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Small Mammal Abundance and Diversity in Relation To Prairie Dog Reintroduction Sites

Small Mammal Abundance and Diversity in Relation To Prairie Dog Reintroduction Sites. Summer 2013 Ty Werdel Chadron State College Wildlife Management. Introduction. Prairie Dogs ( Cynomys ) are considered ecosystem engineers and a keystone species Impact abiotic and biotic features

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Small Mammal Abundance and Diversity in Relation To Prairie Dog Reintroduction Sites

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  1. Small Mammal Abundance and Diversity in Relation To Prairie Dog Reintroduction Sites Summer 2013 Ty Werdel Chadron State College Wildlife Management

  2. Introduction • Prairie Dogs (Cynomys) are considered ecosystem engineers and a keystone species • Impact abiotic and biotic features • Influence environmental heterogeneity, plant succession, hydrology, nutrient cycling, landscape architecture, and biodiversity

  3. Introduction

  4. Introduction Historical Range (1800)

  5. Introduction • Historically occupied millions of hectares of land • Populations have declined by 90%-98% • Range disappearing due to encroachment on habitatand eradication

  6. Introduction • Implications of Losing an Ecosystem Engineer • Many vertebrate species have been shown to depend on prairie dogs for habitat and survival. • Result in loss of species diversity in grasslands • Endangered or Species of Concern:

  7. Introduction • Prairie Dog’s Impact on Small Mammals • Utilize prairie dog burrows for dens, shelter, and predator avoidance • Species richness, diversity, and abundance has been shown to increase in areas with prairie dogs • Certain species are adapted to live in areas with short grass and bare ground.

  8. Purpose What is the effect of C. gunnisoni on small mammal species diversity and abundance on Sevilleta NWR?

  9. Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs on Sevilleta NWR • Refuge Purpose for Reintroduction • Native, Eradicated, Reintroduced • Establish habitat for the prairie dog and for the many life forms that depend on its system • Reintroduction History • Reintroduction within Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in 2010

  10. Methods: Trapping Location and Design • 4-16 ha Vegetation Plots • Plot A- Control • Plot B- Prairie Dog Reintroduction • Plot C-Control • Plot D- Prairie Dog Reintroduction

  11. Traps Placed in 9 ha Grid • 169 Traps • Arranged 25 M apart

  12. Methods:Trapping Periods • 1 Plot/Week • 4 Weeks • Control Plots • A- June 3-7 • C- June 10-14 • Treatment Plots • B- June 17-21 • D- June 24-28

  13. Methods:Trapping Procedure/Processing Procedure: Processing: • Trapped/Baited 5 Consecutive Days Per Week • Monday-Friday • Data Was Collected Regarding: Species, Sex, Age, Weight, and Measurements • Individuals marked

  14. Results:Species Captured • Heteromyidae • Kangaroo Rats • Dipodomysmerriami • Dipodomysordii • DipodomysSpectabilis • Pocket Mice • Perognathusflavus • Sciuridae • Ground Squirrels • Spermophilusspilosoma • Cricetidae • Woodrats • Neotomamicropus • Grasshopper Mice • Onychomysleucogaster • Onychomysarenicola • Mice • Peromyscusboylii • Peromyscusmaniculatus Brush Mouse Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat Silky Pocket Mouse

  15. Results:Individual Capture Location

  16. Results:Individual Capture Location

  17. Results:Species Richness Total Species Plot

  18. Results:Total Small Mammal Individuals Total Individuals Plot

  19. Results:Total Small Mammal Individuals P-Value: 0.3168 Not Significant

  20. Results:Small Mammal Species/Plot Plot Total Individuals Species

  21. Results:Small Mammal Species/Plot Plot Total Individuals Species

  22. Results:Small Mammal Species/Plot Plot Total Individuals Species

  23. Results:Small Mammal Species/Plot Plot Total Individuals Species

  24. Results:Summary • Small Mammal Species Richness • Doesn’t seem to be a correlation between species richness and control or treatment sites • Small Mammal Abundance • No significant difference • Seems to be a trend favoring abundance on treatment plots versus control plots

  25. Discussion • Previous Research • Short term studies may not show significant data • Prairie dogs may have a different effect on different grassland types • Black-tailed vs. Gunnison’s

  26. Discussion • Abundance of Small Mammals Low: • Only 1 Trapping Period Per Site • Season of Trapping • Drought vs. Monsoon • Low mammal activity • Data Not Significant: • Low abundance over all plots • Less variation between plots

  27. Future Suggestions • Baseline Data • 1st year being researched • Build upon this data • Methods • Extend trapping periods • Increase amount of traps • Trap during different seasons

  28. Potential for Future Research • Concentrate on Specific Species • Perognathusflavus • Dipodomysmerriami • Peromyscus • GIS/Spatial Mapping • Vegetation • Prairie Dog Burrows • Trap Data

  29. Acknowledgements • Special Thank You to: • Jon Erz • Stephanie Baker • Amaris Swann • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Interns • REU Students

  30. Questions?

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