Relative abundance and habitat associations of vertebrates in oak woodlands in coastal-central California

We estimated relative abundance and assessed habitat associations of small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles in oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands from 1993 to 1995 at Camp Roberts in California's central coast. Within taxa, relative abundance was highest for dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) (9.7 percent trap success), plain titmice (Parus inornatus) (49.4 territories per 40 ha), slender salamanders (Batrachoseps spp.) (2.2 percent detection rate) and skinks (Eumeces spp.) (3.1 percent detection rate). Percent cover of shrubs, grass, and downed wood were the three strongest correlated habitat components (mean of the absolute value of all correlation coefficients [ \ r(s) \ ] = 0.64, 0.62, and 0.59, respectively) for abundant species of small mammals. Percent shrub cover and litter weight were correlated with abundant birds, and herpetofauna, respectively (mean \ r(s) \ = 0.57 and 0.49, respectively). Within taxa, woodrats, dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), and slender salamanders exhibited the strongest habitat associations across all habitat components (mean \ r(s) \ = 0.74, 0.73, and 0.44, respectively). Dense oak woodlands with shrubby understory and downed woody material supported the greatest numbers of vertebrate fauna.