(02) Comparison of small mammal populations on the Domain of the University of the South, Franklin and Marion Counties, TN

Small mammals serve an important role in forest ecology and rely on the forest composition to maintain viable populations. Additionally, in their role as a primary consumer, they serve as a source of nourishment for birds of... [ view full abstract ]

Small mammals serve an important role in forest ecology and rely on the forest composition to maintain viable populations. Additionally, in their role as a primary consumer, they serve as a source of nourishment for birds of prey, snakes, and mammals, and they also play a key role in seed dispersal and soil dynamics.  Rodents can also serve as bioindicators and these populations help us understand the condition of natural systems following forest management practices, wildfires, and changes in climate. Over the summer of 2017, we established a survey of small mammal populations in different habitat types on the Domain to evaluate the effects of varying types of forest management on these populations. As management is continued to be implemented across the Domain, this baseline data will help allow for adaptation and improve management practices in future years. We conducted our study in three managed and unmanaged upland sites and three in recently unmanaged cove sites. Our total trap effort included 2,736 trap nights. Across all sites, we detected six species of rodents [Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed deermouse); P. maniculatus bairdii (deermouse);  P. gossypinus (cotton deermouse); Ochrotomys nuttali (golden mouse); Tamias striatus (eastern chipmunk); Neotoma floridana (eastern woodrat); and Sigmodon hispidus (Hispid cotton rat)].  In total we captured 335 individuals, (220 male, 72 female),with 49 escapes. The P. leucopus mouse most abundant (n= 238; 163 males and 53 females), followed by P. gossypinus. We recorded the most captures in the cove habitat. There were no significant differences among the sites for total captures (p = 0.52). Untreated closed canopy forest with lower sunlight intrusion and low herbaceous understory cover had the lowest number of trapped individuals.  This suggests that small mammals are more positively associated with openings or thinned areas that provide nesting shelter and refugia from predators, as compared to closed forest canopy that has less woody debris. Cove sites yielded the highest species richness and abundance which could be attributed to the productive nature and varied habitat of coves.