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The effects of forest management upon amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals within MOFEP. Purpose
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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
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
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.