INFLUENCE OF SMALL MAMMALS ON STORMFLOW RESPONSES OF PINE‐COVERED CATCHMENTS¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The relative abundance of small mammals in five forest land cover types on the upper Coastal Plain of north Mississippi was determined. Burrowing mammals accounted for one‐half of the total captures; one shrew species that accounted for over one‐fourth of the total captures had a strong affinity for well‐stocked pine plantations. The opportunity for detention and retention of rainfall was enhanced by burrowing activity. Reductions of stormflow volumes 12 to 15 years after replacing poor quality, upland hardwoods with loblolly pine were only partially explained by increased interception of rainfall; much of the residual reductions are postulated to be due to small mammal burrows. Small mammal activity deserves further study as an important aspect of forest land hydrology.