Restoration of Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) Habitat in West Virginia

The Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, VNFS) is a rare subspecies that relies on high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens) forests in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Existing habitat suitability models emphasize the composition of the red spruce canopy but lack insights into the structural characteristics of the forest that are critical for VNFS occupancy. I examined VNFS habitat preference through previous survey presence data and a spatial raster concerning forest stand structure variables. My results indicate that VNFS presence is associated with mature forest conditions across all spruce composition classes. Meanwhile, a long-term silvicultural restoration study assessed red spruce's growth responses to four hardwood removal levels (0%, ~33%, ~67%, ~100%). By 2024, trees released demonstrated a significantly greater diameter at breast height (DBH) and height growth than the controls, with the high removal treatment exhibiting the strongest response. However, the growth differences between the treatments and the controls diminished over time, suggesting that these treatments may need multiple releases or a larger removal area. Integrating forest structural metrics with habitat models could enhance VNFS conservation and inform red spruce restoration efforts to improve forest resilience and long-term habitat viability.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forestry

Department dc:contributor.department

Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Humbert, Tanner Ray

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ford, W. Mark
• Carter, David Robert James

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Green, Patrick Corey

• Forest restoration
• Habitat Modeling
• Red Spruce (Picea rubens)
• Single Tree
• Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus).

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:43596

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/132200