Inventory & Monitoring Protocols – Small Mammals (rodents ...

Survey Level Inventory & Monitoring Protocols – Small M

Preliminary Questions
(office-oriented)
• What species are known to occur, or could potentially • Conduct literature a
occur, in the unit? • Consult with knowle

• What areas/features potentially provide habitat for the and other staff, etc.
various species? • Review any existing

(geologic, biotic, hy

the site (Unit data fi

Reconnaissance • What small mammal habitats exist in the unit? • Walk-through, drive
the site to look for h
(field-oriented) • Does the predator/prey relationship seem out of balance?
predators hunting fo

activity (runways, b

gnawing, rodent ca

Baseline • What species are currently present? • Methods outlined in

(field-oriented) • What are the species assemblages in the various Live-trapping (using
habitats? or pitfall depending

appropriate for loca

lines randomly plac

management areas

depending on trapp

mortality acceptable

protocol) if not. De

7)

• Use Global Position

of survey locations.

• Collect voucher spe

• Have experts verify
question

• Repeat the above p

previous years (Mo

• Collecting Permit
Voucher, esp. if se

Comprehensive • What is the estimated relative abundance between habitat • Methods outlined in

(field-oriented) types, or areas? animals to identify t

• What are the changes in relative abundance over time? same survey, and m
same and concurre

compared. (5, 6, 7)

• Repeat the above p

previous years (Mo

• Collecting Permit
Voucher, esp. if se

Intensive • What is the estimated absolute abundance of species in • As in Comprehensi
(field & the park, habitat type or area? individual) and reca

laboratory- • Questions related to demographics or genetics. absolute abundanc
oriented) • Does habitat use or abundance appear to be affected by to initiating samplin
Closed population m
visitor use, operations or management? consecutive nights
population models f
• What are changes in any of the above o ver time?

IMAP – Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Program

Mammals (rodents and shrews) Products

Methods A list of species that occur, or could occur, in the
unit based upon their habitat affinities and
and database searches (1, 2, 3, 4) • ranges, and an idea of where habitat might be
located.
edgeable persons (park maintenance
.) and agencies
g documents on habitat features
ydrologic, anthropogenic/facilities) for
ile)

e-by, fly-over, and look at photos of • Completed annual inspection & questionnaire

habitat, presence/success of • Rapid assessment of rodent activity/availability to
or rodents, and signs of rodent predators.

burrows, dust baths, droppings,

arcasses).

n the Preliminary Level plus: Conduct • Confirmation of species currently present in park

g Sherman, Longworth, Tomohawk and probability of detection.

g on target species) during season • Habitat associations using logistic regressions

al rodent activity levels along transect and species assemblages

ced in representative habitats or

s. Operate for 3-5 consecutive nights

pability and check daily if accidental

e, more often (sensitive species

etermine detection probabilities (5, 6,

ning System (GPS) to create a map
.
ecimens, if none exist for the unit.
y the identification of taxa that are in

periodically and compare results to • Products of the Preliminary Level plus: Relative
onitoring). abundance by habitat type or area.

Required for Capture and • Detect changes and trends in the above.
ensitive species.

n the Baseline Level, except mark
those previously captured during the
make sure sampling effort is the
ent in the habitats/areas to be

periodically and compare results to
onitoring).

Required for Capture, Mark and
ensitive species.

ive, except mark (unique per • Estimates of absolute abundance in focus

apture methods for estimating habitats or management areas

ce. Determine model to be used prior • Estimates of demographic parameters

ng so designed accordingly. (E.g. • Home range size and movements
models for density estimate, 5 • Detailed and intensive studies and reports on an
in 16 x 16 station grid. Open
for demographic parameters, attribute of interest with regard to a particular

Survey Level Inventory & Monitoring Protocols – Small M

Questions

population models f
minimum 8 session
7 x7 or 16 x16 grid)

• Radio-tracking to de
• Focus studies to ad

or interrelated facto
the nature of the qu
protocols, when ava
employed.
• Collecting Permit
Radio-tracking, es

IMAP – Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Program

Mammals (rodents and shrews)

Methods Products
sensitive species or occurrence.
for demographic parameters, Indications of visitor/operations/management
effects on species.
ns, 2-5 nights each, a month apart, in • Changes and trends detected in any of above.
). (5, 6)

etermine home range. •

ddress specific management issues

ors. Methods will be dependent upon

uestion and the taxon. Standard

ailable and applicable, should be

Required for Capture, Mark and
sp. if sensitive species.

Inventory & Monitoring Protocols – Sm
References:

1) Brylski et al. In Prep. Mammal Species of Special Concern in California. Not yet available, but watch
2) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). California Department of Fish and Game. Sacrame

Branch website at: www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/cnddb.html
3) California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR). California Department of Fish and Game. Sacrame

Branch website at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/cwhr.html
4) Mammalian Species. Comprehensive pamphlets on each species (most species covered). Available
5) Wilson, D.E. et al. (Eds.) 1996. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for

line bookstores, etc.
6) Province of British Columbia. 1998. Inventory Methods for small mammals: shrews, voles, mice and

Committee. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ric/pubs/TEBIODIV/smallmammals/
7) Krebs, C. J. 1989. Ecological Methodology. Harper Collins, New York, N.Y. 654pp. Book available fr

IMAP – Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Program

mall Mammals (Rodents and Shrews)

for it from California Department of Fish and Game.
ento, CA 95814 or visit the California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis
ento, CA 95814 or visit the California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis

from the American Society of Mammalogists. http://www.mammalsociety.org/publications/index.html
r Mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. ISBN 1 -56098-637-9. Book available from on-
rats. Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity, No. 31. Resources Inventory
rom on-line bookstores, etc.