Precommercial forest thinning alters abundance but not survival of snowshoe hares

摘要: Anthropogenic landscape modification is a major threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Thus, land use practices that reconcile human needs with protection of species ecological processes are interest. Precommercial forest thinning (PCT) practice believed be less ecologically disruptive than other silvicultural approaches (e.g., clear-cutting). The impacts PCT on wildlife populations not well understood, however, the effects this individual animals have been rigorously examined. Accordingly, we investigated short-term population responses snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in western Oregon during 2001–2002. We live-trapped (n = 143) seasonally equipped them mortality-sensitive radio-collars 3 manipulated sites were precommercially thinned undisturbed controls. also quantified activity (movement rates) all collared using an automated data-logger. As result, able document hare abundance, survival, daily movement. Thinning significantly reduced abundance relative control sites, but had no effect mortality or activity. infer, therefore, portion dispersed adjacent habitat, where they survived as conspecifics both unavailable for subsequent capture. conclude affects density (i.e., at least first few years post-treatment) largely via altered behavior. if immediate minimized, stands should imbedded habitat matrix facilitates occupancy individuals dispersing from disturbed patches. © 2012 Wildlife Society.