The conservation value of hedgerows to small mammals on Prince Edward Island

Hedgerows are an important landscape feature on Prince Edward Island, Canada and are often the only forested links between isolated forest fragments. Although recent studies have examined the effects of fragmentation on small mammals on Prince Edward Island (e.g., Silva et al. 2000, Silva 2001), none have addressed the use of hedgerows by small mammals. A total of 13 hedgerows and 12 forest fragments in three sites located in central Prince Edward Island were studied from May to September 2001. Hedgerows varied in length, between 70 m and 720 m, and width between 9.4 m and 31 m. Fragment area varied from 0.006 km2 to 0.560 km2. Large Sherman live traps were placed in the center of hedgerow vegetation at 10 m intervals throughout the length of the hedgerow, while a grid configuration was used in forest fragments with the maximum area sampled being 6400 m 2. Within each study site, hedgerows and forest fragments were sampled simultaneously. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).