Browsing by Subject "Plains pocket gopher"
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Item Effects of Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) Mound Building on Plant Diversity(2011-02-09) Curry, Jessica; Avendano, Javier; Peterson, JulieThe plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) is a member of the order Rodentia and family Geomyidae. The effects of these subterranean herbivores on vegetation can arise from diet selection, foraging behavior, and burrow structure and dynamics. In the absence of pocket gophers there is higher soil fertility which lead to higher plant biomass, in turn reduces light availability at the surface. Our study was designed to examine the effect of gopher mounds on plant diversity. Of 256 unique patches of vegetation sampled we found that 195 (76%) were associated with a gopher mound and 61 (24%) were not associated with a mound. Of the total patches surveyed 28 (11%) were associated with new mounds, 81 (32%) with abandoned mounds, and 86 (33%) with old mounds. While the mounds may be detrimental to plant diversity while they are active, once they are abandoned by the gophers they become beneficial.Item The Effects of Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) Mounds on Localized Vegetation Diversity(2011-02-09) Sigler, Holly; Grunzke, Danielle; Rehmann, AndrewThe plains pocket gopher’s (Geomys bursarius) burrowing activities have a significant influence on the ecosystem. This fossorial mammal can displace large volumes of soil and consequently drastically alter the surface soils chemical composition, which in turn affects the plant diversity. We measured the effects of the plains pocket gopher on a semi-arid short-grass abandoned field plot near Itasca State Park in Minnesota. Relatively few new mounds were found and thus we were unable to adequately address short-term affects. Although past research has shown a loss in overall vegetation in the short term. Long term effects included larger species diversity as a result of slowed successional processes.Item The Effects of the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) on Surrounding Vegetation(2011-02-09) White, Aaron; Henderson, Corey; Anderson, AnnikaThe plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) is a rodent that digs complex burrows and primarily feeds on plants. This study examines the impact that the plains pocket gopher has on vegetation patterns in an abandoned agricultural field near Itasca State Park, Minnesota. Pocket gopher mounds of varying ages were evaluated for their effects on plant species diversity. Through statistical analysis it was discovered that these mounding activities have a direct effect on species richness.Item The Effects of the Plains Pocket Gopher on Plant Diversity(2011-02-09) Bischoff, Karl; Hekrdle, Winnona M.; Maloney, ConnorThe Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) plays a significant role in the prairie ecosystem. Researchers have identified direct and indirect effects of their activity on the plant communities in which they reside. Surveys of gopher activity and plant diversity were conducted in an experimental plot established 9 km NW of Lake Itasca, Minnesota USA. The purpose was to determine the impacts these fossorial mammals were having on the plant community on site. Statistical analysis indicated a correlation between distinct vegetation patches and the presence of gopher mounds. The short and long term effects of gopher activity include the availability of light and nutrients as well as active browsing of woody vegetation, respectively. Our findings bolster the growing body of literature on the subject, and provide further evidence that fossorial mammals may be considered the “ecosystem engineers” of the prairie biome.Item Impact of Pocket Gophers on Long and Short Term Prairie Vegetation Diversity(2011-02-09) Do, Anh; Knoeck, Matthew; Stedman, KathrynThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) mounds on prairie vegetation. This includes long and short term succession patterns as well as plant diversity on individual mounds. We obtained data by species counts and mound counts on an old field. We found that diversity on abandoned mounds was higher than that on new or old mounds or undisturbed land. In addition, old mounds were found to have the highest proportion of distinct patches of vegetation.Item Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Study the Effects of Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) Mound Building on Vegetation(2011-02-09) Nosal, Amanda; Featherstone, Bryan; Vang, NaWe explored qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate the impact of the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) mounds on the plant community. We hypothesized that plant species richness would be higher on mounds than surrounding areas and that the mounds would create significant impacts on plant diversity. We categorized mounds as ―new,‖ ―abandoned,‖ or ―old,‖ measured the width of the abandoned mounds, and noted the different plant species present on the mounds and the control plots. Our results indicated that species richness is significantly increased on and near gopher mounds, and overall, gopher mounds significantly alter local plant community. This study demonstrates that the impacts of Geomys bursarius activities are just as critical as its role in the trophic web.Item Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Study the Effects of Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) Mound building on Vegetation(2011-02-09) Hughes, Curtis; Sharrow, Matthew; Etheridge, RobertThe plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius), has been associated with higher levels of plant diversity in grassland areas. In order to test this prediction we conducted vegetative surveys on and off mound areas. We also counted and measured mounds along randomly chosen transects in order to get an idea of the amount of impacted area. Our results further supported this association by demonstrating the effects pocket gophers have on plant diversity. Higher plant diversity was found on or near mound areas versus off.