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Impact of Recreational Snow Compaction on Small Mammals in the Subnivean Space

Impact of Recreational Snow Compaction on Small Mammals in the Subnivean Space. Derek Sweeney EBIO 4120 Spring 2008. Mountain Research Station University of Colorado, Boulder. Questions:. Does recreational use of snow impact subnivean space characteristics?.

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Impact of Recreational Snow Compaction on Small Mammals in the Subnivean Space

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  1. Impact of Recreational Snow Compaction on Small Mammals in the Subnivean Space Derek Sweeney EBIO 4120 Spring 2008 Mountain Research Station University of Colorado, Boulder

  2. Questions: • Does recreational use of snow impact subnivean space characteristics? • If so, what changes occur and what are the factors that control those changes? • How do changes to the subnivean space impact • small mammals that utilize that space?

  3. Small mammals that utilize the subnivean space Deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus Home range: .02 - .3 hectares Montane vole Microtus montanus Home range: .1 hectares

  4. Small mammals that utilize the subnivean space S. red-backed vole Myodes gapperi Home range: .5 hectares .14 hectares in winter Masked shrew Sorus cinereus Home range: .5 - .6 hectares

  5. HOME RANGES • Most home range research for summer • Very little research on effect of snow cover • on home range and activity of small • mammals (Sanecki, et al., 2006) • Snowpack causes significant reduction in home • ranges (Sanecki, et al., 2006) • Snow limits access to food sources (Korslund, 2006) • Snow affects ability to forage enough food

  6. Predators that rely on subnivean animals Ermine Bobcat Coyote

  7. Subnivean Space in Continental Snowpack

  8. Small mammal use of subnivean space • Small mammals depend on the development of the • subnivean space between ground and snow to enable • access to resources necessary for survival • (Formozov 1946; Pruitt 1984; Halfpenny and Ozanne 1989) • Protection from predators • Insulation from low surface temperatures • Constant temperature maintenance (0o C) • Ease of travel in low density, unconsolidated snow

  9. Subnivean space due to depth hoar (average 16 cm)

  10. Evidence of small mammal tunneling in subnivean space

  11. Snow Compaction Due to Single Pass on Skis

  12. Possible factors affecting changes in the subnivean space • Type of load • force/area, ski, snowshoe, snowmobile • Frequency of load • number of times an area is compacted • Snow depth • how deep can compaction effect penetrate

  13. SITE • Lodgepole pine forest • Typical area of recreational use • Open, uniform, undisturbed site • Snow without melt/freeze crusts METHODS • Compressed snow with skis • Measured change in height of subnivean space • and snow density • First experiment: varied snow depth, held load and • frequency constant • Second experiment: varied frequency, held load • and snow depth (65 cm) constant

  14. Ski compaction of snowpack

  15. RESULTS SUMMARY • There are effects on the subnivean space • Factors influencing subnivean change include snow • depth, frequency of use, and type of load • Height of the subnivean space and snow density affected • With snowpack greater than 100 cm, compaction effects • don’t extend to the subnivean space • Compaction effect stabilizes after 3-5 passes

  16. DISCUSSION • Potential effects on small mammals(Sanecki et al. 2006) • Loss of space • Increased energy to travel • Forced to surface • Reduce/fragment home ranges/habitat • reduced insulation/thermal stability • Barriers to travel and access to food • compaction may benefit some other mammals in the short term • reduced transportation energy use for deer, elk, moose • trails to increase coyote hunting range but also unexpected • effects, lynx decline due to opening of range to coyotes

  17. APPLICATION TO MANAGEMENT/PLANNING OF SNOW COVERED RECREATIONAL AREAS • Be aware of the importance of the subnivean space • Need more winter mammal surveys, home ranges • Restrict early season travel on shallow snowpack • Limit travel to designated trails in high use areas • Make travel corridors narrower with more tree islands • Suggestions to provide tunnels

  18. REFERENCES • Belk MC, Smith HD, Lawson. 1988. Use and partitioning of montane • habitat by small mammals. Journal of Mammalogy. 69:4, pp. 688-695. • Formozov AN. 1946. Snow cover as an integral factor of the • environment and its importance in the ecology of mammals and birds. • Boreal Institute: Edmonton. • Hadley GL, Wilson KR. 2004. Patterns of small mammal density and • survival following ski-run development. Journal of Mammalogy. • 85:1, pp. 97-104. • Halfpenny JC and Ozanne RD. 1989. Winter: an Ecological Handbook. • Johnson Publishing Company: Boulder, CO. • Korslund L, Steen H. 2006. Small rodent winter survival: snow conditions • limit access to food resources. Journal of Animal Ecology. 75:1, pp. 156-166.

  19. REFERENCES • Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. • Pp. 894-1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic • and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. • Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. • Pruitt, WO Jr. 1984. Snow and small animals. In Winter Ecology of • Small Mammals. Special publication No. 10. (Ed. J.F. Merritt) pp. 1-8. • Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Pittsburgh, PA. • Sanecki GM, Cowling A, Green K, et al. 2006. Winter distribution of small • mammals in relation to snow cover in the subalpine zone. Journal of • Zoology. 269:1, pp. 99-110. • Sanecki GM, Green K, Wood H, et al. 2006. The implications of • snow-based recreation for small mammals in the sub-nivean space. • Biological Conservation. 129:4, pp. 511-518. • Sanecki GM, Green K, Wood H, et al. 2006. The influence of snow cover • on home range and activity of the bush-rat (rattus fuscipes) and the • dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii). Wildlife Research. 33:6, • pp. 489-496.

  20. Small Mammals Utilizing the Subnivean Space Deer mouse Montane vole Masked shrew Southern red-backed vole

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