Small mammal communities of streamside management zones in intensively managed pine forests of Arkansas

Abstract

Streamside management zones (SMZs), composed primarily of hardwoods in the southeastern United States, provide habitat diversity within intensively managed pine ( Pinus spp.) plantations. However, effects of SMZ width and adjacent plantation structure on riparian wildlife communities are poorly understood. Therefore, during 1990–1995, we examined small mammal communities within 5 SMZ width classes (1–20 to >100 m) embedded within three types of pine plantations (young, open canopy; closed canopy; and thinned) and three natural riparian stands in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, USA. We captured small mammals for 10 consecutive days each February using four to six traplines each consisting of nine trap stations with three snap traps at each station. We estimated relative abundance [catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)], species richness, species diversity, and species evenness for all captures and captures just along the stream course. Within the SMZ/plantation settings and three natural stands, we captured 1701 small mammals of 11 species in 114,285 trapnights. Golden mice ( Ochrotomys nuttalli), southern short-tailed shrews ( Blarina carolinensis), and Peromyscus spp. comprised 88% of all captures. Our study suggests that narrow (≤20 m wide) SMZs in managed pine forests tend to have higher small mammal abundance and species richness than wider SMZs. Additionally, species richness and CPUE was greater in SMZs within young, open canopy and thinned plantations versus closed canopy plantations. Plantation structure appears to influence small mammal community structure within SMZs more than SMZ width. Shortening the amount of time plantations spend in closed canopy conditions would likely improve habitat conditions for small mammals existing in SMZs within intensively managed pine landscapes. Streamside management zones in the South designed to meet voluntary water quality standards are likely sufficient for small mammal conservation.