Short-term grazing exclusion effects on riparian small mammal communities
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Published source details
Giuliano W.M. & Homyack J.D. (2004) Short-term grazing exclusion effects on riparian small mammal communities. Journal of Range Management, 57, 346-350.
Published source details Giuliano W.M. & Homyack J.D. (2004) Short-term grazing exclusion effects on riparian small mammal communities. Journal of Range Management, 57, 346-350.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Exclude livestock from semi-natural habitat (including woodland) Action Link |
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Exclude livestock from semi-natural habitat (including woodland)
A replicated, site comparison study in 1998–1999 of a riparian grassland area in Pennsylvania, USA (Giuliano & Homyack 2004) found that stream margins, fenced to exclude grazing livestock, had a higher species richness and abundance of small mammals than did unfenced margins. There were more species in fenced stream margins (4.4 species/site) than in unfenced margins (2.6 species/site). More small mammals overall were caught in fenced (21.2/site) than in unfenced (9.7/site) margins. Three species were sufficiently abundant to analyse individually. There were more individuals in fenced than unfenced margins for meadow voles Microtus pennsylvanicus (fenced: 8.0; unfenced: 5.3 individuals) and meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius (fenced: 9.1; unfenced: 3.5 individuals). No significant difference was found for short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda (fenced: 3.8; unfenced: 2.4 individuals). Nine 100-m-long riparian margins, fenced one to two years previously, were compared with nine 100-m-long unfenced (cattle-grazed) riparian margins. Three types of small-mammal trap were operated continually throughout April–July in 1998–1999.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
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