Small mammals of the Bitterroot National Forest: A literature review and annotated bibliography

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Small mammal literature from western Montana and the Northern Rocky Mountains was reviewed to assess the ecological role of small mammals on the Bitterroot National Forest of western Montana and in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The goal was to understand how small mammals relate to succession and how proposed ecosystem management goals would affect small mammals, the predators they support, and the roles they play in forest ecosystem functions. Small mammals fulfill numerous important roles in forest ecosystems by supporting a wide range of predators, dispersing seeds and mycorrhizal spores, altering the composition of vegetative communities through herbivory and seed predation, and preying on insects. Coarse woody debris (CWD) is among the most important habitat components for forest small mammals. Guidelines are suggested for managing CWD for small mammals with an emphasis on CWD recruitment.