Influence of Fire and Topography on Habitat Selection by Peromyscus maniculatus and Reithrodontomys megalotis in Ungrazed Tallgrass Prairie

Kaufman, Glennis A.; Kaufman, Donald W.; Finck, Elmer J.

doi:10.2307/1381384

Cited by 81 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Observing trends over time or across disturbance gradients might allow managers to anticipate ecosystem change preventing irreversible degradation. Although found to have more habitat breadth elsewhere (Kaufman et al 1988, C. hispidus and R. fulvescens in our study had more specific habitat requirements than P. maniculatus and S. hispidus and therefore, we considered them characteristic species (Spencer and Cameron 1982;Paulson 1988;McGeoch et al 2002). Such characteristic species can be monitored on a presence-absence basis rather than by observing trends over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Species composition and track-cover measurements (percentage area of sampling unit disturbed by a vehicle) followed a modified Daubenmire (1959) cover class system (>0-1%, >1-5%, >5-25%, >25-50%, >50-75%, >75-95%, and >95-100%); midpoints for each class were used in analyses. Characteristics of the litter layer can influence small mammal habitat use and abundance Kaufman et al 1983Kaufman et al , 1988. Litter depth was measured five times/quadrat (i.e., 300 measurements/study location) using a meter stick.…”

Section: Trapping Small Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ecologists have rarely considered the role of below-ground processes on small mammal populations (Gibson et al 1990), albeit they have recognized effects of habitat fragmentation and heterogeneity on population dynamics (Ims and Andreassen 1999) and distributions (Schweiger et al 1999). Soil nutrient dynamics altered by disturbance might in turn affect plant species richness, composition, and vegetation structural characteristics such as litter and plant height (Burke et al 1998) that influence small mammal communities (Abramsky 1978;Kaufman et al 1983Kaufman et al , 1988Kincaid et al 1983) as well as birds (Zimmerman 1988) and primary productivity (Rice and Parenti 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Small mammals as indicators of short-term and long-term disturbance in mixed prairie

Leis

Leslie

Engle

et al. 2007

Environ Monit Assess

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Disturbance by military maneuvers over short and long time scales may have differential effects on grassland communities. We assessed small mammals as indicators of disturbance by military maneuvers in a mixed prairie in southern Oklahoma USA. We examined sites on two soil series, Foard and Lawton, across a gradient of disturbance intensity. A MANOVA showed that abundance of small mammals was associated (p = 0.03) with short-term (cover of vehicle tracks) disturbance but was not associated (p = 0.12) with long-term (loss of soil organic carbon, SOC) disturbance intensity. At the individual species level, Sigmodon hispidus (cotton rat) and Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse) occurred across all levels of disturbance and in both soil types. Only P. maniculatus abundance changed (p < 0.01) with short-term disturbance and increased by about one individual per 5% of additional track-cover. Abundance of P. maniculatus also increased (p = 0.04) by about three individuals per 1% increase in soil carbon. Chaetodipus hispidus (hispid pocket mouse) and Reithrodontomys fulvescens (fulvous harvest mouse) only occurred in single soil types limiting their potential as more general indicators. Abundance of P. maniculatus was positively related to shifts in plant species composition and likely reflected changes in vegetation structure (i.e. litter depth) and forage availability resulting from disturbance. Peromyscus maniculatus may be a useful biological indicator of ecosystem change because it responded predictably to both long-term and short-term disturbance and, when coupled with soil, plant, and disturbance history variables, can reveal land condition trends.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Trapping Small Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Small mammals as indicators of short-term and long-term disturbance in mixed prairie

Leis

Leslie

Engle

et al. 2007

Environ Monit Assess

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“…This rodent prefers habitats with abundant grass-dominated herbaceous vegetation (Kaufman and Fleharty 1974;Moulton et al 1981;Kaufman et al 1988). Populations of Western Harvest Mice in the United States exhibited a range of patterns of abundance from annual cycles (Brady and Slade 2004) to highly variable numbers (Skupski 1995) with a potentially strong negative interaction with vole (Microtus spp.)…”

