Small mammal exclosures for studies of hypogeous fungi

Abstract

Small mammal predation of hypogeous sporocarps (“truffles”) make estimates of truffle productivity difficult. To develop effective small mammal exclosures, four screen materials were tested over a 6-week period. Following the test, the selected material, aluminum window screen, was used on 1944 plots in a 2-year study. The failure of only five screens in this study indicates aluminum screen prevents most predation of hypogeous sporocarps.

Key Words:

• exclosure
• hypogeous fungi
• mycophagy
• northern flying squirrel
• northern spotted owl
• truffles