Effects of Ecological Edges on Mammal Diversity in Western Pennsylvania Forests

Murphy, Kevin

Effects of Ecological Edges on Mammal Diversity in Western Pennsylvania Forests

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/57769

Author(s)

Murphy, Kevin

Date Issued

May 1, 2024

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation is one of the most significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem function worldwide. The edge effect refers to the numerous effects of proximity to edges on ecosystem elements and is one important consequence of habitat fragmentation. To measure the impact of edge on terrestrial mammal diversity I set camera traps along transects in northern hardwood forest fragments in three properties managed by the French Creek Valley Conservancy in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Four camera traps were placed 200 meters apart at each site, Raup’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Mammoth Run, and Greendale Cemetery. At all sites, two cameras were placed in close proximity (approximately 20 meters) to manmade ecological edges, and the other two were placed in the interior forest fragments. Cameras were active 24 hours a day with a 30 second delay for two weeks consecutively at each site, with all trapping taking place between September and November 2023. Overall mammal richness and species presence along the transects were measured, along with diversity using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity index. All measures compared edge areas to core areas. At all sites, there were more species detected (n = 4 compared to n = 2), more total detections (n = 115 compared to n = 64), and more relative richness at core areas than at edge areas. Core areas at all sites had greater diversity (Hs) and evenness (J’). However, none of these trends were found to be statistically significant. Small sample size, site heterogeneity, short time scale, and disproportionately high percentage of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) detections were potential contributors to the lack of statistically significant trends. This research extended camera trap fragmentation research into a new, previously unstudied area, provided information about the value of a specific study method for different groups of mammals, and provided information about ecosystem dynamics in a land conservancy that can be used to inform conservation efforts.

Major

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Honors

Environmental Science and Sustainability, 2024

First Reader(s)

Pearce, Kelly