PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 19: Biodiversity
Wednesday, August 10, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Habitat features and small mammals in agricultural landscapes of Prince Edward Island , Canada.
Silva, Marina*,1, Hartling, Leslie1, Opps, Sheldon1, 1 University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
ABSTRACT- We examined the influence of habitat characteristics on the species richness, species diversity, and abundance of small mammals inhabiting agricultural landscapes on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Twelve forest patches were sampled for small mammals to examine the influence of habitat characteristics at the microhabitat, macrohabitat, and landscape spatial scales on small mammals at both the community and the population levels. Microhabitat characteristics explained significant, but small amounts in the variation of species richness and abundance of small mammals. In this study, small mammals were primarily influenced by habitat characteristics at the landscape spatial scale. Species richness was most strongly influenced by patch area, but this relationship presented an asymptotic behaviour, suggesting that forest patches of roughly 8-10 ha maintain the richest small mammal communities in Prince Edward Island. The proportions of both forest and hedgerow covers within 400 m from the study site were also significant determinants of small mammals species diversity, possibly reflecting their ability to perceive suitable habitats, forage in areas outside the forest patches, and/or disperse in agricultural landscapes. At least one small mammal species (Napaeozapus insignis) benefitted from the presence of agricultural fields at distances up to 1000 m. Tamias striatus benefitted from the presence of hedgerow cover within 400 m from forest patches, possibly allowing them to move between forest patches. Clearly, the maintenance of forest patches of 8-10 ha and of forest cover within 400 m from them is fundamental for the conservation of small mammals inhabiting agricultural landscapes on the Island. Conservation strategies should also consider the establishment of more effective regulations to prevent and/or reduce hedgerow removal on Prince Edward Island.
Key words: Small mammals, Landscape effects, Habitat fragmentation, Agriculture