Badger (Taxidea taxus) disturbances increase soil heterogeneity in a degraded shrub-steppe ecosystem

Eldridge, David J.; Whitford, Walter G.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.09.004

Cited by 51 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The latter effect-increased metal content-was evident only for the badger sites, probably because on average badgers excavate more material from deeper horizons than foxes do, and/or because they dig in medium that is inherently more stratified (steeper gradients within the soil profile). Other authors have reported similar observations in studies of different animals: elevated alkali or alkaline-earth metal concentrations and higher pH in mounds made by rabbits (Eldridge and Myers 2001), pocket gophers (Kerley et al 2004), moles (Canals and Sebastia´2000) and American badgers (Eldridge and Whitford 2009). …”

Section: Animal Activity Effects On Soil Propertiessupporting

confidence: 68%

Burrowing by badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) changes soil conditions and vegetation in a European temperate forest

Kurek

Kapusta

Holeksa

2013

Ecological Research

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This study examined the effects of burrow digging and habitation by the European badger (Meles meles) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on soil properties and the plant community. The vegetation of control plots located in a similar but undisturbed habitat was compared with that of 18 burrow plots established at badger setts (N = 9) and fox dens (N = 9) in a lowland forest area in Poland. Soil physicochemical properties at different disturbance levels (mounds, intermounds and reference areas) were also investigated. The animals altered nutrient availability in the burrow plots considerably by excavating material from deep soil horizons that were less acidic and higher in K, Ca, Mg and available P but poorer in C and N. The effect was stronger for the badger, probably because it displaced larger amounts of material and disturbed wider areas. The activity of the two carnivores induced similar changes in plant communities. They increased herbaceous species richness and caused a shift in the herbaceous species composition: versus the control plots, the burrow plots contained more fugitive species (short-living plants typical for disturbed environments), among which ruderal forbs, including nutrient-demanding species, dominated. The carnivores also increased the species richness of fleshyfruited shrubs and trees. The primary reason for this was probably not burrowing but endozoochorous seed dispersal. Overall, the results indicate that the badger setts and fox dens differ significantly from the forest matrix in terms of soil and vegetation parameters, and that they contribute to habitat heterogeneity and biological diversity.

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Section: Animal Activity Effects On Soil Propertiessupporting

confidence: 68%

Burrowing by badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) changes soil conditions and vegetation in a European temperate forest

Kurek

Kapusta

Holeksa

2013

Ecological Research

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“…All sides of the mounds, regardless of direction, have lower soil depth than the tops of mounds and are probably steep enough for moisture to run off and be less available than on top. The activity of burrowing animals could also be mitigating competition through increased disturbance on the tops of the mounds (Eldridge and Whitford 2009). The supply of resources made available through burrowing could tip competition in favor of the exotics, thus enabling them to out-compete native species at the top of mounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geology and Topography Effects on Exotic Plant Distribution in a Semiarid Mima Mound Prairie in Eastern Washington

2013

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“…Their burrows benefit several species (Messick and Hornocker 1981;Poulin et al 2005) and influence grassland / steppe ecosystem by mixing soil, and creating disturbed sites and microclimate (Eldridge 2004;Eldridge and Whitford 2008;Eldridge 2009). …”

Section: Special Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

THE OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENS IN AN ENDANGERED POPULATION OF AMERICAN BADGERS (TAXIDEA TAXUS JACKSONI) IN ONTARIO, CANADA

Ethier

Sayers

Kyle

et al. 2017

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Badger (Taxidea taxus) disturbances increase soil heterogeneity in a degraded shrub-steppe ecosystem

Cited by 51 publications

References 41 publications

Burrowing by badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) changes soil conditions and vegetation in a European temperate forest

Burrowing by badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) changes soil conditions and vegetation in a European temperate forest

Geology and Topography Effects on Exotic Plant Distribution in a Semiarid Mima Mound Prairie in Eastern Washington

THE OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENS IN AN ENDANGERED POPULATION OF AMERICAN BADGERS (TAXIDEA TAXUS JACKSONI) IN ONTARIO, CANADA

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