Grazing and pocket gopher abundance in a California annual grassland
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Authors: J. E. Hunter
Date: 1991
Journal: Southwestern Naturalist
Volume: 36
Number: 1
Pages: 117-118
Summary of Methods: Hunter looked at cattle grazing effects on the abundance of pocket gophers in a California annual grassland. One site, that had been ungrazed by cattle for five years, was compared to a similar site that received annual winter and spring grazing for 75 years, to determine the impact of cattle on gophers. Hunter found that active gopher mounds were twenty five times more abundant on ungrazed grasslands than on the winter/spring grazed areas. The author also looked at other factors, such as bare soil, rocks and vegetation differences between the two areas, but was only able to conclude that cattle grazing was the lone causative variable. Pending management plans, cattle grazing can be a benefit for those who want to rid their land of pocket gophers, however Hunter cautions about disrupting the ecosystem by removing a large prey species, as well as a natural cultivator.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: gopher mounds, vina plains reserve, thomomys bottae, cover
Annotation: None
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