Impact of the morphology of logged areas on medium and large mammal communities in forests

Context: The morphology of logged areas (MLA) can impact medium and large mammal habitat. Assessing MLAs with landscape metrics facilitates sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. Objectives: We quantified MLAs and assessed their impacts on medium and large mammals. Methods: We assessed mammal occurrence using camera traps in 24 logged and 26 unlogged sites in South Korea and collected environmental variables, including nine MLA indices, at the microscale (50 m), mesoscale (500 m), and macroscale (1 km). After performing a principal component analysis (PCA), linear mixed and single-species occupancy models were used to assess the effects of principal components on mammal diversity and species-specific responses. Results: In the PCA results, MLA components were notably associated with spatial scales, with 50-m-scale indices separated from larger-scale indices. Several MLA components showed strong associations. Microscale MLA traits, particularly edge complexity and reduced unlogged patch connectivity, negatively affected diversity. At the species level, omnivores—specifically, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Asian badger (Meles leucurus)—were negatively influenced by the same MLA component influencing diversity. In contrast, leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) showed a preference for simplified spatial arrangements—characterized by fewer logged areas and short edges—at the 500 m and 1 km scales. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of MLAs in mitigating logging impacts on mammals, as some morphologies can reduce exposure and provide more favorable habitat. Designing logged areas based on MLA indices can help balance conservation and resource use.