Swamp Rat Distribution

Each study site is 1 km by 0.5 km in area. Three rodent trapping webs and four replicate experimental blocks of plots are randomly located at each study site to measure vegetation responses to the exclusion of small mammals. Each block of plots is 96 meters on each side. Each block of plots consists of 4 experimental study plots, each occupying 1/4 of each block. The blocks of study plots are all oriented on a site in an X/Y coordinate system, with the top to the north. Treatments within each block include one unfenced control plot (Treatment C), one plot fenced with hardware cloth and poultry wire to exclude rodents and rabbits (Treatment R). The two treatments were randomly assigned to each of the four possible plots in each block independently, and their arrangements differ from block to block. Each of the plots in a replicate block are separated by 20 meters. Each experimental measurement plot measures 36 meters by 36 meters. A grid of 36 sampling points is positioned at 5.8-meter intervals on a systematically located 6 by 6 point grid within each plot. A permanent one-meter by one-meter vegetation measurement quadrat is located at each of the 36 points. A 3-meter wide buffer area is situated between the grid of 36 points and the perimeter of each plot. The foliage canopy area and maximum height of each plant species is measured from each quadrat. All cover values are measured from the vegetation measurement frame, which is 1 meter by 1 meter, and partitioned into a grid of 100, 10 cm by 10 cm squares. Cover is measured by counting the number of

Unlike many other rodents the flying squirrel does not hibernate. Instead they group together during the winter and cold month’s to maintain warmth. Northern flying squirrels usually communicate with a soft low chirp but also cluck just like other squirrels when distressed. These squirrels also use scent and touch to communicate with one another; utilizing their excellent senses of hearing, smell, vision, and touch to correspond with the signals they emanate. “A major food source for the squirrels are mycorrhizal fungi (truffles) of many different species, though they also eat lichens, mushrooms, all mast-crop nuts, tree sap, insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings, buds and flowers. The squirrels are special in that they can find truffles by olfaction, which is the use of smell. They also seem to use clues such as the presence of wood debris, indicating a decaying log, and spatial memory of locations where truffles were found in the past. The northern flying squirrel is also known to stash food for when food supplies are lower such as in the winter. These caches can be in cavities in trees, as well as in the squirrels' nest, or even within the ground. Lichens and seeds are the commonly stored items” (9). Yet in this relationship the most important functions of this squirrel are to provide food for the owls, and in addition, to greatly

In the beginning, the author introduces the nutria rat also known as coypu, it was first brought into the U.S. in 1899 in California for the fur industry. These creatures now live in 15 other states including Louisiana. They were released into “Louisiana wild by state and federal agencies to provide a new fur resource and to control problem plants such as the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)” ( 1). It did not take long for them

Species often face multiple threats. We considered the relative impact of three major threats on populations of the San Joaquin kit fox. This species was once widely distributed across the southern San Joaquin Valley, but agriculture and development have replaced much of the now endangered subspecies’ habitat. We modeled impacts of climate change, land-use change, and rodenticide exposure on kit fox populations using a spatially explicit, individual-based population model. Our study indicates that landuse change will have the biggest impact on kit fox populations, with the potential to decrease populations by approximately 9% under a compact growth scenario or 15% under a business-as-usual scenario. 55% of the best kit fox habitat also has

Salt marsh harvest mice heavily depend on dense coverage of the pickleweed (Salicornia virginica)--their preferred habitat. In marshes with salt-tolerant plants, the mice escape the higher tides in winter through the use of said vegetation and sometimes reside in the plants for a good amount of their lives. Mice also migrate to neighboring grasslands as another way of escape during high winter tides. The mice are presumed to sustain themselves on plant leaves, seeds and stems. In winter, they seem to prefer fresh green grasses. As for the other three seasons, they tend to favor pickleweed and saltgrass. The northern subspecies of the

they have a lot of bugs too. You can really tell from this paragraph that being a barn rat

Abstract: There is very little known about the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (SMHM). In 1970, SMHM was added to the endangered list, largely due to the fact their salt water habitats 84% gone. With the mouse being just under 3 inches in length, nocturnal, loving its dense cover protection, and the close resemblance to the Western Harvest Mouse, it makes field identification very difficult. Further research is needed not only into the population numbers of SMHM, but its habitat as well. Capture-recapture will be used to assess the SMHM population, where it will be measured, weighed, a patch of hair taken for re-identification, and released back into its habitat. Subplots will also be measured for the Pickleweed population using USFS protocol. Despite conservation efforts, there is a lot more that needs to be done to evaluate SMHM and its habitat to ensure its continued survival. The objective of this research proposal is to measure the SMHM population and its habitat, in order to evaluate the probability of its continued survival. The results of this research will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for further conservation efforts of SMHM in the San Francisco Bay.

