Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Fall 1994

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

Advisor

Dr. Eugene Flaherty

Abstract

Small mammal populations were censused during a seven-month period at five Conservation Reserve Program plots in Rooks County, Kansas. Sites in the Solomon River Valley selected for this study were seeded with grasses in successive years (1987-1991). Individuals representing 10 species of small mammals were captured at the five study sites with a maximum of seven and a minimum of four species sampled at anyone site. Greatest diversity at each site was in fall, and lowest diversity was in summer. Friedman's analysis of variance indicated that small mammal diversity varied among months and seasons at the five sites. Peromyscus maniculatus was the most abundant small mammal at three sites, whereas Dipodomys ordii and Reithrodontomys megalotis were most abundant at one site each. Relative densities of small mammals among sites did not vary significantly. P. maniculatus attained permanent status at two sites and was the only small mammal to achieve this status at any of the five sites. Onychomys leucogaster, Sigmodon hispidus, R. megalotis, and D. ordii achieved semi-permanent status at two or more sites, whereas Microtus ochrogaster, Peromyscus leucopus, Reithrodontomys montanus, Mus musculus, and Chaetodipus hispidus were transient at all sites at which they were sample. Diversity differences among sites with respect to the small mammal community were attributed to habitat complexity. Diversity of the plant community had no effect on small mammal diversity.

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Rights

© 1994 Timothy L. Welker

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