FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
FOREST BIOME - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
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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.