CRB: Conservation and Biodiversity of Mammals Inhabitating Fragmented, Old Growth Forest of the Olympic Peninsula

9322699 Lomolina拟议的研究将就全球努力保护生物多样性的两个核心问题、碎片化的影响和走廊的潜在好处提供重要的见解。这些研究将确定片断化对居住在奥林匹克半岛古老森林中的哺乳动物生物多样性的影响。我们将使用空间分析技术来研究古老森林群落的结构如何反映物种、森林碎片和周围景观的差异。随后，我们将使用这些模式来评估走廊和栖息地矩阵对老年森林哺乳动物生物多样性的重要性，以及有利于森林哺乳动物迁徙的景观特征。%我们将采用多尺度或分层次的方法来评估古老森林碎片化的影响。实地研究将采用实况诱捕、SIGN(痕迹、扫描等)、生境和相机调查相结合的方法，在9个连续的森林地点、30个古老森林碎片以及走廊和空地砍伐内的10个地点进行。结果数据将接受蒙特卡洛、回归和相关分析，以测试关于碎片和生物多样性的预测。我们将提供有关奥林匹克国家森林零碎景观中分布格局的信息，这将有助于为哺乳动物和斑点猫头鹰等依赖物种管理这些森林。这项研究还将作为一项严格的案例研究，记录森林碎片化的影响并评估影响生物多样性的关键过程的影响，从而提供有关森林碎片化的一般性见解。

9322699 Lomolina The proposed study will provide important insights on two issues central to global efforts to conserve biodiversity, the effects of fragmentation and the potential benefits of corridors. These studies will determine the effects of fragmentation on biodiversity of mammals inhabiting old-growth forests of the Olympic Peninsula. We will use spatial analysis techniques to investigate how the structure of old-growth forest communities reflects differences amount species, forest fragments and surrounding landscapes. Subsequently, we will use these patterns to assess the importance of corridors and the habitat matrix, on the biodiversity of old-growth forest mammals, and landscape features which favor immigrations of forest mammals. %%% We will adopt a multiscale, or hierarchical approach in our attempt to assess the effects of fragmentation of old-growth forests. Field studies will employ a combination of livetrapping, sign (tracks, scats, etc.), habitat and camera surveys conducted in nine continuous forest sites, 30 fragments of old-growth forest, and 10 locations along corridors and within clearcuts. Resultant data will be subjected to Monte Carlo, regression and correlation analyses to test predictions regarding fragmentation and biodiversity. %%% The information we will provide on distribution patterns in the fragmented landscape of Olympic National Forest will facilitate efforts to manage these forests for mammals and dependent species such as spotted owls. This research also will provide general insights regarding forest fragmentation by serving as a rigorous case study that documents the effects of fragmentation and assesses the influence of key processes influencing biodiversity.