Similarity in occupancy of different-sized forest patches by small mammals on clearcuts: conservation implications for red-backed voles and small mustelids

Many mammalian species decline on forest sites that are harvested by clearcutting because of a loss of food, cover, and other components of stand structure. Small mustelids are impacted negatively as is the southern red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi), a principal prey species, that disappears from clearcuts within a year of harvest. These effects may be potentially ameliorated by aggregated retention harvests that leave unlogged patches on...