Small mammal populations in post-fire black spruce (Picea mariana) seral communities in the upper Kobuk River Valley
Swanson SA. 1996. Small mammal populations in post-fire black spruce (Picea mariana) seral communities in the upper Kobuk River Valley. NPS/AFARBR/NRTR-96/30. National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. Fairbanks, AK
(Adopted from author's abstract). Small mammal species distribution and abundance were examined through removal trapping in 4 post-fire seral stands of black spruce in the upper Kobuk River Valley, Brooks Range, Alaska, 1992-1994. Grids were positioned on burned and mature lichen woodland and burned and mature moss/shrub forest habitat pairs. Seven species of small mammals were captured including: red-backed voles, yellow-cheeked voles, masked shrews, pygmy shrews, dusky shrews, brown lemmings, and northern bog lemmings. Species diversity and abundance were highest in the burned moss/shrub forest habitat and lowest on unburned lichen woodland habitat. Both burned habitats had higher species diversity and abundance than their corresponding mature component. A marked decline in small mammal populations was observed in all 4 habitat types in 1994 and was accompanied by increased litter size in red-backed voles, decreased species diversity, and low marten harvest region-wide in the 1994-95 trapping season.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Swanson, Shelli
- Date of Issue
- 1996-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service, US Department of the Interior
- Units
- GAAR
- Keywords
- Abundance, Animal Studies, Black Spruce, Distribution, Gates Of The Arctic National Park And Preserve, habitate, Mammals, seral stands, Small Mammals, Vascular Plants