Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/4407
Title: | Effects of landscape composition and configuration on northern flying squirrels in a forest mosaic | Contributor(s): | Ritchie, Louise E (author); Betts, Matthew G (author); Forbes, Graham (author); Vernes, Karl A (author) | Publication Date: | 2009 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.01.028 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/4407 | Abstract: | Habitat loss and sometimes habitat fragmentation per se affect species survival, reproduction, dispersal, abundance and distribution. However, understanding the independent effects of fragmentation (i.e., landscape configuration) has been limited because it is frequently confounded with landscape composition (i.e., habitat amount). We assess the independent effects of landscape composition and configuration on the occurrence of northern flying squirrels ('Glaucomys sabrinus') in New Brunswick, Canada after controlling for local site conditions. We measured landscape structure using an "organism-based" approach; landscape structure was characterized quantitatively using a spatially explicit local scale distribution model for northern flying squirrels. Flying squirrels occurred more frequently in old forest, at sites with mixed coniferous–deciduous microhabitat composition and greater amounts of habitat cover at the neighbourhood (within homerange) scale. Squirrels were less likely to occur at sites surrounded by greater proportions of non-habitat matrix (non-treed or early seral open areas). The occurrence of flying squirrels was not strongly correlated with patch size or edge contrast. We detected no interaction between the effects of patch size and habitat composition. Landscape composition was clearly a more important predictor of flying squirrel distribution than configuration. We conclude that management practices that maximize the amount of old forest cover,maintain diverse tree species composition and minimize the creation of open areas should enhance the conservation value of landscapes for northern flying squirrels. Manipulating landscape pattern though forest management likely has limited use in mitigating the negative influence of habitat loss on this species. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Forest Ecology and Management, 257(9), p. 1920-1929 | Publisher: | Elsevier BV | Place of Publication: | Netherlands | ISSN: | 1872-7042 0378-1127 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity 060208 Terrestrial Ecology |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 960504 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
---|---|
Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format |
---|
SCOPUSTM
Citations
44
checked on Aug 31, 2024
Page view(s)
1,282
checked on Sep 15, 2024
Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.