Marmots on the Move? Dispersal in a Declining Montane Mammal

Griffin, Suzanne C.; Griffin, Paul C.; Taper, Mark L.; Mills, L. Scott

doi:10.1644/08-mamm-a-159r1.1

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The western slope of the mountains in the south-western region of the park receives between 356 and 424 cm of annual precipitation and supports a temperate rainforest (National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/olym/ naturescience/temperate-rain-forests.htm, last accessed December 17, 2014). Three sites, Blue Mountain, Hurricane Ridge, and Obstruction Point, located in the north-eastern section of the park were chosen for analysis based on existing marmot information (Griffin et al, 2008(Griffin et al, , 2009 Figure 3). Not surprisingly, alpine vegetation in ONP is strongly controlled by precipitation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The underlying substrate of the study areas in both GNP and ONP is primarily sandstone, siltstone, and argillite and the dominant conifer species surrounding the study sites is subalpine fir. Unlike gopher populations in GNP, Olympic marmot populations have declined in recent years (Griffin et al, 2008(Griffin et al, , 2009). Additionally, these sites have been research areas for studies examining treeline dynamics, meadow invasion, and fossorial mammal activity (Fonda and Bliss, 1969;Kuramoto and Bliss, 1970;Resler, 2006;Gielstra, 2009;Griffin et al, 2008Griffin et al, , 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forbis et al (2004) stated that gopherdisturbed areas older than five years exhibited higher seedling establishment than surrounding areas, and concluded that several years were required to re-establish a sufficient seed bank in disturbed locations. No research exists on the decay rate of marmot burrows in the landscape; it has been noted, however, that abandoned burrows persist for multiple years (Griffin et al, 2008(Griffin et al, , 2009. No research exists on the decay rate of marmot burrows in the landscape; it has been noted, however, that abandoned burrows persist for multiple years (Griffin et al, 2008(Griffin et al, , 2009.…”

Section: Soil Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the eastern slope, subalpine fir dominates most aspects in alpine environments, with patches of Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock growing on some northern exposures (Fonda and Bliss, 1969;Kuramoto and Bliss, 1970;Woodward et al, 1995). Three sites, Blue Mountain, Hurricane Ridge, and Obstruction Point, located in the north-eastern section of the park were chosen for analysis based on existing marmot information (Griffin et al, 2008(Griffin et al, , 2009 Figure 3).…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climatically, topographically, and vegetatively, all study sites are remarkably similar (Table I). Additionally, these sites have been research areas for studies examining treeline dynamics, meadow invasion, and fossorial mammal activity (Fonda and Bliss, 1969;Kuramoto and Bliss, 1970;Resler, 2006;Gielstra, 2009;Griffin et al, 2008Griffin et al, , 2009). The defining difference between sites, however, is the fossorial mammal present.…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bioturbation by gophers and marmots and its effects on conifer germination

Whitesides

Butler

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Although climate has been shown to have a considerable influence on alpine forest dynamics, many fine‐scale processes contribute to observable forest patterns. Disturbances created by burrowing mammals may provide conifer seedlings with refuge in previously inhospitable environments and may result in conifer invasion that is not directly associated with climate change. In Olympic National Park, Washington, USA, Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus) populations have declined. Abandoned marmot burrows, which may provide ideal sites for conifer establishment, now dot the alpine landscape. Similarly, in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) have disturbed large areas of alpine meadows at treeline. Field and laboratory analysis of gopher eskers and spoil mounds of abandoned marmot burrows illustrated that such sites are less compacted than soils in adjacent, undisturbed locations. Additionally, disturbed soils contained higher amounts of phosphorus and lower amounts of potassium and organic matter. Soils disturbed by gophers were cooler at the surface and warmer at depth than undisturbed soils, whereas marmot‐disturbed soils were warmer at the surface and cooler at depth. Experimental seed germination of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) was higher on mammal‐disturbed soils, and this was statistically significant for marmot‐disturbed soils. These findings suggest that fossorial mammal disturbances have the potential to affect conifer germination and establishment. Furthermore, this research initiates the dialogue for future research on the distinct morphological and behavioral influences of different fossorial mammals as zoogeomorphic agents and ecosystem engineers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Soil Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Bioturbation by gophers and marmots and its effects on conifer germination

Whitesides

Butler

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Freezing in a warming climate: Marked declines of a subnivean hibernator after a snow drought

Johnston

Christophersen

Beever

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Recent snow droughts associated with unusually warm winters are predicted to increase in frequency and affect species dependent upon snowpack for winter survival. Changes in populations of some cold‐adapted species have been attributed to heat stress or indirect effects on habitat from unusually warm summers, but little is known about the importance of winter weather to population dynamics and how responses to snow drought vary among sympatric species. We evaluated changes in abundance of hoary marmots (Marmota caligata) over a period that included a year of record‐low snowpack to identify mechanisms associated with weather and snowpack. To consider interspecies comparisons, our analysis used the same a priori model set as a concurrent study that evaluated responses of American pikas (Ochotona princeps) to weather and snowpack in the same study area of North Cascades National Park, Washington, USA. We hypothesized that marmot abundance reflected mechanisms related to heat stress, cold stress, cold exposure without an insulating snowpack, snowpack duration, atmospheric moisture, growing‐season precipitation, or select combinations of these mechanisms. Changes in marmot abundances included a 74% decline from 2007 to 2016 and were best explained by an interaction of chronic dryness with exposure to acute cold without snowpack in winter. Physiological stress during hibernation from exposure to cold, dry air appeared to be the most likely mechanism of change in marmot abundance. Alternative mechanisms associated with changes to winter weather, including early emergence from hibernation or altered vegetation dynamics, had less support. A post hoc assessment of vegetative phenology and productivity did not support vegetation dynamics as a primary driver of marmot abundance across years. Although marmot and pika abundances were explained by strikingly similar models over periods of many years, details of the mechanisms involved likely differ between species because pika abundances increased in areas where marmots declined. Such differences may lead to diverging geographic distributions of these species as global change continues.

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The bioturbation of Olympic marmots (Marmota olympus) and their impacts on soil properties

Whitesides

2015

Physical Geography

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Marmots on the Move? Dispersal in a Declining Montane Mammal

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Bioturbation by gophers and marmots and its effects on conifer germination

Bioturbation by gophers and marmots and its effects on conifer germination

Freezing in a warming climate: Marked declines of a subnivean hibernator after a snow drought

The bioturbation of Olympic marmots (Marmota olympus) and their impacts on soil properties

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