The Mammal Fauna of Carolina Bays, Pocosins, 



and Associated Communities in North Carolina: 



An Overview 



Mary K. Clark, David S. Lee, and John B. Funderburg, Jr. 



North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, 

 P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 



ABSTRACT. — This study represents the first attempt to inventory 

 and evaluate the mammals associated with pocosins and Carolina 

 bays. During a 4-year period, approximately 17,000 trap-nights and 

 200 field-days in 12 North Carolina habitat types produced specimens 

 or signs of 40 species of mammals. Early, intermediate, and advanced 

 serai stages of pocosin-associated plant communities varied considera- 

 bly in faunal composition. Species regularly trapped or observed 

 included Blarina sp., Pipistrellus subflavus, Sylvilagus palustris, Sciu- 

 rus carolinensis, Peromyscus gossypinus, Ochrotomys nuttalli, Uro- 

 cyon cinereoargenteus, Procyon lotor, and Odocoileus virginianus. 

 Additional uncommon or geographically restricted, but apparently 

 regular, associates were Condylura cristata, Plecotus rafinesquii, 

 Oryzomys palustris, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Synaptomys cooperi, 

 and Ursus americanus. Most mammal associates are ubiquitous spe- 

 cies. Although total documented diversity is high, a large percentage of 

 the fauna is either associated with edges of communities or of irregular 

 occurrence. At least eight species and several additional subspecies 

 reach the northern or southern limits of their ranges in pocosin-rich 

 areas. 



Fires, storms, and certain man-related disturbances, by creating a 

 patchy mosaic of habitats, seem to exert positive influences on mam- 

 mal density and diversity in pocosin communities. Since uninterrupted 

 or unaltered successional development eventually leads to minimal 

 habitat diversity, management of extensive pocosin areas is desirable if 

 mammal diversity is to be maintained. 



INTRODUCTION 



Recent authors have commented on the almost complete lack of 

 information on the vertebrates associated with Carolina bays, pocosins 

 and successionally related southeastern Coastal Plain habitats (e.g. Wil- 

 bur 1981; Sharitz and Gibbons 1982). Although some mammal surveys 

 have been conducted within or adjacent to pocosin habitats, published 

 reports have addressed taxonomic status or geographic, not ecological, 

 distribution, making it difficult to relate most existing information to 

 specific plant communities. The most notable of these studies have been 



Brimleyana No. 1 1:1-38, October 1985 



