Mammals of the Hanford reservation in relation to management of radioactive waste

Rickard, W.H.; Hedlund, Johanna; Schreckhise, R.G.

doi:10.2172/4234634

Cited by 7 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…The spread of alien vegetation may have adverse effects on some of the medium-sized mammals native to the Columbia River Plain. Black-tailed hares Lepus californicus are found all across the plain, except in cheatgrass stands (Rickard et al, 1974). Density is apparently positively correlated with shrub cover (Uresk, 1978).…”

Section: Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Alien taxa in the North American shrub-steppe four decades after cessation of livestock grazing and cultivation agriculture

Brandt

Rickard

1994

Biological Conservation

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Because of its use as a nuclear materials production area, the 800-kin 2 sagebrush steppe of the Columbia River Plain in Washington State has functioned as a quasinatural area protected from livestock grazing and agricultural development since 1944. Alien vegetation and animals have invaded the eastern Washington region in the past century and are currently represented in the Columbia River Plain. Investigations were undertaken to evaluate the distribution of alien species, particularly vegetation, and their relationships to other flora and fauna in this region.Recently disturbed areas were dominated by the alien annuals Russian thistle Salsola kali, tumble mustard Sisymbrium altissimum, prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola, and bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa. Oldfield habitats were composed almost entirely of the alien annual cheatgrass Bromus tectorum. Alien vegetation also comprised a portion of the flora in habitats that had not been disturbed or grazed by cattle in the past. Cheatgrass and spring whitlow-grass Draba verna were able to set seed in undisturbed habitats, whereas Russian thistle and tumble mustard seldom did. These two species continue as components of undisturbed habitat primarily through seed dispersal from disturbed sites.Old-fieM habitats support a depauperate fauna compared to undisturbed sagebrush steppe vegetation. Shrubnesting birds such as the sage sparrow Amphispiza belli were absent from old fields, and even ground-nesting species were found in abnormally low densities. Old fields supported relatively few mammal species, in part as a result of poor food supplies. Alien birds, the rock dove Columba livia and the European starling Sturnus vulgaris, visited undisturbed habitat, but did not nest there.No alien mammals were found in undisturbed sagebrush steppe vegetation; the only alien mammals found in the area, the house mouse Mus musculus and Norway rat Rattus norvegicus, being limited to riparian areas and the vicinity of buildings.Alien taxa are likely to remain a component of any quasi-natural area in the sagebrush steppe ecoregion.Conservation 0006-3207/94/$07.00 © 1994 Elsevier Science Limited, England. Printed in Great Britain Human disturbance need not be spatially extensive to maintain alien plants within undisturbed communities. Successional patterns after land disturbance produce conditions unfavorable for native fauna, but have not enhanced the distribution of alien fauna.

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Section: Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Alien taxa in the North American shrub-steppe four decades after cessation of livestock grazing and cultivation agriculture

Brandt

Rickard

1994

Biological Conservation

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“…Cottontails are herbivores, feeding primarily on grasses and shrubs Rickard et al 1974). Cottontails are prey to raptors, especially Swainson's hawks and northern , harriers (Circus cyaneus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) Fitzner et al 1979).…”

Section: 2°5 Potential Contribution To Contaminant Mim'ation Vmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1982): Juvenile black-tailed hares may disperse over many kilometers and are not constrained by fences, except those that are partially buried (Fitzner et al 1979 (Rickard et al 1974). Consequently, black-tailed hares would constitute a potential pathway for migration of contaminants from the 300-FF-1 Operable Unit should evidence be found of contamination in forage grasses or shrubs.…”

Section: 15mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In lowland areas of the Hanford Site, coyotes prey primarily # on Great Basin pocket mice (Perognathus parvus), black-tailed hares, and Nuttalrs cottontails (Stoel 1976). In riparian areas, coyotes prey heavily on waterfowl (Rickard et al 1974). Home ranges of coyotes on the Hanford Site can be as large as 89 km2 (Springer 1982).…”

Section: 15mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mule deer are primarily browsers foraging mainly on bitterbrush and willows, though they • also forage on cheatgrass, Sandberg's bluegrass, and a variety of forbs, including tumble mustard and Russian thistle (Rickard et al 1974). Mule deer require access to drinking water;, consequently, their greatest density on the Hanford Site is generally within several kilometers of the Columbia River (Eberhardt et al 1984).…”

Section: 15mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Biota of the 300-FF-1 operable unit. [Westinghouse Hanford Company]

Rickard¹,

Fitzner²,

Brandt³

1990

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The status, distribution and ecology of wildlife on the U.S. Doe Hanford Site: A historical overview of research activities

Fitzner

Gray

1991

Environ Monit Assess

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Since the inception of the U.S. DOE Hanford Site in 1943, numerous studies have been conducted on terrestrial wildlife. Onsite contractors have focused their attention on the role of wildlife in the uptake and transport of radionuclides. Graduate students from across the nation have also completed more than 15 theses on wildlife. This paper discusses the past history of wildlife research at Hanford and the individual species of wildlife that have been observed at Hanford. Forty species of mammals, 187 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and 9 species of reptiles have been documented on the Hanford Site to date.

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Mammals of the Hanford reservation in relation to management of radioactive waste

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Alien taxa in the North American shrub-steppe four decades after cessation of livestock grazing and cultivation agriculture

Alien taxa in the North American shrub-steppe four decades after cessation of livestock grazing and cultivation agriculture

Biota of the 300-FF-1 operable unit. [Westinghouse Hanford Company]

The status, distribution and ecology of wildlife on the U.S. Doe Hanford Site: A historical overview of research activities

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