28.11.2012 Views

FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

TITLE: Survey of Vertebr<strong>at</strong>e Popul<strong>at</strong>ions Occurring in the H. J. Andrews<br />

Experimental Forest<br />

OBJECTIVES:<br />

8.48<br />

1. To estim<strong>at</strong>e the rel<strong>at</strong>ive species composition, abundance, and seasonal and<br />

yearly vari<strong>at</strong>ions in presence and abundance of mammals, birds, amphibians,<br />

and reptiles on a represent<strong>at</strong>ive sample of the habit<strong>at</strong> types and successional<br />

stages found in the area. (Studies will concentr<strong>at</strong>e on the unit<br />

w<strong>at</strong>ersheds and reference stands.)<br />

2. To assess the influence of each of these groups of vertebr<strong>at</strong>es on the<br />

productivity of Douglas-fir and other conifers on the area.<br />

3. To estim<strong>at</strong>e productivity of vertebr<strong>at</strong>es in terms of IBP-specified units<br />

(Petrusewicz and Macfayden, 1070).<br />

APPROACH:<br />

Part 1. Mammals. Small mammals will be censused following North American<br />

Census of Small ilammals sampling procedures (Calhoun, 1159). Long-term,<br />

continuous-removal trapping will be conducted in the spring simultaneously<br />

<strong>at</strong> study areas within each forest type, but sampling in the high-elev<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />

mixed conifer stands will follow censusing in the low-elev<strong>at</strong>ion forest type.<br />

The linear regression method of Hayne (1949) will be used to estim<strong>at</strong>e rodent<br />

numbers.<br />

Reconnaissance surveys of the area will be made to estim<strong>at</strong>e the distribution<br />

and abundance of other species of mammals. Inform<strong>at</strong>ion from the liter<strong>at</strong>ure<br />

survey (IBP, Black) will be combined with field d<strong>at</strong>a to provide estim<strong>at</strong>es of<br />

species present, distribution, rel<strong>at</strong>ive popul<strong>at</strong>ion densities, and impact on<br />

productivity.<br />

Estim<strong>at</strong>es of deer numbers and deer use of habit<strong>at</strong>s will be based on direct<br />

observ<strong>at</strong>ions and counts of deer-pellet groups. Pellet groups will be counted<br />

and removed periodically on permanent sampling plots randomly loc<strong>at</strong>ed on each<br />

area sampled. An estim<strong>at</strong>e of deer browsing on Douglas-fir and other conifers<br />

will be based on periodic examin<strong>at</strong>ions of established and planted seedlings.<br />

Survey procedures will be adapted from methods followed by Crouch (1970) and<br />

Swanson (1970).<br />

Part 2. Birds. Avian popul<strong>at</strong>ions will be censused in three stand types,<br />

employing vari<strong>at</strong>ions of either the sample-count method (Bond, 1957) or a<br />

variable strip census developed by Emlen (in press). As the research program<br />

develops, other census methods may be applied to specific groups of interest,<br />

e.g., woodpeckers (Baldwin and Amman, 1160).<br />

Inventories will concentr<strong>at</strong>e on obtaining a quantit<strong>at</strong>ive estim<strong>at</strong>e of species<br />

presence and abundance in each of the six seasonal phases (Anderson, 1970),<br />

in each of three stand types. A minimum of three sequentially replic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />

samplings will be required to obtain some measure of variance for the popul<strong>at</strong>ion<br />

estim<strong>at</strong>es. Thus, in all a minimum of 54 censuses during the year will<br />

be required.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!