Small mammal habitat associations at patch and landscape scales in Oregon

Abstract

To investigate multiscale habitat associations, we examined patterns of capture rates of small mammals in thirty 250-300 ha landscapes in the central Oregon Coast Range. We compared capture rates of 14 species within ≥7 patch types to expected capture rates based on sampling effort. We used landscape level capture rates to test for associations with percent area (composition) and 8 pattern indices at the landscape scale. Capture rates of 10 of 14 small mammal species were higher in conifer and/or mixed large sawtimber patch types. At the landscape scale, capture rates of 6 of 14 species of small mammals were positively associated with the area of patch types. The pattern of patches on the landscape may influence the distribution of 5 small mammal species in this region. We conclude that some small mammals may respond to landscape pattern and/or composition, while other small mammals may not respond to either landscape pattern or composition. Our results suggest that mature forest habitat, patch richness, pattern, and composition are key landscape features that should be considered in management plans, particularly when biodiversity of forest floor mammals is a management objective.