Project Number: WVA00399
CRIS Number: 0178250
SEASONAL MAST AVAILABILITY FOR WILDLIFE IN WEST VIRGINIA
Investigators: Edwards, J. W., Gribko, L. S.
Performing Department: Forestry -- 1240
Start Date: 06/01/1998
Termination Date: 09/30/2002
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Progress Report:
The 3-year project has evolved to focus primarily on habitat relations of the endangered Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel in West Virginia. Jennifer Menzel, PhD candidate, has completed 2 years of field data collection and will begin the habitat modeling portion of her dissertation in 2002. We examined nest site selection of Virginia northern flying squirrels on the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest (WERF) and the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) during summers of 2000 and 2001. A total of ten flying squirrels were radio-collared and monitored daily throughout the summers. Two flying squirrels were located on the WERF and the remaining eight squirrels were located on the MNF. A total of 57 northern flying squirrel nest trees were located on the WERF and MNF. Northern flying squirrel cavity trees were most commonly located on north facing slopes and were located in areas with high canopy densities (>75%). On the WERF, the two most common tree species used were spruce (Picea sp.) and red maple (Acer rubrum). On the MNF, the two most common tree species used were birch (Betula sp.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). We quantitatively examined nest site selection by comparing 24 measurements taken from nest trees to randomly located cavity trees. Nest site selection differed among the WERF and the sites on the MNF. At the WERF, elevation, decay class, nest tree height, den height and dbh differed between nest and randomly located trees (P
Publications:
Odum, R. H., W. M. Ford, J. W. Edwards, C. W. Stihler, and J. M. Menzel. 2001. Developing a habitat model for the endangered Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Biological Conservation 99:245-252.
Menzel, M. A., J. M. Menzel, W. M. Ford, J. W. Edwards, T. C. Carter, J. B. Churchill, and J. C. Kilgo. 2001. Home range and habitat use of male Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). American Midland Naturalist 145:402-408.
Menzel, M. A., J. B. Johnson, J. M. Menzel, J. W. Edwards, and W. M. Ford. 2000. Possible ground roost of the Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans. Bat Research News Winter 2000: 103
Menzel, M. A., J. M. Menzel, T. C. Carter, W. M. Ford, and J. W. Edwards. 2001. Review of the forest habitat relationships of the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-284, Newtown Square, PA: USDA Forest Service, NE Research Station. 21pp
Impact:
To provide ecological information on the federally endangered Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel.