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We tested whether extracting lipids reduced confounding variation in δ13C and δ15N values by analyzing paired lipid-extracted (LE) and non-lipid-extracted (NLE) samples of bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus (L., 1766)) whole eggs, muscle tissue from nine seabird and one terrestrial bird species, muscle tissue from four marine fish species, and blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis L., 1758) collected from the Aleutian archipelago, Alaska. Lipid extraction significantly increased δ13C by an average of 2.0‰ in whole eggs, 0.8‰ in avian muscle, 0.2‰ in fish muscle, and 0.6‰ in blue mussels. Lower δ13C values in NLE samples covaried positively with lipid content across all sample types. Lower δ13C values in NLE samples were not correlated with lipid content within bald eagle eggs and blue mussels, but covaried positively with percent lipid in avian and fish muscles. Neither lipid extraction nor percent lipid significantly changed δ15N values for any sample type. Lower δ13C values in most NLE avian and fish muscle tissues should not confound interpretation of pelagic versus nearshore sources of primary production, but lipid extraction may be necessary when highly precise estimates of δ13C are needed. Lipid extraction may not be necessary when only δ15N is of interest.

Loehle et al. recently estimated survival rates from radio-telemetered northern spotted owls ( Strix occidentalis caurina (Merriam, 1898)) and suggested that survival rates estimated for this species from capture–recapture studies were negatively biased, which subsequently resulted in the negatively biased estimates of rates of population change (λ) reported by Anthony et al. (Wildl. Monogr. No. 163, pp. 1–47 (2006)) . We argue that their survival estimates were inappropriate for comparison with capture–recapture estimates because (i) the manner in which they censored radio-telemetered individuals had the potential to positively bias their survival estimates, (ii) their estimates of survival were not valid for evaluating bias, and (iii) the size and distribution of their radiotelemetry study areas were sufficiently different from capture–recapture study areas to preclude comparisons. In addition, their inferences of negative bias in rates of population change estimated by Anthony et al. were incorrect and reflected a misunderstanding about those estimators.

We described trapping mortality rates of northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) populations in western Oregon, U.S.A., and evaluated the effects of sex, age, body mass, and number of times an individual was recaptured on these rates. Although the overall trapping mortality rates were relatively low (7%) during 16–21 day trapping sessions, we observed differential mortality rates among the sex and age cohorts. The order of mortality rates was: juvenile females (32.3%) > juvenile males (11.1%) > adult females (5.1%) = adult males (4.1%). Overall trapping mortality rates were not affected by the number of times an individual was captured. We hypothesize that the differences we found were due to extrinsic factors (weather-related) acting on differential behavioral responses to trapping and thresholds of stress an animal can tolerate.

We compared density, sex ratio, body mass, and annual recapture rate of northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) populations in second-growth and old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands in the Oregon Cascade Range. Densities averaged 2.0 and 2.3 squirrels/ha in second- and old-growth stands, respectively. Although densities varied between years within stands, average densities were similar between years. Body mass and annual recapture rate were similar between stand–age classes, although a higher proportion of females was recaptured in subsequent years in second-growth than in old-growth stands. Similarly, there was a higher proportion of females than males in second-growth but not in old-growth stands. Squirrel densities were not correlated with habitat characteristics; we concluded that flying squirrels may be habitat generalists, and not a species associated with old-growth stands, as was previously hypothesized. We suggest that studies be carried out with radiotelemetry to more accurately assess the habitat associations of this species.

Abundance and habitat relationships of small mammals were studied on two early-growth clear-cuttings in the Oregon Coast Range. Ten species were captured in 3 years of study; Peromyscus maniculatus accounted for the majority (64%) of captures. Six other species were captured frequently enough for habitat analyses: Microtus oregoni (15%), Eutamias townsendii (11%), Zapus trinotatus (3%), Sorex vagrans (3%), Sorex trowbridgii (2%), and Sorex pacificus (2%). The small-mammal community was composed of a single, numerically dominant habitat generalist (Peromyscus) and several numerically subordinate species that showed varying degrees of habitat specificity. An overall significant difference in habitat use among the seven species was demonstrated with discriminant function analysis; this separation was based primarily on differences in the use of forb and grass cover. However, there was high overlap in microhabitat associations among species, which was likely due to the environment in regenerating coniferous forests.