Interim report II: Baseline states of small mammal populations in the AOSERP study area

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Green, J. E.

• Changes in the demography and habitat use of three small rodent species (Clethrionomys gapperi, Microtus pennsylvanicus and Peromyscus maniculatus) and snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) were monitored from July to November 1978. Bi-weekly live-trapping programs in six natural habitat types and in two naturally revegetating areas provided detailed demographic information on small rodent populations. A similar bi-weekly live trapping program in four natural habitat types provided detailed demographic information on snowshoe hares. A snap-trap census program provided information on habitat use and reproduction of small rodents in a wider geographic range of habitats than that sampled by the live-trapping areas. Preliminary analyses presented in this interim report suggest that: 1. C. gapperi is most common in mature forested areas (specifically areas with white spruce, balsam fir, birch, balsam poplar or aspen tree cover). 2. M. pennsylvanicus most commonly inhabits area with little or no tree cover – both live-trapping and snap-trapping indices indicated that M. pennsylvanicus preferred successional areas or grass dominated areas (e.g., willow scrub, grass meadows, marshes, edges of waterbodies). Tamarack-black spruce bog was also heavily used. 3. P. maniculatus was most abundant in balsam poplar, aspen and succession areas but generally showed few preferences for any particular habitat (areas dominated by birches were more heavily used than expected). 4. L. americanus was most numerous in black spruce forest in the summer and fall followed by balsam poplar, aspen and jack pine forests. In the early spring, however, balsam poplar habitat was most utilized. 5. Data on other species of small mammals (red squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, various species of small rodents and shrews) were insufficient for determination of habitat preferences or an analysis of population changes. Continued research in each study area, particularly in the early spring period, is required.

• Date created

  1979

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Oil Sands
  • AOSERP
  • Small Mammals
  • Oil sands
  • Tar Sands
  • Wildlife
  • Tar sands
  • Baseline
  • AOSERP LS 7.1.2
  • Alberta
  • Canada, Alberta, Fort McMurray

• Type of Item

  Report

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R30X9K

• License

  This material is provided under educational reproduction permissions included in Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development's Copyright and Disclosure Statement, see terms at http://www.environment.alberta.ca/copyright.html. This Statement requires the following identification: \"The source of the materials is Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development http://www.environment.gov.ab.ca/. The use of these materials by the end user is done without any affiliation with or endorsement by the Government of Alberta. Reliance upon the end user's use of these materials is at the risk of the end user.