Riparian buffers and forest thinning: Effects on headwater vertebrates 10years after thinning

摘要: We monitored instream vertebrate and stream-bank-dwelling amphibian counts during a stand-scale experiment of the effect riparian buffer width with upland forest thinning in western Oregon, USA using before/after/control methodology. analyzed animal along 45 streams at 8 study sites, distributed from foothills Mount Hood to Coos Bay, Oregon data collected pre-treatment first decade post-treatment. examined role four types stream buffers explaining variability post-treatment counts. built separate linear regression models for stream-bank animals, examining species species-assemblages specific interest. Stream-bank addressed all amphibians, subset terrestrial-breeding Plethodon dunni, Plethodonvehiculum, which were two most abundant species. Instream vertebrates, stream-breeding Dicamptodon tenebrosus, Rhyacotriton All bank considered treatment, survey area, width, count, number days as possible explanatory variables. also method: hand sampling or electrofishing. Along banks there was support negative narrowest all-species model assemblage model, an apparent P. dunni model. Nevertheless, retained one common throughout 10-years our monitoring. Instream, complex interactions among covariates precluded determination consistently positive effects on This is test reserve widths US federal Northwest Forest Plan, it encouraging that we documented no those headwater drainages. Narrower appeared pose risk animals. moderate regime treatments widths, occurrences through time. The joint buffers-with-thinning appear be relatively benign may reconciled by designed long-term habitat restoration benefits thinning-and-buffer prescriptions. Mixed might hedge uncertainties, balance socioeconomic ecological areas risks some