Small mammal and bird commumtles were compared between uncut and improvement cut stands in bottomland hardwoods and upland pine-harrlwoods. Uncut plots were compared between riverfront hardwoods and a nearby cottonwood (Populus deltoides) plantation. More (225%) small mammal captures were made on cut plots in bottomland hardwoods than on uncut plots. Small mammals were captured more frequently than expected on ridge sites in bottomland hardwoods. Captures increased 143 percent following cutting in upland hardwoods, but captures were not different between riverfront hardwoods and a cottonwood plantation. Bird species diversity anrl equitability were highest in the spring and/or summer rlue to the occurrence of large flocks of yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). Bird abunrlance on cut plots was 17 to 33 percent higher than on uncut stands within the first year after cutting, hut returned to within 10 percent of uncut stands I year later. Bird diversity was 15 percent lower and abundance more variable in the cottonwoorl plantation than in riverfront harrlwoorls. Cutting increased the abundances of 6 bird species and negatively affected 3 species. Two bird species were more abundant in the cottonwood plantation than in the mixed hardwoods, and 2 species were more abundant in the mixed hardwoods than in the plantation. Management recommendations include retaining nesting sites for cavitydependent fauna, improvement cutting in small blocks, and interspersion of several hardwood species in plantations.
