The effect of dead wood and understory coverage on small rodent abundance in Korean forest

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the population characteristics of small rodents in different habitats with the artificial presence and absence of dead wood, and understory vegetation after forest cutting at natural deciduous forest in north-eastern South Korea from April to December in 1997 and 1998. Two forests, one hectare each (100×100 m), were selected and designated as the control and the treatment area. Forest structure of mid and high canopy layers in both study areas was similar. But number and volume of fallen trees, and coverage of understory vegetation were higher in the control area than in the treatment area. Total captures of small rodents in two areas combined comprisedEothenomys regulus (55.5%, n-211) andApodemus peninsulae (44.5%, n=169). Total abundance ofE. regulus andA. peninsulae, and population stability were significantly greater in the control area than in the treatment area. The difference in the captured number of two small rodents between the two sites was caused by the difference in reproduction and residency. The structure of forest floor appears to be important to small rodents. The presence of dead wood and understory vegetation after the forest cutting would be necessary for the maintenance of small rodent population in the forest cutting areas.

Keywords

Apodemus peninsulae / Eothenomys regulus / Understory vegetation / Dead wood / S718.65 / A

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