Continued Westward Expansion of Woodchucks (Marmota monax) in Nebraska

Reinventory of the vascular plants of Mormon Island Crane Meadows after forty years of restoration, invasion, and climate change

“…micrantha (smallflower fumewort). Recent research in south central Nebraska has documented range expansions northward and westward for several animal species, often along the Platte River corridor, but less research has addressed vascular plant range shifts regionally ( Thompson and Finck 2013 ; Geluso et al., 2014 ; Carlson and Geluso 2018 ; Forrester et al., 2019 ). Plant hardiness zones have shifted northward and westward along Nebraska's elevational gradient ( Daly et al., 2012 ).…”

Range extension for DeKay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) in south-central Nebraska

“…We cannot exclude, however, the possibility that our data represent an actual distributional shift (i.e., range expansion) for S. dekayi in south-central Nebraska. Other groups of vertebrates in Nebraska have expanded distributional ranges in the state (e.g., Benedict et al 2000, Forrester et al 2019. For example, a number of mammals are moving northward, including Eastern Woodrats (Neotoma floridana), Hispid Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus), and Nine-banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), which likely are associated with long-term climatic warming or increases in woodlands (Benedict et al 2000).…”

“…For example, a number of mammals are moving northward, including Eastern Woodrats (Neotoma floridana), Hispid Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus), and Nine-banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), which likely are associated with long-term climatic warming or increases in woodlands (Benedict et al 2000). A number of mammalian species also are expanding westward, mainly species associated with increasing woodlands along rivers and establishment of shelterbelts, hedgerows, and trees associated with towns and homesteads (Benedict et al 2000, Roehrs and Genoways 2004, Serbousek and Geluso 2009, Forrester et al 2019. With S. dekayi associated with mesic woodlands in the state (Fogell 2010), afforestation of waterways and other sites in Nebraska might promote expansion or increased abundance for the species.…”