conservation.arizona.edu - Mammals

Posthumus, E. E., J. L. Koprowski, and R. J. Steidl. 2015. Red squirrel middens influence abundance but not diversity of other vertebrates. PLoS ONE 10(4):e0123633. doi:10.1371/journal/pone.0123633.

thackerk1 — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 23:22:26 +0000

Authors

Erin E. Posthumus

John L. Koprowski

Robert J. Steidl

Some animals modify the environment in ways that can influence the resources available to other species. Because red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) create large piles of conifer-cone debris (middens) in which they store cones, squirrels concentrate resources that might affect biodiversity locally. To determine whether other animals are attracted to midden sites beyond their affinity for the same resources that attract red squirrels, we assessed associations between middens, mammals, and birds at population and community levels. We surveyed 75 middens where residency rates of red squirrels varied during the previous five years; sampling along this residency gradient permitted us to evaluate the influence of resources at middens beyond the influence of a resident squirrel. At each loca- tion, we quantified vegetation, landscape structure, abundance of conifer cones, and midden structure, and used capture–recapture, distance sampling, and remote cameras to quantify presence, abundance, and species richness of mammals and birds. Red squirrels and the resources they concentrated at middens influenced mammals and birds at the population scale and to a lesser extent at the community scale. At middens with higher residency rates of red squirrels, richness of medium and large mammals increased markedly and species richness of birds increased slightly. After accounting for local forest characteristics, however, only species richness of medium-to-large mammals was associated with a red squirrel being resident during surveys. In areas where red squirrels were resident during surveys or in areas with greater amounts of resources concentrated by red squirrels, abundances of two of four small mammal species and two of four bird species increased. We conclude that the presence of this ecosystem modifier and the resources it concentrates influence abundance of some mammals and birds, which may have implications for maintain- ing biodiversity across the wide geographic range inhabited by red squirrels and other larderhoarding animals.

Additional Information

Red Squirrel Middens Influence Abundance but Not Diversity of Other Vertebrates

Date of publication:

2015

Topics

red squirrel

resources

middens

Mammals

birds

population

community levels

residency

Koprowski, J. L., A. J. Edelman, B. S. Pasch, and D. C. Buecher. 2005. A dearth of data on the mammals of the Madrean archipelago: What we think we know and what we actually know. USDA Forest Service proceedings RMRS-P-36: 412- 415.

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:26:54 +0000

Authors

John L. Koprowski

Andrew J. Edelman

Bret S. Pasch

Debbie C. Buecher

The Madrean Archipelago harbors one of the most diverse mammalian communities in North America. We used the Web of Science literature search tool to assess the diversity of peer-reviewed publications on mammals in Arizona and New Mexico as an indicator of publications in the region. The number of publications of all mammals was lower than expected with a mode of 0 and a median of 1. Species were not studied equally in Arizona with most measures suggesting a disproportionately large number of publications on the Order Artiodactyla and small numbers of publications on the Orders Rodentia and Chiroptera. Large mammals and those found in many Arizona counties tend to be the subject of more publications. Despite the great diversity of the region, a dearth of published data on mammalian species is evidenced within the Madrean Archipelago, especially among the Rodentia and Chiroptera.

Additional Information

A Dearth of Data on the Mammals of the Madrean Archipelago: What We Think We Know and What We Actually Do Know

Date of publication:

2005

Topics

Madrean Archipelago

North America

Mammals

large mammals

Mammals of Korea

mmerrick — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:57:45 +0000

Authors

Jo, Y.S.

Baccus, J. T.

Koprowski, J. L.

This book presents 127 species of Korean mammals describing their taxonomy, natural history, distribution, conservation, and management. Also, the book introduces hotspots for mammal watching, history of Korean mammalogy, and mammalian zoogeography of Korea.

Additional Information

IUCN Library

Date of publication:

2018

Topics

Korea

Mammals

International Wildlife

conservation

Research Categories

Natural History