Browsing by Author "Ihnken, Matthew"
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Item Geomys bursarius: Vegetation Variation on Gopher Mounds within a Northern Minnesota Vole Field(2010-03-10) Ihnken, Matthew; Korbmacher, Michelle; Sinton, ChristopherThe plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) lives throughout the southern 2/3rds of Minnesota. The pocket gopher is known for turning up soil and digging extensive tunnels that can aerate soils. Our study site is located near the north entrance of Itasca State Park in Northern Minnesota. The goal of our study was to determine if there were distinct vegetation patches associated with the gopher mounds and if plant diversity increased around and on mounds. We used transects to sample the field for vegetation patches and the locations of old, new, and abandoned gopher mounds. We then ran a series of test to determine whether or not there was any correlation between gopher mounds and plant diversity, and then distinct vegetation patches. We determined that patches of vegetation were most likely associated with gopher mounds, and that species diversity increased on and around mounds.Item Small Mammal Diversity of four differing habitat types in Itasca State Park and Agassiz Dunes(2010-03-10) Ihnken, MatthewIn the summer of 2008 we set out to sample the diversity of small mammals in two differing ecosystems in Itasca State Park and Agassiz Dunes. In Itasca we picked 4 different habitat types; Burnt Pine, Red Pine, Aspen, and Bog. Similarly, at Agassiz Dunes we selected Burnt Priarie near a road, Prairie adjacent to Aspen, burnt prairie way from a road, and Oak Savannah. In Itasca and Agassiz Dunes we sampled each habitat type concurrently for 3 days. The results of which are the basis of this paper here.