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Effect of Rock Cover on Small Mammal Abundance in a Montana Grassland
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 14:55 authored by Richardson, K, Scott CarverScott Carver, Douglass, R, Kuenzi, AWe examined the influence of rock cover, as an indicator of presumable retreat site availability on the abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and prevalence of Sin Nombre virus (SNV) using long-term live trapping and habitat data from three live trapping grids and a shortterm (three month), spatially replicated study across three slopes in Cascade County, Montana. In our long-term study, we found that deer mice were more abundant at a live-trapping grid with greater rock cover, than two grids with less rock cover. There was a non-significant trend (P = 0.053) for deer mice to be more abundant in rocky sites in the short term study. In the long-term study, average SNV antibody prevalence among deer mice was slightly greater (5.0 vs. 3.5 % on average) at the live trapping grid with more rock cover, than the grid with less rock cover. We were unable to demonstrate differences in SNV antibody prevalence among treatments in the short-term study. Further studies are needed to elucidate the multiple determinants of deer mouse abundance and SNV prevalence in grassland ecosystem and other habitat types.
History
Publication title
Intermountain Journal of SciencesVolume
17Issue
1-4Pagination
20-29ISSN
1081-3519Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Intermountain Journal of SciencesPlace of publication
United StatesRights statement
Copyright 2011 Intermountain Journal of Sciences,Repository Status
- Restricted