Rewilding clearcuts: shrub vegetation as a facilitator of movement of a forest specialist

Abstract

Replacement of native forests by exotic monoculture plantations is the principal driver of land change in central Chile; it reduces the richness and abundance of native mammals. The presence of shrub vegetation in mature pine plantation enhances habitat quality for small mammals. However, the role of structural complexity of shrub vegetation in young pine plantations after clearcutting remains unknown. Since plantations are managed by clearcutting, young pine plantations act as a barrier to movement of forest species. We tested if shrub vegetation contributes to rewilding harvested areas, assessing the movements of the long-haired field mouse (Abrothrix longipilis), a forest rodent, from native forest or mature pine plantations into young pine plantations. We evaluated habitat use at the edge of contrasting habitats, young pine plantations, and native forest or mature pine plantations. Habitat use was higher in young plantations that have shrub vegetation than those that have no shrubs. The long-haired field mouse is willing to use young plantations when shrub vegetation is developed.