Home Range and Survival of the Ozark Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius ozarkensis) in Arkansas

Connior, Matthew B.; Risch, Thomas S.

doi:10.1674/0003-0031-164.1.80

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The survival rate we observed is similar to the only comparable study to examine survival in pocket gophers (Connior and Risch 2010). It is likely that, like most geomyids, the southeastern pocket gopher has high survival because its fossorial lifestyle reduces predation risk.…”

Section: Survival and Cause-specific Mortalitysupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Cameron et al (1988) concluded that the area covered by the burrow systems of Attwater's pocket gopher Geomys attwateri was highly variable between individuals, and uncorrelated differences with sex, age, or body size. Conversely, home range size of the Ozark pocket gopher Geomys bursarius ozarkensis was directly proportional to body size in juvenile females, inversely proportional to body size in adult females, and uncorrelated with body size in males (Connior and Risch 2010). Although presence of southeastern pocket gophers is influenced by soil (Warren et al, in press) and vegetation (Ross 1976) characteristics, how those habitat features influence home range size is unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brown (1971) suggested that longevity of southeastern pocket gophers in Florida was more than 2 y. The only published study that used radiotelemetry to investigate survival rates in pocket gophers occurred on the Ozark pocket gopher in north central Arkansas (Connior and Risch 2010). They reported that 33 of 35 pocket gophers survived over 144 d during the nonbreeding season and 26 of 35 survived over 116 d during the breeding season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Literature regarding causespecific mortality in pocket gophers is equally sparse. Connior and Risch (2010) attributed 7 of 11 Ozark pocket gopher mortalities to predation, but the predator could only be identified in a single case when a tagged individual was predated by a prairie kingsnake Lamropeltis calligaster calligaster. The Florida pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus is likely the most common predator on southeastern pocket gophers due to its presence in the same habitats and its ability to exploit fossorial prey (Miller et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Home Range, Survival, and Activity Patterns of the Southeastern Pocket Gopher: Implications for Translocation

Warren

Conner

Castleberry

et al. 2017

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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The southeastern pocket gopher Geomys pinetis is absent from a large portion of its historical range. Translocation may represent a viable management technique to reestablish populations into suitable habitat. However, several aspects of the species' ecology are poorly understood, making development of an effective translocation approach challenging. Therefore, we used radiotelemetry to examine home range, survival, dispersal, and daily activity patterns of the southeastern pocket gopher in southwestern Georgia. We measured soil and vegetation characteristics within individual home ranges and examined relationships between home range size, habitat variables, and body mass. Mean home range size of 17 radio-tagged pocket gophers was 921.9 m 2 (range ¼ 43.4-2246.8 m 2 ). Home range size was positively related to body mass, percent silt at a depth of 25 cm, and soil carbon content at 75 cm and was negatively related to percent sand at 25 cm, percent clay at 50 cm, and ground cover of grasses other than wiregrass Aristida beyrichiana. Survival rate was 0.78 (range ¼ 0.50-1.00) over the 51-wk study, and we documented predation, likely by avian predators, on two individuals. Three individuals dispersed, with a maximum dispersal distance of 319.1 m (range ¼ 143.2-319.1 m), the farthest known southeastern pocket gopher dispersal. Pocket gophers exhibited greater activity from 0000 to 0400 hours and from 1600 to 2000 hours, contrasting previous research that southeastern pocket gophers were equally active throughout the diel period. Our home range size estimates for southeastern pocket gophers are the first determined using radiotelemetry and are considerably smaller than previous estimates. Although we documented dispersal distances more than 300 m, the fragmented nature of current and restored habitats likely will prevent large-scale natural colonization. Our results provide information important for maximizing success in future southeastern pocket gopher translocation efforts.

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Section: Survival and Cause-specific Mortalitysupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Home Range, Survival, and Activity Patterns of the Southeastern Pocket Gopher: Implications for Translocation

Warren

Conner

Castleberry

et al. 2017

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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“…Body mass (g) for female (n 5 3) and male (n 5 5) G. b. majusculus from Kansas averaged (ranges in parentheses) 221.2 (199.3-246.9) and 407.5 (351.0-473.0), respectively (Hendricksen 1972). Body mass (g) for female (n 5 69) and male (n 5 48) G. b. ozarkensis from Arkansas averaged (ranges in parentheses) 158 and 209 (138-294), respectively (Connior 2008).…”

Section: General Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomys bursarius (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

Connior

2011

Mammalian Species

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Population genetic structure of a Chihuahuan Desert endemic mammal, the desert pocket gopher,Geomys arenarius

Pfau,

Kozora,

Gatica‐Colima

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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The biogeographic history of the Chihuahuan Desert is complex, driven by numerous physiographic events and climatic changes. This dynamic history would have influenced the flora and fauna of the region including the desert pocket gopher, Geomys arenarius, a subterranean rodent endemic to the northern Chihuahuan Desert. G. arenarius is restricted to sandy soils and are considered to have a disjunct distribution. Two subspecies are recognized: G. a. arenarius and G. a. brevirostris. We used multilocus nuclear (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) and mitochondrial DNA (ND2) sequence data to uncover patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations of G. arenarius. We evaluated correspondence of genetic patterns to traditionally accepted subspecies boundaries, mapped the distribution of potentially suitable soils to identify barriers or corridors to dispersal and to guide future survey efforts, provided evidence that could be used to recognize distinct population segments, and quantified genetic diversity within populations. Both datasets were largely concordant and demonstrated hierarchical patterns of genetic divergence. The greatest divergence was consistent with the two recognized subspecies. Mapping of potentially habitable soils revealed likely barriers to dispersal contributing to the allopatric pattern of geographic distribution and areas, which may be occupied by G. arenarius but not yet documented. Because G. arenarius is restricted to soils with high sand content, and these habitable soils are disjunct within the region occupied by this species, historical factors that impacted soil deposition and deflation likely contributed to the observed patterns of genetic divergence. Genetic diversity was higher within populations of the southern subspecies (G. a. arenarius) compared to G. a. brevirostris. This may be due to a greater availability of continuous suitable soils within the range of G. a. arenarius or higher density due to greater food availability (currently or historically)—both of which could allow for a higher effective population size.

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Home Range and Survival of the Ozark Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius ozarkensis) in Arkansas

Cited by 11 publications

References 32 publications

Home Range, Survival, and Activity Patterns of the Southeastern Pocket Gopher: Implications for Translocation

Home Range, Survival, and Activity Patterns of the Southeastern Pocket Gopher: Implications for Translocation

Geomys bursarius (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

Population genetic structure of a Chihuahuan Desert endemic mammal, the desert pocket gopher,Geomys arenarius

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