Burrow webs: Clawing the surface of interactions with burrows excavated by American badgers

Abstract

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that influence their environment, which includes alterations leading to habitat provisioning for other species. Perhaps the most well‐examined guild of species provisioning habitat for other species is tree cavity excavators or woodpeckers (Picidae). Many studies have examined the suite of secondary cavity users that rely on woodpeckers, and how the ecological network of secondary users, collectively referred to as the nest web, changes across communities. Despite similar habitat provisioning processes, fewer studies have assessed the suite of species associated with burrowers providing access to subterranean habitat. Here, we begin to characterize the burrow web provisioned by American badgers (Taxidea taxus) and evaluate the diversity and frequency of species interactions we detected at abandoned badger burrows in Wyoming, USA. We deployed camera traps at 23 badger burrows and identified interactions with the burrow by birds, mammals, and reptiles. Overall, we discovered 31 other species utilizing badger burrows, consisting of 12 mammals, 18 birds, and 1 reptile. Mammals, other than American badgers themselves and other fossorial species such as ground squirrels (Urocitellus sp.), frequently using burrows included mice (Peromyscus sp.), long‐tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii). Of the 18 bird species detected, most accounted for <5% of overall detections, besides chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina) at 7.2%–11.5% of detections. The most common category of detection by bird species was foraging, contrary to mammals, which used the burrow frequently and were commonly observed entering and exiting the burrow. This work provides additional context on the ecological role of American badgers within their environment. More broadly, this work scratches the surface of many remaining questions to explore with the aim of advancing our understandings about burrow webs across the diversity of burrowing species and the communities in which they occur.

Small Semi-Fossorial Herbivores Affect the Allocation of Above- and Below-Ground Plant Biomass in Alpine Meadows

“…Small semi-fossorial herbivores can affect soil properties by burrowing tunnels ( Nicod et al, 2020 ; Andersen et al, 2021 ), excreting feces and urine ( Clark et al, 2016 ; Cui et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020 ), and redistributing the soil ( Davidson et al, 2012 ; Guo et al, 2012 ; Pang et al, 2020a ). Previous studies have shown that small semi-fossorial herbivores can decrease SBD ( Dobson et al, 1998 ; Wilson and Smith, 2015 ) and soil moisture ( Pang and Guo, 2017 ) and increase the soil nitrogen concentration ( Liu et al, 2013 ; Yu et al, 2017a ; Mallen-Cooper et al, 2019 ; Cui et al, 2020 ) and soil organic carbon (SOC) ( Clark et al, 2016 ; Pang et al, 2019 ) in grasslands.…”

Wombat burrows are hotspots for small vertebrates in a landscape subject to gigafire

“…Burrow creation is a facilitative interaction whereby commensal species exploit resources offered from burrows, including the provision of shelter from predators and extreme conditions, as well as foraging and breeding opportunities. For instance, American Badger ( Taxidea taxus ) burrows are exploited by 31 species, including numerous mammal species that use the burrows for shelter ( Andersen et al 2021 ). Similarly, Gopher Tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus ) burrows are used by over 60 vertebrate species ( Dziadzio and Smith 2016 ), and Giant Armadillo ( Priodontes maximus ) burrows are visited by over 50 vertebrate species ( Desbiez and Kluyber 2013 ).…”