Dataset: Small Mammal Species Data

Methods

The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures

Current Methods

• Live trap plots
  Started: 1994-06-01
  

  Plots for live traps were established at 1200 and 2200 ft. elevations.

Past Methods (No longer in use)

• Small mammal data
  Started: 1991-04-01
  Ended: 1995-11-01

  Initial information on small mammals at 4 elevation-habitat types has been collected using pitfall catches at drift fences as part of an amphibian survey on Mount Mansfield conducted since 1991.
• Survey techniques
  Started: 1994-05-01
  Ended: 1994-11-01

  Four techniques are used to survey: night-time live-trapping, pitfall traps at drift fences, morning transect walks, and road surveys.
• Setting traps
  Started: 1994-06-02
  Ended: 1994-07-25

  40 live-traps per site were used in a 4 X 10 trap pattern at 10 m intervals. Traps were set in early evening hours, baited with rolled oats and peanut butter, then checked in the morning. Captured animals were identified to species and sexed, then released. Traps were set on 9 nights per site for a total of 720 trap nights from June 2 to July 25.
• 
  Started: 1995-06-01
  Ended: 1995-07-29

  Live traps were set on 8 nights at two locations: 3800 ft along the Sunset Ridge Trail and at 4200 ft. along the summit ridgeline. At each site, 20 traps were set in an irregular pattern (dictated by vegetation and terrain) within an area of 1 - 1.5 ha. Traps were set from June 1 through July 29.
• Pitfall traps
  Started: 1994-05-18
  Ended: 1994-11-01

  Pitfall traps associated with the amphibian survey drift fences were used: 2 at 1200 ft., one at 2200 ft. Pitfall traps were opened in the evening and checked the following morning, 12 times between May 18 and November 1.
• 
  Started: 1995-05-01
  Ended: 1995-11-01

  Pitfall traps were opened on 18 evenings between May 1 and November 1.
• Small mammal activity
  Started: 1994-06-03
  Ended: 1994-07-26

  Morning transect walks consisted of recording all small mammal activity while walking a 0.5 mile transect at 2200 feet or 0.25 mile transect at 1200 ft. Each transect was walked 9 times, once per week from June 3 through July 26.
• 
  
  Ended: 1994-11-01

  Transect walks were discontinued.
• Road surveys
  Started: 1994-06-03
  Ended: 1994-07-26

  Road surveys along roads within the Mount Mansfield Browns River and Stevensville Brook watersheds were driven mid-day and all mammals living or dead were recorded. This 9.8 mile route was driven 9 times, once each week between June 3 and July 26.
• 
  
  Ended: 1994-11-01

  Road surveys were discontinued.

Dataset Fields

Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Past Sampling Equipment (No longer in use)

• Drift fences, pitfall traps, folding traps, p
  Started: 1991-04-01
  Ended: 1995-11-01

  4-metal drift fences with 10 pitfall traps; Sherman and Tomahawk folding traps; permanent ear tags, individually coded.

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

• Site Description

  West slope of Mount Mansfield in the Browns River and Stevensville Brook watersheds. Drift fences at 1200, 2200, and 3200 feet. Permanent plot areas at 1200, 2200, 3800, and 4200 feet; representing areas of hardwoods, softwoods, stream and lake shores and the alpine zone.