Title | Influence of habitat vegetative condition on trap response of rodents associated with burrow mounds of Dipodomys spectabilis in a desert grassland |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 1998 |
Authors | Kay F.R |
Journal | Southwestern Naturalist |
Volume | 43 |
Issue | 2 |
Start Page | 269 |
Pagination | 269-273 |
Date Published | June 1998 |
Keywords | burrow mounds, desert grassland, Dipodomys spectabilis, habitat vegetative condition, rodents, trap response |
Abstract | A variety of factors are known to play a role in susceptibility of small mammals to being trapped (Smith et al., 1975). Among the factors tested are trap-type (closed box live trap, pitfall trap, wire box live trap, snap trap), moonlight, season, food availability, and bait (see O'Farrell et al. [1994] and Woodman et al [1996] for recent reviews). Although intuition suggests that habitat condition (e.g., food availability, cover) should influence small mammal trap response, few observations have been reported (Grinnell, 1932; Fitch, 1954; Smith and Blessing, 1969; O'Farrell and Uptain, 1987). Grinnell (1932) stated that giant kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ingens) ignored bait ed snap-traps when new growth of forbs and grasses was available. Fitch (1954) showed that captures of a variety of small and medium-sized mammals declined in apparent concert with seasonal food availability. Smith and Blessing (1969) presented results that showed that experimental food augmentation decreased captures of old-field rodents. O'Farrell and Uptain (1987) reported that Stephens' kangaroo rats (D. stephensi) were nearly impossible to live trap when vegetative cover and green vegetation were abundant. |
URL | https://www.academia.edu/29014632/Kay_F.R._1998._Influence_of_habitat_vegetative_condition_on_trap_response_of_rodents_associated_with_burrow_mounds_of_Dipodomys_spectabilis_in_a_desert_grassland._Southwestern_Naturalist_43_269-273?auto=download |