Focus Species Forestry - Maine Audubon

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Forest Threats and Species Selection The ideal suite of focus species is one that assures that no other species or ecosystem types compatible with managed forests are lost. Thus, threats to the forest were critical when the advisory committee selected focus species. The primary threats identified by the committee included: • Mature and late-successional forest fragmentation and loss, especially on large commercial timberlands; • Loss of very young forest, particularly in parts of southern Maine where the forest is maturing and light partial harvests are common 1 ; • Simplification of the forest, in particular the decline in standing dead and down trees where “clean” silviculture or short-rotation, even-aged management is practiced; and • Forest loss and fragmentation, especially due to sprawl and timberland liquidation in southern and central Maine. These threats correspond with the major categories of focus species included in this guide: mature-forest specialists, young-forest specialists, species dependent on dead and decaying trees, and species with large home ranges. Also included were species associated with special-value forest habitats, including forests adjacent to streams, lakes, forested wetlands, and vernal pools. Fortunately, forest landowners and managers can offset these threats and use appropriate management around special habitats, thereby helping to ensure that the habitat needs of focus species, and hence the majority of Maine’s forest wildlife, are met. A Suite of Focus Species: The Spruce-Fir Ecosystem as an Example Reason Selected as Focus Species Species Early successional species; critical Snowshoe hare food source for many predators Representative of early Magnolia warbler successional bird community Requires large blocks of relatively American marten mature and mature forest Dependent on extensive mature White-tailed deer softwoods for winter survival in northern Maine Requires dead trees for feeding and cavity nesting; cavities provide Black-backed woodpecker nest sites for many other secondary cavity users Requires well-developed layer of leaf and needle litter; important Redback salamander predator of invertebrates in the forest soil food web Primarily limited to latesuccessional spruce-fir Gray horsehair lichen forests 1 Some observers suggest the decline of clearcutting and the rise of partial cutting may also be leading to a loss of very young forest on the commercial timberlands of northern and eastern Maine. This could be a concern for lynx, which are found in large areas of dense, young softwoods with high snowshoe hare densities. Managers desiring to create hare-lynx habitat should be able to create similar habitat with shelterwood cutting and/or clearcutting if necessary. Scientists are in the process of developing management recommendations for lynx. 4 Focus Species Forestry
Focus Species and Human Values While biology helped the advisory committee define a long list of potential focus species, the values that humans place on forest wildlife helped shorten the list. Species important to humans include: • Flagship species: “popular” species that help promote public support for conservation efforts. Examples from Maine might include the American marten, a symbol of the northern forest, or brook trout, which symbolizes Maine’s cool, clear rivers and streams. • Economically important species: species that are important to the economy, such as fish and game or “watchable wildlife” such as moose. • Easy-to-identify species: species that are easily recognized by sight (including tracks) or sound with minimal training. An ideal suite of focus species will include several that are year-round residents. Protecting habitat for popular and economically important species such as the brook trout benefits local communities and the many species that live in or near forest streams. Selecting species that humans enjoy helps build support for focus species management. In addition, several relatively obscure species or species groups were selected to represent important habitats that are less well known. These include the redback salamander, an abundant but seldom seen inhabitant of the forest leaf litter, and lichens that are found in late-successional forests. Focus Species, Forest Ecosystems, and Natural Communities The Maine Natural Areas Program classifies forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other habitat types into a system of 98 natural communities that occur in 24 broader ecosystem types. There are about 24 natural communities associated with commercial timberlands. A natural community is an assemblage of interacting plants and animals and their common environment where the effects of human intervention are minimal (Gawler 2001). Natural communities are usually identified by their dominant vegetation, although in some forest ecosystem types, such as spruce-fir, geographic location, soils, and understory vegetation are also used. Focus Species Forestry 5
Page 1 and 2: Focus Species Forestry A Guide to I
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Page 5 and 6: Acknowledgements The Focus Species
Page 7 and 8: 1. Introduction It’s a crisp wint
Page 9: 2. Characteristics of Focus Species
Page 13 and 14: 3. Step by Step Guide to Focus Spec
Page 15 and 16: For riparian and wetland areas and
Page 17 and 18: Habitat Monitoring Habitat is the m
Page 19 and 20: Table 1. Forest Ecosystem Types and
Page 21 and 22: Table 2. Stand Development Stages S
Page 23 and 24: 5. Habitat Management Guides The fo
Page 25 and 26: Aspen-Birch _______________________
Page 27 and 28: Northern Hardwoods ________________
Page 29 and 30: Oak-Pine __________________________
Page 31 and 32: Eastern Hemlock ___________________
Page 33 and 34: Spruce-Fir ________________________
Page 35 and 36: Northern White Cedar ______________
Page 37 and 38: Riparian and Wetland Forest _______
Page 39 and 40: Vernal Pools ______________________
Page 41 and 42: 6. Focus Species Profiles and Manag
Page 43 and 44: Snowshoe Hare Distribution: Alaska
Page 45 and 46: American Marten Distribution: Alask
Page 47 and 48: White-tailed Deer Distribution: Sou
Page 49 and 50: Ruffed Grouse Distribution: Year-ro
Page 51 and 52: Black-backed Woodpecker Distributio
Page 53 and 54: Wood Thrush Distribution: Breeding-
Page 55 and 56: Magnolia Warbler Distribution: Brit
Page 57 and 58: Pine Warbler Distribution: Southern
Page 59 and 60: Eastern Towhee Distribution: Breedi
Page 61 and 62:
Northern Dusky Salamander Distribut
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Wood Turtle Distribution: Nova Scot
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Late-Successional Forest Species Co
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Table 3. Focus Species Summary Tabl
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Maine Forest Service Goals for Snag
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prefer areas of low habitat intersp
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Large Ownerships: On a typical town
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9. Literature Cited Allen, T.G., an
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Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP).
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Appendix 1. Recommended Resources .
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Appendix 2. List of Focus Species H
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older forest in islands and peninsu
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Appendix 5. Focus Species Data Form
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Focus Species Habitat Worksheet Pro
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Appendix 6. Example Stand Maps and
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Focus Species Habitat Worksheet Pro
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Appendix 7. Focus Species Associate
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Appendix 9. Primary Focus Species f
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Appendix 10. Examples of Stand Clas
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Focus Species Forestry - Maine Audubon

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