The Effect of Habitat Patch Size on Small Mammal Populations
Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to the conservation of biodiversity and has 3 components: habitat loss, patch isolation, and patch size. We tested the effects of forest-clearing size on small mammal populations in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. These clearings act as islands for many species of small mammals, particularly old-field mice (Peromyscus polionotus) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). We live-trapped small mammals in 3 size classes of clearcuts (small <6 ha, medium 10-15 ha, and large >25 ha) on the Savannah River Site and compared...
