Small Mammal Diversity on the Missouri River Floodplain. Wetland Ecology Studies211 in the Missouri River Floodplain. Study No. 18

摘要

Severe flooding of the lower Missouri River during 1993 has led to increased211u001einterest in understanding the effects of flooding on floodplain habitat and 211u001ebiota, as well as serious consideration of the merits of restoring a more 211u001ehistoric river-floodplain connection. Small mammals are important components of 211u001emost terrestrial systems, yet little is known regarding their distribution and 211u001ediversity in the lower Missouri River floodplain. The goal of this research was 211u001eto determine the influences of landscape and habitat features on small mammal 211u001ediversity and abundance in this floodplain system and investigate the effects of 211u001eflooding disturbance on small mammal assemblages. Species richness, relative 211u001eabundance, and diversity of small mammals were determined in three habitat types: 211u001e(1) grass/sedge, (2) regenerating forest (3-4 years old), (3) mature forest (> 30 211u001eyears old). Five small mammal species, Peromyscus spp., Mus musculus, 211u001eReithrodontomys megalotis, Microtus ochrogaster, and Blarina hylophaga, were live-211u001etrapped during fall 1996 and spring 1997. No differences in species richness were 211u001efound among the three habitat types.