One of the largest rodents is the Sciuridae family is the Woodchuck (Marmota Monax) or more commonly known as the Groundhog. It is a fairly common animal most heavily found in the north and north eastern parts of the United States and across most of Canada (Encyclopedia of Life, 2015). Most Woodchucks choose to live in a habitat of grasslands or along the edge of a forest. They tend to like a cooler climate, but during the heart of winter they will hibernate in burrows that they dig throughout the year. The Woodchuck is a incredibly interesting animal that creates elaborate burrows for homes and one of the true hibernators.

We have noticed a change in the population of brown and gray deer mice due to a drought. The environmental changes(the drought) had benefited the brown mice, but not the gray mice. The gray mice's population has dropped because camouflage is not suitable in their environment. Here are the recorded results prior to the drought:

The first article chosen to review is ‘Population dynamics of house mice in Queensland grain- growing areas, 2013, Wildlife Research, 40, 661–674 by Anthony Pople, Joe Scanlan, Peter Cremasco, and Julianne Farrell’. This article focuses on the population field mice in the Darling Downs. This region of Australia is an extremely arable district in south eastern Queensland that has lost the majority of its native vegetation cover to agriculture (Fensham and Fairfax, 1997). The theme of this ecological topic demonstrates how a population of a species can increase due to the availability of food, and the methods to reduce numbers via poison baiting.

Mendoza, J. E., Peery, M. Z., Gutiérrez, G. A., Herrera, G., & Pauli, J. N. (2014). Resource use by the two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and the three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) differs in a shade-grown agro-ecosystem. Journal of Tropical Ecology,31(01), 49-55.

When the temperature drops, animals who hibernate disappear from the outside world and emerge once again out in the open in the spring. Biologists wonder what activity occurs in the animals’ hidden underground chambers. Semi - fossorial animals dig enough suitable space underground for hibernation and movement. Woodchucks, skunks, and cottontail rabbits are known species that would occupy a den. Small mammal species like the jumping mice, meadow voles, and white footed mice are known to roam along vegetation to conceal themselves from prey. However, what is the probability that a small mammal would take the advantage and sneak right in and occupy it during the winter is a subject that interest most researchers.

Consequently, if rats disappear, it will lead to a rush of numbers of small critters and bugs. And they rely on the grains and plants as food. So, it will eventually cause an increase in the pest population even though a rat is also considered a pest according to source one. rats are an important part of the food chain which is the basic key to survival. According to source one, it states that it takes the role of a prey animal when it is eaten by secondary carnivores like cats or snakes so if it disappears as a prey item from their diet,it affects the carnivore population too. They also have almost put an end to pollution in the environment, because of how they clear up the garbage in the streets. A rat also plays the role of a scavenger,a

Using controlled fires is highly recommended for wildlife habitat management where loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, or slash pine is the primary species. The lives of several endangered species, including the Florida panther, gopher tortoise, indigo snake, and red cockaded woodpecker are also enhanced greatly when controlled fires are used to upkeep their habitats. Many different species lives' are improved when using the right kind of controlled burns to help keep their environments healthy and habitable. For example fruit and seed production is stimulated, yield and quality increases occur in herbage, legumes, and browse from hardwood sprouts, and openings are created for feeding, travel, and

Rodents can be found everywhere on earth. Among the several different types of rodents, the ones that mostly prefer to live near humans, being the most numerous, are the mice and rats. They live in colonies which comprise of complex hierarchies, wherein they form deep bonds, often putting their own lives at risk to save family and friends. Their best habitats are cavities, holes inside walls, in sewer pipes, in stores where foodstuffs are kept, in the fields and in garbage dumps. As a matter of fact, they love to live anywhere food is available and is convenient for them to put up a nest. In addition, they can easily adjust to any kind of climate and even wipe out original mammals occupying the same niche.