Data from: microhabitat selection by the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): an old growth pinyon-juniper woodland specialist

Habitat specialists have been largely overlooked in old growth
pinyon-juniper woodlands, despite specialists exhibiting heightened
sensitivity to anthropogenic habitat loss. Furthermore, small mammal
relationships within pinyon-juniper woodlands have most commonly been
investigated via species abundance or habitat use, rather than habitat
selection, thereby providing limited management metrics. We used the
Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis)
as a model organism to evaluate whether old growth conditions drive
resource selection by small mammals associated with pinyon-juniper
woodlands. The goal of our study was to determine resources important to
the chipmunk to inform management decisions. We evaluated microhabitat
selection by testing a priori predictions based on natural history
characteristics of the chipmunk and the woodlands. We grouped predictions
into habitat characteristics affiliated with or not affiliated with old
growth. We tested predictions under a multi-stage modeling framework using
generalized linear mixed models with a binomial response variable of use
versus availability. Probability of selection by chipmunks increased with
increasing mean juniper diameter and increasing variation of pinyon
diameter and decreased with increased distance to rocky escape terrain and
increased mean percent grass cover. Our findings support the
classification of the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk as an old growth
pinyon-juniper specialist, as the chipmunk displayed disproportionate
preference for old growth microhabitat conditions. We recommend management
policies that conserve old growth multi-age stands of pinyons and
junipers.  Old growth conditions near outcroppings, escarpments,
and large boulders are of particular conservation concern. Further,
thinning resulting in increased grass cover may be detrimental to this old
growth pinyon-juniper specialist.