Muskrat Populations

Abstract

PAUL ERRINGTON was internationally recognized for his work in the population phenomena of vertebrates, especially fur and game species, and made extensive studies in this field in North America and northern Europe. Dr. Errington was professor of zoology at Iowa State University before his death in 1962. He became a staff member at Iowa State in 1932, the same year he received his doctorate from the Univerity of Wisconsin. Recipient of many awards, he was given the American Wildlife Conference Aldo Leopold Medal (1962), a yearly award in recognition of the highest achievement and service to wildlife conservation. He was twice honored by the Wildlife Society for outstanding wildlife publication.He was author of more than two hundred technical and popular articles and besides this book was author of "Of Men and Marshes" and "Muskrats and Marsh Management."In 1958-59, Dr. Errington conducted research in Europe on population dynamics of higher vertebrates, with the support of the Guggenheim and National Science Foundations and the Swedish government.He was Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Ornithologists Union, and member of the American Society of Zoologists and numerous other scientific organizations.

Evaluation of alternative management strategies of muskrat Ondatra zibethicus population control using a population model

“…In our basic model simulations, we assume that density dependence operates, affecting all stages and all vital rates. This is in line with published findings (Errington 1954, 1963, Clark & Kroeker 1993). The type of density dependence was assumed to be ′scramble competition′.…”

“…Generally speaking, population models predict that harvested populations have lower average densities than unharvested populations (Boyce et al 1999). Our output is in line with that finding, but for muskrats, no rigorous field studies are at hand to support it, except the work of Errington (1963) on fur refuges in Iowa. Errington (1963) stated that within the refuges, densities are generally higher than outside.…”

“…Our output is in line with that finding, but for muskrats, no rigorous field studies are at hand to support it, except the work of Errington (1963) on fur refuges in Iowa. Errington (1963) stated that within the refuges, densities are generally higher than outside. There is one National Park in the Netherlands where a core area is left unharvested, but no data on population numbers have been collected from this area so far.…”

“…In the case of the muskrat, sufficient information is available (e.g. Errington 1963, Perry 1982, Boutin & Birkenholz 1987, Heidecke & Seide 1990), and the model provides us with a framework into which this information can be incorporated in a transparent way. Our objective was not to precisely predict population trajectories or abundances, and we strongly emphasise that the model results, as with any model, need to be interpreted with substantial caution.…”

Introductions of aquatic rodents: lessons of the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus invasion

“…The muskrat is easily recognised by its relatively long tail which is naked and laterally flattened. The species can survive in many habitats ranging from subtropical rivers and coastal marshes to arctic tundra and deltas (Errington 1963).…”