ThesisHypothesisThe Study SiteWhy small mammals?Why are small mammals important?Why in Michigan?In the context of habitat restorationResearch ObjectivesResearch Objectives, continuedMethodsHabitat Sampling (Methods)Data Analysis and EvaluationScheduleRelevance of ResultsBudgetFunding SourcesHappy trapping !!!ThesisThesisErin HarringtonErin HarringtonAdvisorsAdvisorsBobbi LowBobbi LowPhil MyersPhil MyersHypothesisHypothesisthe small mammal species composition in the small mammal species composition in different cover types of Seney National Wildlife different cover types of Seney National Wildlife Refuge can be predicted by specific habitat Refuge can be predicted by specific habitat characteristics, which I will determine in this characteristics, which I will determine in this studystudy I expect some of the variables most important to I expect some of the variables most important to small mammals are coarse woody debris, basal small mammals are coarse woody debris, basal area, and tree density area, and tree density my findings will allow refuge managers to my findings will allow refuge managers to identify ecosystem variables that influence the identify ecosystem variables that influence the composition of small mammal communitiescomposition of small mammal communitiesthe identification of these variables will allow the identification of these variables will allow more effective restoration activitiesmore effective restoration activitiesThe Study SiteThe Study SiteSeney National Wildlife Refuge, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1935established in 1935consists of 95,212 acres of a forest-wetland mosaicconsists of 95,212 acres of a forest-wetland mosaic25,150 acres of Seney Wilderness Area25,150 acres of Seney Wilderness AreaGreat Manistique SwampGreat Manistique Swampforested areas of spruce, pine, tamarack, fir, and forested areas of spruce, pine, tamarack, fir, and hardwoodshardwoodsRefuge’s objectives are Refuge’s objectives are to maintain biodiversityto maintain biodiversityto provide habitat for native wildlifeto provide habitat for native wildlifeWhy small mammals?Why small mammals?relatively easy to monitor relatively easy to monitor can be used to indicate diversity and health of an can be used to indicate diversity and health of an ecosystemecosystemis considerable work on habitat preferences of small is considerable work on habitat preferences of small mammals. mammals. many habitat characteristics have been correlated with many habitat characteristics have been correlated with small mammal species distributionssmall mammal species distributionsCoarse woody debris is an important habitat component for Coarse woody debris is an important habitat component for southeastern small mammalssoutheastern small mammalsMenzel (1999) found that deer mice (Menzel (1999) found that deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatusPeromyscus maniculatus) ) abundance was strongly positively correlated to coarse woody abundance was strongly positively correlated to coarse woody debris loadingsdebris loadingsSullivan (1999) compared the effects of clearcuts and clearcut-Sullivan (1999) compared the effects of clearcuts and clearcut-burns on small mammal populations in British Columbiaburns on small mammal populations in British ColumbiaWhy are small mammals Why are small mammals important?important?Seed dispersers, especially of mycorrhizal Seed dispersers, especially of mycorrhizal fungi which is essential for tree fungi which is essential for tree regenerationregenerationImportant source of food for large Important source of food for large predators (mammals and birds)predators (mammals and birds)Predators of insects Predators of insects Vectors for diseaseVectors for diseaseIndicator species of health of an Indicator species of health of an ecosystemecosystemWhy in Michigan?Why in Michigan?Michigan is a fascinating place to study Michigan is a fascinating place to study small mammal populations because many small mammal populations because many northern and southern populations overlapnorthern and southern populations overlapNorthern and Southern Flying SquirrelsNorthern and Southern Flying SquirrelsWhite-footed Mice and Woodland Deer MiceWhite-footed Mice and Woodland Deer MiceEastern Chipmunk and Least ChipmunkEastern Chipmunk and Least ChipmunkIn the context of habitat restorationIn the context of habitat restorationSeney is undergoing and planning for future Seney is undergoing and planning for future habitat restorationhabitat restorationimperative that restoration efforts are measured and imperative that restoration efforts are measured and evaluated before and after restoration occurs in order evaluated before and after restoration occurs in order to inform future management decisionsto inform future management decisionsPatten (1997) compared small mammal populations Patten (1997) compared small mammal populations in a restored desert scrub site and in undisturbed in a restored desert scrub site and in undisturbed sites. sites. Patten claimed that little research had been done on the use Patten claimed that little research had been done on the use of restored vegetation by wildlife of restored vegetation by wildlife restoration ecology is a growing field and many restoration ecology is a growing field and many studies examining small mammals and restoration studies examining small mammals and restoration have been conducted since 1997. have been conducted since 1997.Research ObjectivesResearch ObjectivesTo determine habitat use patterns of small To determine habitat use patterns of small mammals among different cover typesmammals among different cover typesTo determine small mammal species To determine small mammal species richness and relative abundance in study richness and relative abundance in study areasareasTo assess whether habitat structure is To assess whether habitat structure is related to small mammal species richness related to small mammal species richness and relative abundance using the fewest and relative abundance using the fewest habitat variableshabitat variablesResearch Objectives, continuedResearch Objectives, continuedTo contribute to a broader, long-term To contribute to a broader, long-term refuge study (a community assessment refuge study (a community assessment across refuge habitats)across refuge habitats)For
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