Browsing by Subject "gopher"
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Item Effect of the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius, on the Vegetation of a Northern Minnesota Meadow(2010-03-10) Shaughnessy, Lorraine; Spohr, Bill; Puschinsky, EricThe fossorial plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius, creates mounds of dirt when digging its tunnels. Mounds tend to be associated with patches of vegetation distinct from surrounding areas. Data were collected and analyzed to determine the effects of gopher mounds on vegetation in a northern Minnesota meadow. Results indicate that distinct patches of vegetation are associated with gopher mounds, and there is a difference between the number of plant species growing on abandoned gopher mounds and control areas. Distinct patches could be a result of either nutrient cycling caused by the displacement of soil or invasion of plants not preferred by the herbivorous plains pocket gopher.Item The Effects of Geomys bursarius Mound Building on Vegetation Diversity in Prairies(2010-11-30) Dexter, Sarah; Kartak, Jacob; Lindsay, Erik; Sevdy, KimIn June of 2009, in a dry prairie approximately 2 miles north of Itasca State Park in North-central Minnesota, we found that the building of mounds by Geomys bursarius significantly alters vegetation diversity. We collected our data by setting up a total of 1,200 meters of transects, which gave us an estimation of G. bursarius mounds. Additionally, we counted the species richness on 60 randomly selected mounds in our study area; we compared these to a control that lay within approximately 5 meters from the mound counted. Our data was also compared to data from previous years taken from the same area. Along with these studies we chose areas that exhibited unique vegetation and determined if their presence is linked to a disturbance to the prairie compliments of the G. bursarius. The results we found were statistically significant, proving the Geomys bursarius has great effects on prairie ecosystems.Item Effects of Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) Disturbances in a Mixed Prairie in Northwestern Minnesota(2010-03-11) Adams, Nicole; Fillmore, Megan; Frost, Mark; Sinton, ChristopherOur objective was to determine what effect plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) and their mounds have on plant diversity within Frenchman’s Bluff Scientific and Natural Area (SNA), located in northwestern Minnesota. Our predictions were threefold. First, we predicted increased plant diversity in areas on and immediately surrounding gopher mounds in accordance with the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis. Second, we predicted that biomass in the areas on and around gopher mounds would decrease when compared to control areas where there were no gopher mounds. Lastly, we predicted that yellow sweet clover (Melitotus officinalis) will be more abundant on and around the disturbed mounds than in areas where there is no gopher disturbance. The experiment was performed in one afternoon at Frenchman’s Bluff by creating a 100x100 meter grid and assessing plant diversity and coverage in twenty 2x2 meter randomly selected control plots and comparing with twenty 2x2 meter plots that contained gopher mounds created by G. bursarius. Analysis of percent coverage of yellow sweet clover, biomass and species diversity between the gopher mound and control plots all proved to be statistically insignificant, but are all nearing significance. Given the number of experimental difficulties experienced and the limited scope of this study, it is likely that future research into the effects of the plains pocket gopher activity on plant diversity at the Frenchman’s Bluff SNA will realize conclusive and significant results that correlate with the predictions of this study.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 Gopher disturbance and plant diversity in prairie communities(2010-04-12) Akhter, Zoha; Gilliksen, Lorene; Swisher, Nick; Sosa, TimThe diversity of plant species associated with pocket gopher mound disturbance was examined at Frenchman’s Bluff, a prairie on a hill in northwestern Minnesota. Species richness and evenness between disturbed and undisturbed portions of a study area were investigated. An application of the Shannon diversity index to the collected data reveals greater diversity in areas with evidence of pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) activity.Item The impact of Geomys bursarius on prairie vegetation diversity in Minnesota(2010-11-30) Deets, Lauren; Grun, Hannah; Sievert, AdamPlains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) has shown significant effects on soil alteration and plant population by the building of mounds. Typically inhabiting grasslands, prairies, and other open areas, this alteration of the soil is thought to alter the natural state of the vegetation where these gophers are present. Data from Itasca State Park, located in Clearwater County, Minnesota, were taken by; determining if distinct patches of vegetation were associated with gopher mounds, making mound classifications of random 20 meter transects, and specifically looking at differences in vegetation between abandoned mounds and control sites. Results using chi-squared and t-testing showed significant differences (P<.0001), concluding that gopher mounds play a distinct role in the alteration and diversification of vegetation within grassland habitats.Item The Influence of Geomys bursarius on the Plant Diversity of an Abandoned Field(2010-11-30) Dunlap, Jane; Goreham, Seth; John, ZaraGeomys bursarius (Plains Pocket Gophers) have been shown to significantly alter the vegetation within their habitat. The purpose of our experiment was to study the short and long term effects pocket gophers have on the diversity of vegetation. The percentage of gopher mounds to total area was 9.82 %. Of those mounds 32.9% were abandoned mounds. The mean number of species on the mound was 6.7, and off the mound was 3.183. The difference in number of species on and off mounds prove to be statistically significant with a p<0.0001. From this evidence we concluded that gopher activity does affect the diversity of plant species in the field by creating unique nutrient rich patches of soil.Item The Influence of Plains Pocket Gophers, Geomys bursarius, On Vegetation Abundance and Diversity(2010-11-30) Kim, Carol; Thomes, Reggie; Halberg, Amber; Lehman, JustinIn this study we examined and quantified the effects plains pocket gophers had on vegetation. We predicted that we would see an increase in vegetation diversity on gopher mounds compared to our controls with no gopher activity. New, abandoned, and old gopher mounds covered 9.8% of our study area. We predicted the correct outcome as there was an average diversity of 3.183 plants on our control plots and more than double that with 6.700 plants on abandoned gopher mounds. This diversity is mainly due to the natural succession of plants with the pocket gophers being a natural disturbance and allowing early succession plants to grow.Item Plains Pocket Gophers (Geomys bursarius) Increase Plant Diversity on Gopher Mounds(2010-03-10) Kurpiewski, Andrew; Marklevits, Katrina; Treiber, ErinThe plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) is a fossorial rodent that digs an extensive burrow which creates mounds of dirt on the surface. This study examines the effects of these mounds on the plant diversity of an abandoned agricultural field by a series of different measurements. These include the percentage of distinct vegetation patches associated with mounds, percent of 20 meter transects crossing mounds, and number of plant species on mounds compared to a nearby control area. We found that 14.64 % of the field was covered by gopher mounds. By comparing our mean plant diversity data with the Itasca Biological Station’s similar previous studies, we found a significant difference in the short term plant diversity of gopher mounds.