Small mammal distributions relative to corridor edges within intensively managed southern pine plantations

We characterized small mammal communities in three loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina during June 1998-Aug. 2000 to investigate influence of corridor edges on small mammal distribution. We live-trapped small mammals in three regenerating stands following clearcutting. Harvested stands were bisected by 100-m-wide, 20-23-year-old pine corridors. During 47,040 trap nights, we recorded 907 captures of 661 individual small mammals. Species captured included southern short-tailed shrews (Blarina carolinensis), cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus), cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), eastern harvest mice (Reithrodontomys humulis), marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris), and golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli). We did not observe an edge effect (i.e., preference or avoidance) in small mammal captures at the corridor edge. Rodent captures were greatest in harvested stands, declined near the edge of mature pine corridors, and were lowest within corridors. Shrew captures were generally greatest in mature pine corridors and least in the interior of harvested stands. Retention of mature pine corridors of only 100 m may maintain some small mammals (i.e., shrews) that would not occur if stands were completely harvested.