R. A. Lautenschlager

Population dynamics of small mammals in relation to vegetation management in orchard agroecosystems: compensatory responses in abundance and biomass

Abstract This study was designed to test the hypothesis that habitat alteration with intensive herbicide (glyphosate) treatment would adversely affect the small mammal community in apple orchards. Multiple applications of herbicide were applied to the total orchard floor in two experimental orchards, and this same herbicide regime was applied in a 2-m-wide strip within tree rows only in a third orchard. Intensive sampling of montane vole ( Microtus montanus ), deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus ), and northwestern chipmunk ( Eutamias amoenus ) populations was conducted in replicate control and treatment blocks of apple orchards at Summerland, British Columbia, Canada from 1983 to 1986. Average abundance of voles declined by 53% to 73% on treatment compared to control blocks after the first herbicide application. Vole populations were consistently reduced in response to the herbicide treatment, with average abundance ranging from 2.8 to 28.0 times higher on control than treatment blocks. Voles declined to, or near, extirpation in all orchards during the winter of 1985–1986. Either deer mouse and northwestern chipmunk populations were significantly higher on treatment than control blocks or there was no difference in abundance after the start of the herbicide applications. The average abundance of deer mice ranged from 1.3 to 11.1 times higher, and that of chipmunks ranged from 1.8 to 13.3 times higher, on treatment than control blocks. The high numbers of deer mice and chipmunks on treatment blocks were composed mainly of resident animals. There were no significant differences in biomass of small mammals between control and treatment populations in summer and winter periods in two out of three orchards. There appears to be a ‘compensatory response’ in this small mammal community whereby deer mice and northwestern chipmunks have essentially ‘replaced’ the montane vole on treatment blocks in an orchard agroecosystem. The quality of the altered habitats seemed sufficiently high to support these populations at comparable or higher levels than on controls. The species diversity of plants and animals in orchard agroecosystems should be investigated to determine their role as part of a mosaic of natural and agrarian habitats.

Improving research into effects of forest herbicide use on biota in northern ecosystems

Abstract Studies of indirect effects of forest herbicide use on biota have improved dramatically during the last two decades, though further improvements are still needed. Based on our experience, we provide recommendations designed to ensure continued improvements to general field research, including forest herbicide-wildlife research. Specifically, we suggest that researchers should: 1) use a combination of public concerns and existing scientific information to focus research efforts (i.e., the appropriate foundation for this type of research is social and ecological); 2) predict and test social and ecological consequences of herbicide and alternative treatments on components of concern in forested landscapes, using scales (time and space) that are operationally, ecologically, and socially meaningful; 3) understand the ecology of biotic components of interest and their interaction with other components in shared ecosystems; 4) determine the appropriate integrative currency so that a synthesis of effects on ecosystem or economic parameters can be developed; 5) document treatment delivery and consequences for plants targeted for suppression and for improved growth; and 6) appreciate that herbicides could hold the key to a variety of wildlife management and vegetation (habitat) restoration efforts.

Silvicultural use of herbicide in Sub-Boreal spruce forest : Implications for small mammal population dynamics

Vegetation management in northern coniferous forest ecosystems may have implications for small mammal communities. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that herbicide-induced habitat alteration would reduce small mammal populations in early-successional stages of sub-boreal spruce forest. A secondary objective was to determine the long-term influence of herbicide treatment on reproduction, survival, and growth attributes of deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) populations. Small mammal populations were intensively sampled in 4 pairs of control and treatment sites dominated by early-successional vegetation (5-10 yr after clearcut harvesting) near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Sampling was conducted during 1987 (pretreatment year) 1988-89 (first and second posttreatment years), and in 1991-92 (fourth and fifth posttreatment years). Higher mean numbers of red-backed voles (P = 0.03) and shrews (Sorex spp.; P = 0.001) were present on control than treatment sites during 1988-92. Mean abundance of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus; P = 0.69) and deer mice (P = 0.20) were similar on control and treatment sites throughout the study. Short-tailed weasels (Mustela erminea) and long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) were commonly captured on both control and treatment sites. There were no consistent differences between control and treatment populations in body mass, total biomass, or proportion of adult male and female red-backed voles and deer mice in breeding condition. However, there was a higher mean number of successful pregnancies in control than treatment populations of red-backed voles (P = 0.02) but not deer mice (P = 0.18) during posttreatment years. Mean Jolly-Seber estimates of survival of red-hacked voles (P = 0.01) but not deer mice (P = 0.70) were higher in treatment than control populations. The magnitude of observed demographic effects from herbicide treatment were well within the mean values of natural fluctuations of these variables. Herbicide treatment of areas dominated by early-successional vegetation in northern coniferous forests should be staggered in time and space to allow recovery (2-3 yr) of vegetation and small mammal species sucl as red-backed voles and shrews.