The effects of forest management upon

amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals

within MOFEP

Purpose

Evaluate the effects of even-aged, uneven-aged, and no-

harvest forest management strategies upon the species

composition and abundance of amphibians, reptiles, and small

mammals on MOFEP study sites.

This species is in a family of salamanders without lungs. It lives in the ground, under rocks , and in and under logs. There could be as many as 11,000 per acre in the forest.

What is it?

Southern Red-backed Salamander

Have we seen any changes in species composition?

No.

Spring AMMA Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

Spring EULU Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

Spring DIPU Occurrence, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Arr

ays

per S

ite

NH

UA

EA

This lizard species lives within 62 square yards, or about one-hundredth of an acre, on the forest floor.

What is it?

Little Brown Skink

Have we observed any changes in abundance?

Very few.

Total Spring Captures, All Objective 1 Arrays .

0

400

800

1200

1600

1992 1993 1994 1995 1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Year

Cap

ture

s Amphibians - ELT 17Amphibians - ELT 18Reptiles - ELT 17Reptiles - ELT 18

Harvested 1996

Spring Amphibian Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring Reptile Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-10

0

10

20

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring AMMA Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring BUAM Capture Rates, ELT 17Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-5.5

-4.5

-3.5

-2.5

-1.5

-0.5

0.5

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

Spring EUFA Capture Rates, ELT 18Solid symbols = mean; open symbols = range

-1.5

0

1.5

3

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008

Cha

nge

From

Pre

-Tre

atm

ent

Cap

ture

s/10

0TN

NH

UA

EA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No-HarvestEven-agedUneven-aged

Mea

n N

umbe

r of I

ndiv

idua

l Peromyscus

spp.

Mic

e

94/95 1998 1999 2000 2001

Conclusions thus far

With only the disturbance from the 1996 harvest, we have

not been able to detect a large-scale impact of forest

management upon most amphibians and reptiles on MOFEP

sites.

Climate appears to play a large role in observed trends in

abundance for most amphibians and some reptiles.

Small mammal abundance did seem to be impacted by

forest management because a natural decline observed on

no-harvest sites was not observed on even-aged management

sites.

Future Plans

Sample amphibian, reptile, and small mammal

communities in 2009 and 2010. Sample amphibian, reptile, and small mammal

communities in 2012-2014 following the 2011 harvest. Integrate results with other subproject results so

that a more encompassing picture is derived about

what happens with forest management.