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- Title
A SMALL MAMMAL SURVEY IN CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA.
- Authors
Ellis, Andrew; Dieter, Charles D.; Cahoy, Samuel; Brundige, Gary
- Abstract
Custer State Park (CSP) encompasses 28,632 hectares in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The objectives of this research were to: (1) document the species of small mammals within CSP; (2) associate small mammal species with vegetation alliances found in CSP; and (3) identify areas of high small mammal species richness in CSP. Trapping sites were selected by reviewing a vegetation alliance map of CSP. Each site was sampled with parallel transects 200 m in length with 21 traps per transect placed 10 m apart for a total of 42 traps per site. Sites were sampled using Sherman live traps (76 mm X 89 mm X 229 mm) baited with peanut butter and rolled oats. Forty-two trapping sites were surveyed for a total of 5,950 trap-nights. We caught 871 small mammals belonging to 11 species in 18 vegetation alliances. Of the 11 species caught, 92% of the individuals captured were of 4 species and included meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), least chipmunks (Tamias minimus), white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), and deer mice (P. maniculatus). Small mammal species richness ranged from 2 to 7 in vegetation alliances. If the goal of CSP is to increase the abundance of small mammals, prescription fires could be a good tool. If species diversity is the main objective of CSP's management plan, we suggest that riparian areas and areas with water be protected or enhanced.
- Subjects
CUSTER State Park (S.D.); SOUTH Dakota; MAMMALS; MICROTUS pennsylvanicus; CHIPMUNKS; PEROMYSCUS leucopus; PEROMYSCUS maniculatus; RIPARIAN areas; APPLIED ecology; ZOOLOGICAL surveys
- Publication
Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, 2008, Vol 87, p167
- ISSN
0096-378X
- Publication type
Article