Short-term use of different residual forest structures by three sciurid species in a clear-cut boreal landscape

Abstract

We compared the abundance of red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw), and eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus L.) in three types of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) residual forest 3 to 5 years after logging (upland strips, riparian strips, and forest blocks) in central Quebec, Canada. Controls consisted of mature forest undisturbed by forestry practices. Despite their sporadic occurrence, northern flying squirrels and eastern chipmunks were captured in the three residual forest types as well as in control sites. Red squirrels inhabited all types of residual forest and no differences in densities were found between residual forest treatments and controls. Juvenile recruitment, return rate (survival), and body mass were also similar for red squirrels in all treatments. However, midden abundance was higher in controls and blocks than in strips. In the short term, red squirrel populations maintain themselves in all types of residual black spruce forests after logging. The northern flying squirrel and the eastern chipmunk appear to tolerate the presence of logging disturbances and are present at low density in the different types of residual forests.