Arrays of pitfalls and drift fences were deployed in five deciduous forest habitats in southcentral Pennsylvania to assess the characteristics, and temporal and spatial dynamics of forest small-mammal communities, and to determine the impact of precipitation, sampling method, and length of sampling period on perceived small-mammal abundance and community structure. Results revealed that soricid assemblages were more diverse and generally more abundant than rodent assemblages, which were dominated by the white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus. Precipitation dramatically increased the capture rates of shrews; the response was less pronounced in rodents. Individual species responded independently to precipitation. The response was more pronounced in three species of arvicoline rodents (Clethrionomys gapperi, Microtus pinetorum, and M. pennsylvanicus) than in P. leucopus, a sigmodontine. Comparisons of sampling with pitfalls and Museum Special snap-traps, with and without drift fencing, revealed that arrays of pitfalls with drift fences produced significantly higher capture rates for all small mammals, shrews, rodents, and P. leucopus, greater numbers of species, and higher Shannon indices than other sampling methods, Comparison of the results of sampling for 3, 5, 7, and 10 days revealed that extending sampling to 7 or more days yielded significantly more species, higher Shannon indices, and greater numbers of individuals than sampling for less than 7 days.
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.