The association of small mammals with coarse woody debris at log and standscales

Coarse woody debris is an important structural element in forests. We empir ically investigated the relationships between small mammals and coarse wood y debris decay stage at two different scales: individual logs and forest st ands. There were no significant relationships between small mammals and ind ividual logs of different decay classes. We investigated the stand scale us ing areas with contrasting management intensities (a reference area and a m ore intensively managed area). No significant relationships were found betw een small mammal abundance (any species) and either mean decay class of log s in a stand, or overall abundance of logs. There was evidence of a landsca pe context effect. Red-backed voles, the most abundant microtine in the reg ion, were significantly related to the abundance of the most decayed logs. This relationship was only significant on the intensively managed landscape , where highly decayed logs were rare. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.