M. Anthony Melchiors

There is little published information available on non-target captures during small mammal trapping. We used a variety of snap traps baited with a rolled oat-peanut butter mix to capture 2,054 individuals from 9 genera of small mammals in a study of small mammal and avian community structure in riparian areas and adjacent loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations. We also captured 170 individuals from 24 non-target species over 122,446 trap-nights. Trapping was conducted from 1990 throught 1995 in 57 riparian areas and adjacent pine plantations in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, during 10-...

Habitat characteristics of 2 landforms, flood plain and adjacent upland forest, were sampled along perennial streams in 3 regions of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas. Stand density, basal area, and den tree density were not different between landforms or among mountain regions. However, the proportions of stand density and basal area comprised of hardwood species and nut-producing species were usually different between landforms and regions. Differences in species composition were consistent, with more hardwoods in flood plains than in uplands, and more in the Crystal and Zig Zag mountains...

Spotlight and helicopter techniques were used during late summer to survey white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in young pine plantations in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Spotlight sampling rates were 72-183 ha/hour and 1.6-6.8 deer/hour, and helicopter sampling rates were 655-976 ha/hour and 26.4-43.2 deer/hour. Ninety-five percent of deer observed from the helicopter were classified to age-sex classes. During spotlight surveys, 60% of deer were classified when using binoculars and 82% were classified when using a spotting scope. The helicopter method yielded deer...