Influence of vegetation structure on the small mammal community in a shortgrass prairie ecosystem

Thompson, Craig M.; Gese, Eric M.

doi:10.1007/s13364-012-0098-5

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…EFFECTS OF EXOTIC PLANTS ON RODENTS 521 quadruped rodents prefer to forage in areas with large amounts of cover, which is found in areas with higher plant height (Freeman et al 2014). Thus, our observed decrease in species richness appeared to be driven by the changes prompted by the exotic invasion, including subsequent decreased cover (Knapp 1996), reduced heterogeneity (Thompson and Gese 2013), and reduced niche space for less abundant species (Freeman et al 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Although invasive cover appeared to be the strongest predictor of rodent richness, plant height and percent shrub cover may have also influenced this metric. Thompson and Gese (2013) linked landscape heterogeneity to community richness and found that plant height positively influenced rodent richness. Many…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a primarily granivorous guild, desert rodent communities are not exempt from the myriad changes caused by plant invasions (Freeman et al 2014). Typically, diverse communities have been observed in areas with high levels of structural heterogeneity, with less dense ground cover and a mosaic plant community (Ostoja and Schupp 2009, Hall 2012, Steidl et al 2013, Thompson and Gese 2013. This is of particular concern because structural heterogeneity is reduced by plant invasions Pearson 2013, Reisner et al 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This provides evidence for the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, given that a higher relative abundance was observed with moderate invasive cover. Due to the changes in cover and forage availability, along with a host of other changes to habitat composition, exotic plants are a large mechanism of disturbance (Knapp 1996, Thompson and Gese 2013, Freeman et al 2014. Support for the intermediate disturbance hypothesis has been observed for several bird communities (Malavasi et al 2009, Fischer et al 2012, MacGregor-Fors et al 2013, but rarely in rodent communities (Malick et al 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Impact of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Rodent Community Richness and Abundance

Smith

Gese

Kluever

2017

Western North American Naturalist

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confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Impact of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Rodent Community Richness and Abundance

Smith

Gese

Kluever

2017

Western North American Naturalist

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“…We sampled plot vegetation twice per summer, one day prior to the onset of rodent sampling. Sampling vegetation immediately prior to rodent sampling throughout the summer is a commonly employed method to investigate vegetation effects on rodent communities, including the effects of non-native plants (Hall 2012, Thompson and Gese 2013, Freeman et al 2014). All sampling plots were located in either exotic grassland, mixed desert scrub, or sagebrush vegetation cover classes (Kluever et al 2016).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Group effects of a non‐native plant invasion on rodent abundance

2019

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Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is the most prolific invading plant in western North America.Investigations determining the impact of this invasion on population state variables and community dynamics of rodents have largely occurred at the community or species level, creating a knowledge gap as to whether rodents affiliated by a shared taxonomy or other grouping are differentially affected by cheatgrass invasion. We examined rodent abundance along a gradient of cheatgrass cover using various groupings of two nocturnal rodent taxa comprising the majority of the rodent community in the Great Basin Desert. In the summers of 2010-2013, rodents were sampled and vegetation was measured on the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground in the Great Basin Desert of Utah, USA. We separately examined estimates of rodent abundance for all combined species within the Cricetidae and Heteromyidae families, the most numerically dominant species, and uncommon species pooled in relation to cheatgrass invasion severity. We detected an expected negative linear relationship between invasion severity and abundance for all cricetid groupings, including the most numerically dominant species, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Unexpectedly, heteromyid abundance exhibited an initial positive relationship, reached a threshold, and then exhibited a negative relationship, a phenomenon driven by Ord's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ordii), the most numerically dominant species. We speculate this non-linear finding was caused by a combination of trophic and nontrophic pathways. Our findings provide new insight as to the potential for differential effects of cheatgrass on rodents in arid portions of the western United States. We suggest that future investigations on cheatgrass, and plant invader effects in general, consider parsing animal communities of interest by various taxonomic and/or ecological groupings rather than focusing exclusively on individual species or entire communities.

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Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment

Hagani,

Takekawa,

Skalos

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Light detection and ranging (lidar) has emerged as a valuable tool for examining the fine‐scale characteristics of vegetation. However, lidar is rarely used to examine coastal wetland vegetation or the habitat selection of small mammals. Extensive anthropogenic modification has threatened the endemic species in the estuarine wetlands of the California coast, such as the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris; SMHM). A better understanding of SMHM habitat selection could help managers better protect this species. We assessed the ability of airborne topographic lidar imagery in measuring the vegetation structure of SMHM habitats in a coastal wetland with a narrow range of vegetation heights. We also aimed to better understand the role of vegetation structure in habitat selection at different spatial scales. Habitat selection was modeled from data compiled from 15 small mammal trapping grids collected in the highly urbanized San Francisco Estuary in California, USA. Analyses were conducted at three spatial scales: microhabitat (25 m2), mesohabitat (2025 m2), and macrohabitat (~10,000 m2). A suite of structural covariates was derived from raw lidar data to examine vegetation complexity. We found that adding structural covariates to conventional habitat selection variables significantly improved our models. At the microhabitat scale in managed wetlands, SMHM preferred areas with denser and shorter vegetation and selected for proximity to levees and taller vegetation in tidal wetlands. At the mesohabitat scale, SMHM were associated with a lower percentage of bare ground and with pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica) presence. All covariates were insignificant at the macrohabitat scale. Our results suggest that SMHM preferentially selected microhabitats with access to tidal refugia and mesohabitats with consistent food sources. Our findings showed that lidar can contribute to improving our understanding of habitat selection of wildlife in coastal wetlands and help to guide future conservation of an endangered species.

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Influence of vegetation structure on the small mammal community in a shortgrass prairie ecosystem

Abstract: Influence of vegetation structure on the small mammal community in a shortgrass prairie ecosystem" (2013).

Cited by 21 publications

References 35 publications

Evaluating the Impact of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Rodent Community Richness and Abundance

Evaluating the Impact of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Rodent Community Richness and Abundance

Group effects of a non‐native plant invasion on rodent abundance

Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment

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