Spatial Relationships among the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursariw,) and Lead Plant (Amorpha canescem) and Purple Prairie Clover (Petalostemum purpureum) and the Effects of Prairie Fragmentation Upon These Organisms
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Authors
Boss, Daniel J.
Issue Date
1997
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Recent studies of tall grass prairie remnants show 8-60% of original plant
species have been lost over the past 52 years. It is widely held that this loss may
be due to fragmentation of remaining prairie and subsequent fire suppression.
Fragmentation may also cause a decline in certain keystone species as well, such
as the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius). The effects of pocket gopher
behavior, such as herbviory and fossoriallifestyle, are felt throughout trophic
levels and its loss may be detrimental to a system. Transect surveys of Iowa
tall grass prairie remnants were used to examine the relative distribution of pocket
gophers, lead plant (Amorpha canescens), and purple prairie clover
(Petalostemum purpureum) in relation to the size of a prairie remnant. The results
show a significant relationship suggesting a higher likelihood of gopher presence
in larger remnants. This study also examined spatial relationships between
gopher mounds and both lead plant and purple prairie clover. Small scale spatial
relationships between mounds and each plant were examined using cross-correlational analysis along the transects. The results suggest that gopher mounds
and purple prairie clover are positively correlated in co-occurrence within a given
prairie remnant and along a given transect clustered together at increments of 20-
30 meters.
Description
v, 21 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
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