The influence of timber harvest on small mammals
Your paper on this topic should address influences of different intensities of timber harvest (e.g., clearcutting, thinning) on small mammal populations. There are a number of different directions you could go with this paper, including consideration of influences on abundance of small mammals and/or reproductive success. You will need to define the scope of your paper carefully (what aspects and geographical area you are considering), and let the reader know up front what that scope is.
Your paper should cite the following papers and a minimum of 5 others:
Gashwiler, J. S. 1970. Plant and mammal changes on a clearcut in west-central Oregon. Ecology 51:849-854.
Sullivan, T. P., D. S. Sullivan, and P. M. F. Lindgren. 2001. Stand structure and small mammals in young lodgepole pine forest: 10-year results after thinning. Ecological Applications 11:1151-1173.
Suzuki, N., and J. P. Hayes. 2003. Effects of thinning on small mammals in Oregon coastal forests. Journal of Wildlife Management 67:352-371. (Note: this paper is currently in press and not available in the journal... a copy of the preprint of the article is on reserve in the Valley Library, in the Forestry Self Learning Center, and in the library room in Nash Hall. Alternatively, you can access a pdf version of the preprint by clicking here)