Section: Dynamics Of Peripheral Populations Of Great Basin Pocket Micmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Peripheral Populations of Great Basin Pocket Mice, Perognathus parvus, and Western Harvest Mice, Reithrodontomys megalotis, in Southern British Columbia

Sullivan

2008

Can Field Nat

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The Great Basin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus parvus) and Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) are two peripheral species occurring in the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Both species are listed as vulnerable to extirpation because of habitat loss, primarily due to conversion of natural habitat to agricultural uses and suburban expansion. Population dynamics of these two species were studied in three habitat types: old field, sagebrush, and pine forest. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse occurred at densities ranging from 12 to 28/ha in sagebrush habitats and at 2-8/ha in old fields and Ponderosa Pine forest. The Western Harvest Mouse occurred at variable densities up to 10/ha in old fields and up to 5/ha in sagebrush habitats. Mean number of lactating females for Great Basin Pocket Mice ranged from 4-8 in sagebrush, 1-5 in old fields and pine forests combined. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood ranged from 3.28 young Great Basin Pocket Mice per pregnant female in sagebrush, 4.67 in old field, and 1.82 in pine forest habitats. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood of Western Harvest Mice ranged from 1.46-1.72 young per female in old field and sagebrush habitats. Conservation of habitat features (high biomass and structural diversity of grasses and forbs) in linear habitats has the potential to maintain populations of Western Harvest Mice. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse needs features of sagebrush and old field habitats that need to be conserved as natural non-linear components in mosaics of natural and anthropogenic habitats. Both species could act as “indicators” of habitat integrity for a wide range of other vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species in the Okanagan Valley.

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“…Both habitats contained two closely related species of small mammals (Peromyscus maniculatus, the Deer Mouse, in the prairie and P. leucopus, the White-footed Mouse, in the woods), which were similar in body size and morphology. Numerical responses, caused by immigration of Deer Mice to prairie burns, have been documented previously (Cook 1959;Kaufman et al 1983Kaufman et al , 1988. Similarly, acorns have been shown to be an important local food source for mice (Peromyscus spp: Ostfeld et al 1996;Wolff 1996).…”

Section: Availability Of Preymentioning

confidence: 73%

The Influence of Prey Availability and Vegetation Characteristics on Scent Station Visitation Rates of Coyotes, Canis latrans, in a Heterogeneous Environment

Randa

Yunger

2004

Can Field Nat

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We investigated the effects of local prey fluctuations and habitat variables on the scent station visitation rates of the Coyote (Canis latrans) in northern Illinois within a heterogeneous environment. Availability of small mammalian prey was assessed by monthly mark-recapture sampling and visual counts conducted along three, 192-m transects in each of seven habitats that ranged from grassland to wooded sites. Habitat metrics, which included foliage density, ground cover, and canopy cover, were also collected for the same seven habitats. Visitation rates of Coyotes were determined from scent station lines parallel to the small mammal trapping transects. A multiple regression analysis indicated that Coyote visitation rates across the study site were influenced positively by vole (Microtus spp.) abundance and negatively by canopy cover. When Coyote visitation rates were regressed on vole abundance for only the habitats in which voles occurred, the relationship was not significant. This may be attributed to the general avoidance of wooded areas by Coyotes. Coyotes did, however, respond to experimentallyinduced abundant patches of Peromyscus. These findings suggest Coyotes selectively use grassland habitats within a heterogeneous environment and may modify their use according to prey availability.

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Influence of Fire and Topography on Habitat Selection by Peromyscus maniculatus and Reithrodontomys megalotis in Ungrazed Tallgrass Prairie

Cited by 81 publications

References 27 publications

Small mammals as indicators of short-term and long-term disturbance in mixed prairie

Small mammals as indicators of short-term and long-term disturbance in mixed prairie

Dynamics of Peripheral Populations of Great Basin Pocket Mice, <em>Perognathus parvus</em>, and Western Harvest Mice, <em>Reithrodontomys megalotis</em>, in Southern British Columbia

The Influence of Prey Availability and Vegetation Characteristics on Scent Station Visitation Rates of Coyotes, <em>Canis latrans</em>, in a Heterogeneous Environment

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