17 research outputs found
Population Dynamics of Deer Mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Yellow-pine Chipmunks, Tamias amoenus, in Old Field and Orchard Habitats
There are often several rodent species included in the small mammal communities in orchard agro-ecosystems. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the population levels of Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Yellow-pine Chipmunks (Tamias amoenus) would be enhanced in old field compared with orchard habitats. Rodent populations were intensively livetrapped in replicate old field and orchard sites over a four-year period at Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Deer Mouse populations were, on average, significantly higher (2.5 – 3.4 times) in the old field than orchard sites in summer and winter periods. Mean numbers/ha of Deer Mice ranged from 12.1 to 60.4 in old field sites and from 3.3 to 19.9 in orchard sites. Breeding seasons in orchards were significantly longer than those in old field sites, in terms of proportion of reproductive male Deer Mice. Recruitment of new animals and early juvenile survival of Deer Mice were similar in orchard and old field sites. Populations of Yellow-pine Chipmunks ranged in mean abundance/ha from 5.6 – 19.0 in old field sites and from 1.9 – 17.5 on one orchard site, with no difference in mean abundance in 2 of 4 years of the study. Recruitment and mean survival of Yellow-pine Chipmunks also followed this pattern. This study is the first detailed comparison of the population dynamics of these rodent species in old field and orchard habitats. These species should be able to maintain their population levels and help contribute to a diversity of small mammals in this agrarian landscape
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Improving Crop Yield and Soil Quality with Mulches and Cover Crops
Orchard floor management trials on mulch and cover crops led by Gene Hogue of Ag Canada at Summerland, BC
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Mulching Systems for Weed Control, Water Conservation, and Nitrogen Management in Organic Apple Orchards
Initial trials on in-row mulching and cover crops in organic apple orchards, Wenatchee, WA
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Sprayable Paper Mulch for Organic Row Crop Production
A poster on testing the feasibility of a sprayable paper mulch to control weeds in organic row crops
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Demography of montane voles in old field and orchard habitats in Southern British Columbia
Voles (Microtus spp.) occupy perennial grasslands and agricultural areas in many parts of North America. This study was designed to provide a detailed analysis of the population dynamics of montane voles (M. montanus) in old field and orchard habitats. Vole populations were intensively live-trapped in replicate old field and orchard sites over a 4-year period (1982-86) at Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Populations of montane voles reached peak densities of 186 and 144 voles/ha in old field sites before declining to numbers averaging less than 60 voles/ha. Orchard populations of montane voles also followed this pattern but at consistently lower numbers than old field sites. This difference in abundance ranged from 2.3-3.6 times during the peak year to 23.8-116.3 times in the decline year, at which time montane voles had declined to a mean number of 0.3-2.4 voles/ha in orchard sites. Length of breeding seasons, proportion of reproductive voles, and mean number of recruits were generally similar in old field and orchard sites. Overall mean survival of voles tended to decline through time in orchard sites, averaging 0.47 compared with old field survival of 0.76. Mean body mass of voles was consistently higher in old field than orchard sites. Montane vole populations in orchards seemed to be linked to source area dynamics of populations in old fields
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Impact of orchard vegetation management on small mammal population dynamics and species diversity
Voles of the genus Microtus feed on bark and vascular tissues of trees in fruit orchards across North America. Management of orchard floor vegetation with multiple applications of herbicide effectively altered habitat and reduced montane vole (M. montanus) populations in apple orchards near Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Non-target populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), northwestern chipmunks (Tamias amoenus), and Great Basin pocket mice (Perognathus parvus) appeared to respond positively to the treatment units. None of these non-target species was adversely affected by the actual herbicide treatments. Species diversity of small mammal communities in treated orchards was the same as that in untreated orchards and nearby old fields. Orchard agroecosystems with intensive vegetation management regimes appear to maintain diverse non-target small mammal communities
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Impact of orchard vegetation management on small mammal population dynamics and species diversity
Voles of the genus Microtus feed on bark and vascular tissues of trees in fruit orchards across North America. Management of orchard floor vegetation with multiple applications of herbicide effectively altered habitat and reduced montane vole (M. montanus) populations in apple orchards near Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Non-target populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), northwestern chipmunks (Tamias amoenus), and Great Basin pocket mice (Perognathus parvus) appeared to respond positively to the treatment units. None of these non-target species was adversely affected by the actual herbicide treatments. Species diversity of small mammal communities in treated orchards was the same as that in untreated orchards and nearby old fields. Orchard agroecosystems with intensive vegetation management regimes appear to maintain diverse non-target small mammal communities