Relationships Between Water Developments and Select Mammals on the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah

摘要: Rodent communities comprise a majority of the mammalian diversity within host ecosystems and provide significant portion available biomass consumed by higher trophic organisms. Rodents also influence structure composition vegetation contribute to supply several ecosystem services. The importance rodent communities, coupled with increases in anthropogenic modifications landscapes, creates need for determining if such affect communities. construction artificial water developments wildlife deserts western United States is commonplace, but have been proposed unintentional negative impacts desert adapted species To test these impact ideas, we employed BACI observational design over four summers determine influenced abundance. We found no evidence that negatively impacted Estimates total abundance trapping grids were distant proximate under framework similar [i.e., overlap 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] during 87.5% (7 8) sessions. CIs at _________________________ 1 Co-authors are Eric M. Gese Steven J. Dempsey; chapter formatted Journal Mammalogy 14 overlapped 75% (3 4) sessions prior manipulation; all three cases was lower grids. Following manipulation, non-overlap occurred 100% (4 sessions; estimates cases. appeared be driven combination spatial (e.g., heterogeneity) temporal variations seasonal precipitation) factors. Our findings suggested on our study area did not significantly INTRODUCTION (Feldhamer et al. 2007; Jones Safi 2011; Merritt 2010), predators (Andersson Erlinge 1977; Sieg 1987), can (Sieg 1987; McMurray 1997). Recent investigations assemblages provision services as groundwater recharge, regulation soil erosion, productivity potential, carbon storage, forage availability (Martinez-Estevez 2013; Longland Ostaja 2013). Factors reported included predation (Stapp 1997; Henke Bryant 1999; Shenbrot 2014), competition (Heske 1994; Stokes 2009; precipitation primary (Ernest 2000; Thibault 2010; characteristics (Whitford Steinberger 1989; Hernandez 2005; Thompson 2013), both natural 15 disturbances (Ramirez Hornocker 1981; Medin Clary Kutiel 2000). Of these, receiving increasing attention due their growing pervasiveness many landscapes. Investigations revealed disturbances, including urbanization (Umetsu Pardini Shenko 2012), livestock grazing (Medin 1989), predator removal (Henke 1999), military training activities (Shenko 2012). Conversely, roads road traffic (Bissonette Rosa Rotholz Mandelik wind farm (de Lucas 2005), (Thompson 2013) shown benign or positive impacts. variability effects disturbance suggests myriad ecological processes likely play, may direct indirect types occurring different areas same fashion. Hence, there limit inference outside scope site-specific address role specific case basis, when possible, incorporate sampling designs allow studies go beyond purely nature. One type modification has possible arid environments constructed benefit certain (hereafter developments). Free key limiting factor individual (Leopold 1933), especially systems (Rosenstock 16 Krausman 2006). As result, maintenance regions common practice. intent addition free landscape order increase populations, animal movements, effect distributions species, facilitate (Simpson 2011, Larsen At end last century, 10 11 USA state agencies ongoing development programs combined annual expenditures >$1,000,000 US dollars 2013, nearly 7000 had (Larsen Furthermore, utilized mitigation technique offset (Broyles 1995). (2012) forecasted will conservation management tool States. Though unique they explicitly targeted represent potential landscape. In recent years researchers posited indirectly, way spreading disease, encouraging exotic influencing populations dependent increased risk 1995; Rosenstock 2004; DeStefano Simpson 2011). notion landscapes known hypothesis (Hall testing 17 rare, community level. (2000) leporid near presence avian carnivores. Cutler Morrison (1998) affected relative rodents reptiles. Carnivorous mammal regularly prey upon documented visit summer months O’Brien 2006; Hall date, tested using either long-term monitoring (i.e., > 2 years) an experimental/manipulative design. Whether indirectly help guide future decisions agencies, sportsmen groups, organizations, where partially comprised rare imperiled food source overall objective elucidate cold system. Specifically, used 1) whether away from active developments, 2) rodents.