Dusky-Footed Woodrat Demography and Prescribed Fire in a California Oak Woodland

Abstract

We investigated the effects of prescribed understory fire and shrub density on a population of dusky‐footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) live‐trapped each spring and fall from October 1993 to 2001. We performed model selection with program MARK on capture‐recapture data using Pollock's robust design to estimate survival and temporary emigration. Abundance increased from 1993 to a peak in 1997 and then decreased steadily from 1997 to 2001, accompanied by reduced reproduction. Survival was age‐ and time‐dependent. Differential temporary emigration probabilities were explained by home‐range size differences. Survival and abundance were higher in plots with high shrub cover vs. plots with low shrub cover. A low‐medium intensity, prescribed understory fire in the fall of 1997 had no negative effect on survival or temporary emigration. The only fire‐related negative demographic effect was a reduction in the number of juveniles per adult female on burned plots in the spring immediately after the fire. Prescribed understory fire in oak woodland is unlikely to alter woodrat populations significantly if patches of well‐structured habitat are maintained.

Effects of an invasive forest pathogen on abundance of ticks and their vertebrate hosts in a California Lyme disease focus

“…We expected that SOD-related mortality could act similarly to other forest disturbances such as logging or fire, which have been demonstrated to have important impacts on vertebrate populations (Bolger et al 1997; Lee and Tietje 2005; Suzan et al 2008a). We assessed whether SOD changed the abundances of key vertebrate hosts and the vectors of Lyme disease with potential consequences for Lyme disease transmission.…”

Effects of Repeated Captures on Body Mass and Survival of Dusky-Footed Woodrats in a California Oak Woodland

“…As part of a long-term study on small mammals (demography, relationships with habitat, and response to management of land; e.g., Lee and Tietje, 2005), we used mark-recapture data collected during 2002-2006 to quantify the short-term effects of repeated captures on woodrats in a relatively mild, two-season climate (cool wet winter versus hot dry summer) to provide a point of comparison with the results and implications of other studies. We also used the data to investigate long-term effects on survival of woodrats.…”

“…Body mass is generally correlated with survival among small mammals (e.g., Myers and Master, 1983;Sauer and Slade, 1986), and younger, smaller individuals might be more susceptible to mortality due to starvation, exposure, predation, or other sources. Lee and Tietje (2005) determined that juvenile woodrats at Camp Roberts had lower survival than adults 1-2 years old. They further reported that survival of woodrats declines markedly after ca.…”

Mammals and Mixed- and High-severity Fire

“…The occupation of severely burned areas by small mammals is related to regrowth of the vegetation structure with which various species are associated (Torre and Díaz, 2004;Lee and Tietje, 2005;Vamstad and Rotenberry, 2010;Diffendorfer et al, 2012;Kelly et al, 2012;Borchert and Borchert, 2013), as well as with seed and insect production and availability (Coppeto et al, 2006), and cavities created by woodpeckers in snags (Tarbill, 2010). I discuss fire effects on small mammals according to habitat type but give special attention to the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)-an exceptionally "fire-loving" species-in its own section.…”