Ecological processes determining the distribution dynamics of vole populations during forest succession

Small-mammal abundance differs between pipelines, edges, and interior boreal forest habitat

Oil and gas development alters boreal forests by creating early-successional habitat and an increased amount of edge. We evaluated which small-mammal species used pipeline rights of way, the influence of vegetation recovery on pipelines, and edge effects in the adjacent forest. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord, 1815)) were the most common species on pipelines, whereas adjacent forest was dominated by southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi (Vigors, 1830)), northern red-backed voles (Myodes rutilus (Pallas, 1779)), and North American deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)). Deer mouse abundance was greater along pipeline transects with greater vegetation recovery. Within the forest, irrespective of vegetation recovery on pipelines, meadow voles and deer mice increased near edges. Red-backed voles showed a mixed (i.e., neutral or positive) response to edge. Vegetation variables (i.e., canopy type and cover, ground cover, stem counts, and volume of downed woody material) were important predictors of small-mammal abundance in the forest, but they could not fully account for observed edge effects. Altered small-mammal communities on and adjacent to pipelines may have implications for boreal forest management and conservation through potential changes in predator–prey dynamics and boreal food webs; these implications require further study.