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Research

The Collaborators

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Collaborator Study:

CWD Removal Effects on the Big-eared Woodrat in a California Oak Woodland

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Methods

Woodrat Trapping

Woodrat Trapping

CWD Sampling

CWD Sampling

CWD Removal

CWD Removal PP Slide

Results

Two Key Findings:

(1) Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) is an important contributor to woodrat habitat quality, as it positively influenced both survival and reproduction.

(2) CWD promoted higher site fidelity, and therefore a safer environment, among resident woodrats.

Collectively, these findings have important population-level implications for big-eared woodrats, a keystone species on our study area. They may have particular significance given that California oak woodlands are currently faced with rapid and widespread environmental change.

Publications from the Camp Roberts Collaborative Study

Published:

Srivathsa, A., W. Tietje, V. Rolland, A. Polyakov, and M.K. Oli. 2019. Climatic drivers of pinyon mouse Peromyscus truei population dynamics in a resource-restricted environment. Population Ecology 61:122–131.

Tietje, W.D., A.Y. Polyakov, V. Rolland, J.E. Hines, and M.K. Oli. 2018. Climatic influences on demography of the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) in semiarid oak woodland. Journal of Mammalogy 99:1149-1158.

Tietje, W.D., M.A. Hardy, and C.C. Yim. Coarse woody debris metrics in a California oak woodland. 2015. Pp. 61-72 In Proceedings of the Seventh California Oak Symposium: Managing Oak Woodlands in a Dynamic World, November 3-6, 2014, PSW GTR 251. Visalia, California.

Hardy, MA., J.K. Vreeland, and W.D. Tietje. 2013. Effects of repeated captures on body mall and survival of dusky-footed woodrats in a California oak woodland. The Southwestern Naturalist 58:305-313.

Hardy, M.A. J.K. Vreeland, and W.D. Tietje. 2013. Vegetation associations of birds wintering in a California oak woodland. Journal of Field Ornithology 84: 345-354.

Hardy, M.A., J.M. Zingo, and W.D. Tietje. 2013. Effects of repeated captures on body mass and survival of dusky-footed woodrats in a California oak woodland. The Southwestern Naturalist 58:305–313.

Lee, D.E. and W.D. Tietje. 2005. Dusky-footed woodrat demography and prescribed fire in a California oak woodland. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:1211-1220


In Preparation:

Chaudhary V., W.D. Tietje, A.Y. Polyakov, V. Rolland and M.K. Oli. In Review. Factors driving California pocket mice (Chaetodipus californicus) population dynamics.

Hardy, M.A. and W.D. Tietje. In preparation. Coarse woody debris removal effects on survival, reproduction, and site fidelity of the big-eared woodrat (Neotoma macrotis) in a California oak woodland.

Rolland, V., W.D. Tietje, A.Y. Polyakov, V. Chaudhary, and M.K. Oli. Submitted. Climatic factors and population demography in big-eared woodrat, Neotoma macrotis. Journal of Mammalogy.

Polyakov, A.Y., W.D. Tietje, A. Srivathsa, V. Rolland, J.E. Hines, and Madan K. Oli. Submitted. Multiple coping strategies maintain stability of a small mammal population in resource-restricted environments.