Effects of clearcutting with corridor retention on abundance, richness, and diversity of small mammals in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina, USA

Abstract

We studied six pine plantations in coastal South Carolina to determine the influence of clearcutting with corridor retention on small mammal abundance, richness, and diversity. Small mammals were live-trapped in recently clearcut stands that retained pine corridors 100 m in width and in adjacent pine plantations, 20–23-years-old. We compared small mammal communities between harvested stands with corridors and non-harvested pine stands. We captured 1158 small mammals, representing 844 unique individuals and seven different species in 94,080 trap nights. Rodent abundance, richness, and diversity indices were greater in harvested stands with corridors than in non-harvested pine stands. The early successional habitat created by clearcutting was used by many small mammal species, including cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus) and marsh rice rats ( Oryzomys palustris). Species composition of small mammals within the corridor habitats was similar to that in the non-harvested pine stands. The inclusion of corridors in pine plantation management enhances habitat diversity and ecosystem maintenance and contributes to local diversity of the small mammal community.