Impacts of a flood on small mammal populations of lower Missouri River floodplain forests

Small mammal responses to flooding in the lower Missouri River floodplain a re poorly understood. Our study examined the survival of marked populations of small mammals in mature and regenerating forest seral stages in respons e to a brief flood. Peromyscus spp, were the most abundant species captured before (94% of individuals captured) and after (98%) the flood and surviva l in inundated mature forest sires did nor significantly differ from unfloo ded reference sites. However, the lowest number (n = 14) and percentage (29 %) of Peromyscus spp. recaptures occurred in a young regenerating forest si re. Elliot's short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga),which are less adapted for arboreal habitats, declined in abundance after the flood.