Influence of fire and topography on habitat selection by Peromyscus maniculatus and Reithrodontomys megalotis in ungrazed tallgrass prairie

TitleInfluence of fire and topography on habitat selection by Peromyscus maniculatus and Reithrodontomys megalotis in ungrazed tallgrass prairie
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1988
AuthorsKaufman, GA, Kaufman, DW, Finck, EJ
JournalJournal of Mammalogy
Volume69
Pagination342 -352
Accession NumberKNZ00191
Keywordstallgrass prairie
Abstract

Twelve species of small mammals were captured in 10 treatment areas manipulated by fire on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. The four fire classes studied were annual fire, first year after fire with previous fire greater than or equal to 4 years earlier (year 1), 2-4 years since fire (years 2-4), and greater than or equal to five years since fire (year 5+). Of the two common rodents, Peromyscus maniculatus selected year 1 sites in all seasons, whereas Reithrodontomys megalotis selected annual fire sites in spring and years 2-4 site in summer with no differences in autumn. Based on 12 fire- topography categories (fire categories the same as above; topography categories: upland, breaks [area of the limestone outcrop at the edge of the hills] and lowland), habitat selection by P. maniculatus and R. megalotis differed significantly between autumn and summer, but could not be tested for spring. Analysis of structural features demonstrated that habitat use by P. maniculatus was related negatively to amount of litter and positively to amount of exposed soil and grass. These three features were related to time since fire; however, the lack of litter likely was the most important features in the positive response by P. maniculatus to conditions following a fire. In contrast, no significant relationships were found between habitat features and use by R. megalotis

DOI10.2307/1381384