Fourteen years of population fluctuations of Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus in east central Illinois

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1317-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lowell L. Getz ◽  
Joyce E. Hofmann ◽  
Brian J. Klatt ◽  
Louis Verner ◽  
F. Russell Cole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Short Term ◽  
East Central ◽  
Central Illinois

Population densities of Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus were monitored from 1972 to 1986 in three habitats: alfalfa, bluegrass, and tallgrass prairie. Microtus ochrogaster displayed two apparent multiannual population cycles in alfalfa and bluegrass from 1972 to 1976; thereafter only annual (alfalfa) or erratic (bluegrass) fluctuations were apparent. Except for extremely high densities during 1984–1985, population fluctuations of M. ochrogaster in tallgrass were erratically low and there was no evidence of multiannual cycles. During 15 of 29 changes in population density of M. ochrogaster, the amplitude of fluctuations was more than 10-fold; 14 of these changes were preceded by marked population declines or very low densities the previous winter and spring. Microtus pennsylvanicus displayed annual fluctuations in abundance in alfalfa and bluegrass and was erratically high at all times in tallgrass. Only 7 of 32 population fluctuations of M. pennsylvanicus had amplitudes of at least 10-fold; in all 7 cases population density had been high the previous year. We conclude that distinct multiannual population cycles were not characteristic of either species in any habitat over the 14 years. Most previous assumptions of multiannual cycles in these species may be artifacts of short-term studies.

scholarly journals POPULATION ECOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN SLIMY SALAMANDER (PLETHODON GLUTINOSUS) IN EAST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

2015 ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
John A. Crawford ◽  
Andrew R. Kuhns ◽  
Mathys J. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Population Ecology ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Ecosystem Integrity ◽  
East Central ◽  
Plethodon Glutinosus ◽  
Capture Success ◽  
Plethodontid Salamanders ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Central Illinois

The importance of plethodontid salamanders in forested habitats has been recognized for decades and more recently plethodontids have been touted as a model taxon for monitoring ecosystem integrity and recovery. However, basic demographic data that are crucial to conservation and management plans are currently lacking for many species and regions. The objectives of our study were to characterize the population density, biomass, and capture success of a peripheral population of Plethodon glutinosus to provide a comparison for eastern populations and set a baseline for future monitoring of Midwestern populations. We estimated the population density of P. glutinosus at our site to be 0.41 salamanders/m2, with an estimated biomass of 0.70 g/m2. We did not find any evidence for temperature or precipitation affecting capture success. Our results showed that our density estimate falls within the range of other population ecology studies of Plethodon and sets a baseline for other peripheral Midwestern populations.

Short-term responses of small mammals to experimental fire in tallgrass prairie

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2450-2454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryon K. Clark ◽  
Donald W. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Konza Prairie ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Blarina Hylophaga

Short-term responses of small mammals to experimental fire were examined in a 13-ha site on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. A 6.1-ha portion was burned in spring 1987, whereas the 6.9-ha control site was left unburned in 1987, as was the entire 13 ha in spring 1986. In the absence of fire, < 1% of all small mammals (n = 130) caught in both March and April 1986 completely shifted from one area to the opposite area. No differences occurred in appearance of new individuals between the two areas in April 1986. In April 1987, all Reithrodontomys megalotis (n = 14) and Microtus ochrogaster (n = 6) caught in the burned area before fire and recaught after fire moved to the unburned area, but no individual from either species moved the opposite way. Most Synaptomys cooperi (75%, n = 4) moved away from the burned area, but no animals were available to test for movements into the burned area. Most new individuals for fire-negative species were captured in the unburned area after fire: 93% of R. megalotis (n = 46), 96% of Blarina hylophaga (n = 27), 100% of M. ochrogaster (n = 4), and 100% of S. cooperi (n = 1). In contrast, Peromyscus maniculatus exhibited a fire-positive response, with one of four moving from unburned to burned and none of five moving the opposite way, and most new individuals recorded after fire were in the burned area (88%, n = 24).

Multiple paternity in socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 1667-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy G Solomon ◽  
Brian Keane ◽  
Lana R Knoch ◽  
Paula J Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Multiple Paternity ◽  
Model System ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Allelic Polymorphism ◽  
Pair Bonding ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
East Central ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Central Illinois

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner, 1842)) exhibit behavioral, morphological, and neuroendocrinological traits associated with monogamy and are considered a model system to examine the biological foundations of monogamy in mammals. We examined allelic polymorphism at microsatellite loci to assess mating exclusivity in wild prairie voles sampled in east-central Illinois and found evidence of multiple paternity in five of nine litters (56%) analyzed. Thus, a female in this socially monogamous mammal with extensive mechanisms for pair bonding does not always mate solely with its partner and raises the paradox of why some pair-bonded females mate multiply.

Population dynamics of the northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda: insights from a 25-year study

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1679-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lowell L Getz ◽  
Joyce E Hofmann ◽  
Betty McGuire ◽  
Madan K Oli
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rates ◽  
Seasonal Reproduction ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Blarina Brevicauda ◽  
East Central ◽  
Annual Peak ◽  
Annual Population ◽  
Central Illinois ◽  
Winter Population

The population demography of the northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda (Say, 1823), was studied for 25 years in bluegrass, alfalfa, and tallgrass habitats in east-central Illinois. The population in bluegrass had higher over-winter population density, began increasing earlier in the year, peaked earlier in the year, had higher mean monthly densities and amplitudes of fluctuation, and remained higher for longer than did populations in alfalfa and tallgrass. Survival rates were greater in bluegrass and tallgrass than in alfalfa. The species displayed annual population fluctuations with little variation in amplitude among years in all three habitats. Seasonal reproduction appeared to be responsible for the annual fluctuations. Survival did not vary in relation to season, but was positively correlated with annual peak densities, whereas reproduction was not. There was no correlation between population densities of voles during April–August and annual peak densities of B. brevicauda. We conclude that annual fluctuations in B. brevicauda populations are driven by seasonal reproduction, while variation in mortality, most likely from predation, may explain differences in the amplitudes of annual peaks.

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