Diversity Within Small Mammal Communities of Forested Sites Around Itasca State Park and Nearby Prairie Sites

Abstract

After many days of trapping small rodents throughout various forest and prairie areas near Itasca State Park, it was discovered that the amount of species within these communities was strikingly similar. The forested areas were broken down into five different locations while the prairie was broken down into six. This was done to see whether or not diverse habitat composition effects the populations of small mammals. My hypothesis was that the forest habitat would contain a significantly greater diversity of species because of the more apparent differences in habitat structure. This was based on my belief that this wide variety of habitats provide for a greater occurrence of species adaptation and therefore a greater diversity.