Effects of Logging Intensity on Small Rodents in Deciduous Forests

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of logging intensity on small rodents in deciduous forests in Mt. Maehwasan, Hongcheon, Korea. All habitat variables of stand structure and downed trees except the volume of downed trees were significantly different among the control, thinned and clearcut stands. Researchers captured 197 Apodemus agrarius and 52 A. peninsulae during the study. Both the total number of captures and the total number of captured A. agrarius were higher in the clearcut stand. The higher abundance of A. agrarius in the clearcut stand was primarily due to the higher number of captured subadults. The population density of A. peninsulae did not differ among study stands while coverage of ground, volume of downed coarse woody debris and number of downed trees were dominant predictor variables for population density. Small mammals differed in sensitivity to habitat change caused by logging. Understanding the response of small rodents to forest logging is necessary to evaluate the long-term ecological effects of forest management.