Nongame wildlife communities in grazed and ungrazed montane riparian sites
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Authors: T. T. Schulz, and W. C. Leininger
Date: 1991
Journal: Great Basin Naturalist
Volume: 51
Number: 3
Pages: 286-292
Summary of Methods: The effects of livestock grazing on riparian wildlife communities were investigated along Sheep Creek in the Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Bird and small mammal communities were compared between three riparian exclosures (fenced off for about 30 years) and adjacent grazed areas in the Sheep Creek allotment, which has a carrying capacity of about 600 AUMs. Birds were counted during May and June and small mammals were trapped inside and outside of the exclosures.
Article Summary / Main Points: Twenty-one bird species were detected in the grazed areas while 14 were detected in the exclosures, but Simpson’s diversity index was similar between the two areas. The American Robin was most abundant in grazed areas, while the Wilson’s warbler was most detected in the exclosures and was the only bird species to have different abundance levels between the grazed areas and exclosures. Seven small mammals were trapped in both the grazed areas and the exclosures and the diversity index was similar between the two areas. Deer mice were more abundant in the grazed areas, while the Western jumping mice were most abundant in the exclosures; these two species were also the only two species that were different between the two areas. Although bird and small mammal communities were similar overall between the grazed areas and the exclosures, different species were detected between the two areas including species that prefer less shrubs found in grazed areas.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 49 Southern Rocky Mountain Foothills
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: birds, small mammals, wilson's warbler, western jumping mouse, cattle grazing, rocky mountains, colorado, riparian wildlife
Annotation: Studies that involve birds and animals that can move are difficult to interpret because one can never be sure whether or not those animals detected in one area are living there, foraging, or passing through. In addition, the study had only one sample period which might reduce the power of the results. These results should be viewed as possibilities to compare other animal communities with and not definitive montane riparian grazed and ungrazed animal communities. The name of the publication “Great Basin Naturalist†was changed to “Western North American Naturalist†in 2000.
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