Ecological characteristics of small mammals on a radioactive waste disposal area in southeastern Idaho
Species composition, diversity, biomass and densities of small mammal populations were examined in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and Russian thistle (Salsola kali) habitats on a solid radioactive waste disposal area and in native sagebrush (Artemisia tridentala) habitat surrounding the disposal area. The 15-month live-trapping study resulted in the marketing of 2384 individuals representing 10 species of small mammals. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) was the most common rodent in both disposal area habitats and the adjacent sagebrush habitat; Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) was also an abundant rodent in all vegetation types. The montane vole (Microtus montanus) was common only in crested wheatgrass stands on the disposal area. Although the adjacent native sagebrush habitat had the highest species diversity and the Russian thistle habitat on the disposal area had the lowest, the total rodent density was not significantly different among the three vegetation types. Crested wheatgrass within the disposal area contained the largest rodent biomass throughout the study, in part due to an increasing M. montanus population. The peak small mammal biomass of 5000 g/ha in creasted wheatgrass and sagebrush habitats was considerably higher than previously reported for similar habitats. Differences in diversity and biomass between the disposal area and surrounding native habitat are most likely related to differences in soil compaction and vegetation between these two areas.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho State Univ., Pocatello
- OSTI ID:
- 5895349
- Journal Information:
- Am. Midl. Nat.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Midl. Nat.; (United States) Vol. 109:2; ISSN AMNAA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Movements by small mammals on a radioactive waste disposal area in southeastern Idaho. [Dipodomys; Microtus; Perognathus; Peromyscus]
Radionuclide concentrations in vegetation at a solid radioactive waste-disposal area in southeastern Idaho
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIOMASS
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HABITAT
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
POPULATION DENSITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RODENTS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT