Crop Protection ( IF 2.8 ) Pub Date : 2021-01-30 , DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105561 Jimmy D. Taylor , Vanessa M. Petro
Mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) is the most primitive rodent species in North America and is endemic to the Pacific Northwest, USA. Within their range, mountain beaver cause more conflict with conifer forest regeneration than any other vertebrate species. Most damage occurs as a result of clipping and browsing new seedlings, which reduces stocking density and delays stand development. An integrated approach using trapping and a registered toxicant (baiting) has been suggested as the most efficacious means to reduce seedling loss during stand initiation. We evaluated this management strategy in intensively managed conifer stands across two mountain ranges in western Oregon. Harvest units were divided equally and management (trapping and baiting) was implemented on a randomly selected half of each unit; the remaining halves served as an experimental control. We conducted damage assessments in fixed 0.04 ha circular plots at approximate 1, 6, and 12 month intervals after planting and initiation of management activities. After 12 months, we observed mountain beaver damage in 100% of control plots and 95% of treatment plots; however, there was a 79% decrease in the estimated odds of damage for plots where trapping and baiting was implemented (95% CI 43–92). Mean seedling height was 10.6 cm taller in treated plots than control plots 1 year post-planting (95% CI 4.1–17.1). Reoccupation of vacant burrows began within 1 month; within 12 months, only 5% of trapped plots remained unoccupied. Reported costs and benefits varied among harvest units, but management was less expensive ($154.09/ha) than the cost of interplanting gaps created by mountain beaver damage ($182.13/ha). Although trapping and baiting may not offer a one-time solution to damage problems, it is an effective tool in reducing damage, saving management costs, and meeting compliance with forest regulations and certification requirements.
中文翻译:
评价山海狸(Aplodontia rufa)管理对俄勒冈州西部针叶树放养的影响
山海狸(Aplodontia rufa)是北美最原始的啮齿动物物种,并且是美国西北太平洋地区的特有种。在其范围内,海狸与针叶林更新的冲突比任何其他脊椎动物都多。大多数危害是由于修剪和浏览新苗而发生的,这会降低放养密度并延缓林分的发育。已经提出了使用诱捕和注册的有毒物质(诱饵)的综合方法,是减少林分起始过程中幼苗损失的最有效方法。我们在俄勒冈州西部两个山脉的集约化管理针叶林林分中评估了这种管理策略。将收获单位平均分配,并对每个单位的随机选择一半进行管理(诱捕和诱饵)。剩余的一半用作实验对照。种植和开始管理活动后,我们以大约1、6和12个月的间隔在固定的0.04公顷圆形土地上进行了损害评估。12个月后,我们在100%的对照样地和95%的处理样地中观察到山海狸的破坏;但是,实施诱捕和诱饵的地块的估计破坏几率降低了79%(95%CI 43-92)。种植后一年(处理后的地块)的平均苗高比对照地块高10.6 cm(95%CI 4.1-17.1)。1个月内开始重新占用空洞。在12个月内,只有5%的被困地块未被占用。报告的成本和收益因收获单位而异,但管理的成本(154.09美元/公顷)比山海狸造成的种间间隙成本(182.13美元/公顷)便宜。