks

Thinning has a negative Thinning has a negative effecteffect

Bull et al. 2004Carey 2000, 2001Gomez et al. 2005Herbers and Klenner 2007Holloway and Malcolm 2006Manning et al. 2011Meyer et al. 2007Ransome et al. 2004Waters and Zabel 1995Waters et al. 2000Wilson 2010

Abundance Matters!Abundance Matters!

To Thin or Not to Thin? To Thin or Not to Thin?

Much of the landscape in a simplified Much of the landscape in a simplified conditioncondition

Some of these forests will be slow to Some of these forests will be slow to develop desired conditionsdevelop desired conditions

Need to restore frequent fire return Need to restore frequent fire return intervalsintervals

How best to move How best to move landscape landscape

trajectories trajectories toward more toward more

complex forests?complex forests?

Real Question:

Focus on accelerationof midstory

UnderplantingUnderplanting Understory Understory

ManagementManagement Regeneration Regeneration

ManagementManagement

Include young (<25yr) Include young (<25yr) standsstands

Achieve multiple Achieve multiple layers soonerlayers sooner

Flying squirrels may Flying squirrels may not yet use these not yet use these standsstands

High stem density for High stem density for horizontal occlusionhorizontal occlusion

Keep some high-density Keep some high-density forestforest

AdjacencyAdjacency

Protect existing high-quality habitat

New Prescriptions? Pattern mattersPattern matters Skips and small Skips and small

gapsgaps Maintain canopy Maintain canopy

connectivityconnectivity Protect nest Protect nest

substratessubstrates

What Next?What Next?

Expand flyingsquirrel model…

Better metrics for Better metrics for evaluating squirrel evaluating squirrel

habitat habitat

Woodrats?Woodrats?

Landscape and RegionalStrategy

ConclusionConclusion