EVALUATION OF A FOREST RESTORATION STRATEGY ON SMALL MAMMALS IN SOUTHERN PINE ECOSYSTEMS

Author

Gage R. Grantham, Stephen F Austin State UniversityFollow
Jessica L. Glasscock, Stephen F Austin State University
Christopher M. Schalk, USFS, Southern Research Station, Nacogdoches, Texas
Kathryn R. Kiid, Stephen F Austin State University
Reuber Antoniazzi, Stephen F Austin State University

Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science - Forestry

Department

Forestry

First Advisor

Jessica L. GLasscock

Second Advisor

Christopher M. Schalk

Third Advisor

Kathryn R. Kidd

Fourth Advisor

Reuber Antoniazzi

Abstract

Industrial forestry replanted historic native pine forests (e.g., longleaf pine [Pinus palustris] and shortleaf pine [Pinus echinata]) to homogenous, high-density plantations consisting of native off-site species (e.g., loblolly pine [Pinus taeda]) after intensive harvesting for wood products. The contemporary forest structure that remains, consisting of off-site overstory compositions, can potentially serve as an ecological bridge to facilitate a gradual transition to a more desirable canopy species, thereby conserving biodiversity and ecosystem function. Understanding disturbance-sensitive small mammal communities from restoration strategies (retention) can help achieve long-term management goals for ecosystem conservation across larger scales. I utilized bucket camera traps (Hunt Trap) to detect small mammal communities and assess informative forest structure characteristics in sites representative of the retention strategy, which emphasizes forest structure management (i.e., fire) instead of overstory compositions. This research suggests that retention strategies can serve an ecological purpose for conserving biodiversity and uplifting ecosystem function, even with large interannual variation.

Repository Citation

Grantham, Gage R.; Glasscock, Jessica L.; Schalk, Christopher M.; Kiid, Kathryn R.; and Antoniazzi, Reuber, "EVALUATION OF A FOREST RESTORATION STRATEGY ON SMALL MAMMALS IN SOUTHERN PINE ECOSYSTEMS" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 633.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/633

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