SMALL MAMMAL EXCLOSURES FOR STUDIES OF HYPOGEOUS FUNGI

Small mammal predation of hypogeous sporocarps (''truffles'') make est imates of truffle productivity difficult. To develop effective small m ammal exclosures, four screen materials were tested over a 6-week peri od. Following the test, the selected material, aluminum window screen, was used on 1944 plots in a 2-year study. The failure of only five sc reens in this study indicates aluminum screen prevents most predation of hypogeous sporocarps.