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Small mammals serve many ecological roles and contribute to wildlife diversity in wetlands. We investigated a small-mammal community on a southeastern Arkansas wetland-restoration site by trapping monthly from February through October 2007. During 8675 trap nights, 886 captures of six species and 615 individuals were recorded. The numbers and proportions of individuals captured varied monthly by species. Documentation of monthly fluctuations in the composition and numbers of this small-mammal community provides a basis by which to evaluate future restoration activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arkansas harbors a substantial white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population, boasts an expanding human population, and both enjoys and suffers the resulting consequences. A highly visible negative consequence is the occurrence of deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs). Several studies have investigated site-specific factors that may contribute to DVCs. However, few studies have explored the role of broader scale factors. In this study, we used an exploratory, multivariate approach to examine the influence of county-level factors on the density (no./1,000 km) of reported DVCs in Arkansas, USA, during 1998-2001. Factors considered to contribute to DVCs in Arkansas included human and deer population densities, urban growth, various roadway characteristics, daily traffic counts, timber harvests, and landcover composition and spatial characteristics. Using principal components and regression analysis we determined that there were 2 important components contributing to DVC densities in Arkansas. Component I represented a predominantly forested matrix with high edge density and contrast. Component 2 described an urban environment, with high road densities, human population densities, and average daily traffic counts. These 2 components were strongly related to DVCs (r² = 0.55, P < 0.001), with component 2 explaining the most variation (71.4%). The identification and recognition of the contribution of these broad-scale factors to DVCs provide insight useful in making informed decisions related to DVC mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Streamside management zones (SMZs), composed primarily of hardwoods in the southeastern United States, provide habitat diversity within intensively managed pine (Pinus spp.) plantations. However, effects of SMZ width and adjacent plantation structure on riparian wildlife communities are poorly understood. Therefore, during 1990–1995, we examined small mammal communities within 5 SMZ width classes (1–20 to >100m) embedded within three types of pine plantations (young, open canopy; closed canopy; and thinned) and three natural riparian stands in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, USA. We captured small mammals for 10 consecutive days each February using four to six traplines each consisting of nine trap stations with three snap traps at each station. We estimated relative abundance [catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)], species richness, species diversity, and species evenness for all captures and captures just along the stream course. Within the SMZ/plantation settings and three natural stands, we captured 1701 small mammals of 11 species in 114,285 trapnights. Golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli), southern short-tailed shrews (Blarina carolinensis), and Peromyscus spp. comprised 88% of all captures. Our study suggests that narrow (≤20m wide) SMZs in managed pine forests tend to have higher small mammal abundance and species richness than wider SMZs. Additionally, species richness and CPUE was greater in SMZs within young, open canopy and thinned plantations versus closed canopy plantations. Plantation structure appears to influence small mammal community structure within SMZs more than SMZ width. Shortening the amount of time plantations spend in closed canopy conditions would likely improve habitat conditions for small mammals existing in SMZs within intensively managed pine landscapes. Streamside management zones in the South designed to meet voluntary water quality standards are likely sufficient for small mammal conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]