Wildlife In Old Growth Forests • Review of wildlife (terrestrial vertebrates) found in old growth forests – diversity is not higher in old growth – some species are most common in old growth

• Canopy Complexity • Is All Old Growth Equally Important for Wildlife? – Marbled Murrelet

In General, We Know: • Tropical canopies are diverse – Erwin’s 60,000 arthropod species/ha in Yasuni National Park – Schowalter’s (1989) greater diversity and lower biomass of arthropods in old growth relative to young Oregon forests

• Vertebrates are rare – 80 yrs) – simple • single layer, even-aged stands

– complex • single layer from ‘20s with residuals

– very complex • old growth

• Corvid abundance, demography, and role as nest predators

Corvids of the Peninsula

American Crow

Corvids of the Peninsula

American Crow

Gray Jay

Corvids of the Peninsula

American Crow

Steller’s Jay

Gray Jay

Corvids of the Peninsula

American Crow

Gray Jay

Common Raven Steller’s Jay

Canopy Complexity and Corvid Abundance • Diversity and abundance increase with canopy complexity – Due to strong association of Gray Jays with old, very complex forests • F(2,44) = 12.8, P < 0.001

Linking Canopy Complexity to Landscape Attributes

-Human Influence

R. and L. Kirk

-Forest Structure

R. and L. Kirk

-Fragmentation

Gray Jays Were Most Common in Contiguous Mature Forest (Very Complex Canopies) Away From Human Activity

=

• Gray Jays = -0.49 + 0.008 (Late Seral Patch Density; 5 Km) + 0.12 (Human Activity) + 0.096 (Canopy Complexity) • R2adj = 47.0%; F 3,44 = 14.1; P < 0.001

Crows Were Most Common in Fragmented, Young Habitats Near Human Activity

=

+

• Crows = 1.36 - 0.32 (Distance to Human Activity) 0.24 (Density of Early Seral Patches; 5 Km) • R2adj = 29.1%; F 2,44 = 10.0; P < 0.001

Steller’s Jays Were Most Common in Young, Fragmented Habitats

= • Jays = 3.6 - 0.031 (% Mid- and Late-seral Forest; 5Km) - 0.033 (Contrast-weighted Edge Density; 5Km) - 0.028 (Early Seral Core Forest; 5 Km) • R2adj = 43.0%; F 3,44 = 12.0; P < 0.001

Ravens Were Most Common in Fragmented Mature Forests Near Human Activity

=

+

• Ravens = 0.35 - 0.43(Landscape Evenness; 5Km) + 0.28(Late Seral Patch Density) - 0.13 (Human Activity) • R2adj = 20.1%; F 3,74 = 7.5; P < 0.001

Conserving Biodiversity • How do the corvid predators and other small mammal predators affect the ability of Marbled Murrelets to nest successfully in very complex canopies?

Potential Predators at Artificial Nests? • Video and still cameras (camera nests not used in analysis) • Calibrate photos with marks on wax coated eggs and chick transmitters

Cameras Confirm Diversity of Avian and Mammalian Predators in Canopy

Research with Arboreal Rodents • Field Trials •Live Pigeon Nestlings •Night Trials •Realistic

• Captive Trials •Food Type •Food Size •Effect of Hunger

R.A. Wood

Field Trial Results • 7 Predation Events – 3 Deer mice – 3 Owls (1 Barred owl) – 1 Raven

• 6 Non-fatal Attacks – 6 Deer mice

• 27 Neutral Events – 9 Flying squirrels – 13 Deer mice – 1 Douglas’ squirrel – 1 Townsend’s chipmunk – 3 Steller’s jays

597 Trials 1997 & 1998

How is Nest Predation Influenced by . . .

-Human Influence

R. and L. Kirk

-Forest Structure

R. and L. Kirk

-Fragmentation

-Distance from Edge

Canopy Complexity, Corvid Abundance and Predation

Rate of Predation Was Lowest in Landscapes with Old Forest Fragments in Sea of Younger Forest

≠ • % Predation = 160.13-1.75(Core Young Forest within 5km) - 0.88(Old Forest within 5km) • R2adj = 33.5%; F 2,42 = 12.1; P 200m

Eggs Chicks

• Edge Effects are affected by landscape – Predation is slightly slower and independent of distance from the forested stand’s edge (P = 0.62) when the surrounding matrix is young forest – Predation is rapid and dependent on distance from the forest edge (P = 0.05) when the forest abuts a human use area (campground, small town, etc.)

Conclusions • Old Growth has a unique mix of species, but not unusual diversity • Quality of remaining old growth likely varies as a function of surrounding landscape – proximity to humans and fragmentation of landscape may make some patches of old growth function as ecological sinks or traps