Subpopulation augmentation among habitat patches as a tool to manage an endangered Mojave Desert wetlands-dependent rodent during anthropogenic restricted water climate regimes

López‐Pérez, Andrés M.; Foley, Janet E.; Roy, Austin; Pesapane, Risa; Castle, Stephanie; Poulsen, Amanda; Clifford, Deana L.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224246

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 50 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…In marshes occupied by Amargosa voles, bulrush is the predominant canopy cover, most successful vole captures occur in bulrush, and voles that are monitored by radio-telemetry spend the majority of their time in bulrush [12,13,36]. Despite this habitat specialization, bulrush has inadequate total energy and protein to sustain voles [37].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Diet composition analysis provides new management insights for a highly specialized endangered small mammal

et al. 2020

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The critically endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) is found only in rare marsh habitat near Tecopa, California in a plant community dominated by three-square bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus). Since the earliest research on the Amargosa vole, the existing paradigm has been that these voles are obligatorily dependent on bulrush as their only food source and for the three-dimensional canopy and litter structure it provides for predator avoidance. However, no prior research has confirmed the diet of the Amargosa vole. In this study we characterized the Amargosa vole' nutritional needs, analyzed the quality of bulrush by forage analysis, and performed microhistological and metabarcoding analyses of vole feces to determine what foods were consumed in the wild. All bulrush plant tissues analyzed were low in fat (from 0.9% of dry matter in roots to 3.6% in seeds), high in neutral detergent fiber (from 5.9% in rhizomes to 33.6% in seeds), and low in protein (7.3-8.4%). These findings support the conclusion that bulrush alone is unlikely to support vole survival and reproduction. Fecal microhistology and DNA metabarcoding revealed relatively diverse diets including plants in 14 families, with rushes (Juncaceae), bulrushes (Cyperaceae), and grasses (Poaceae) being the most common diet items. On microhistology, all analyzed samples contained bulrush, sedges (Carex sp.), rushes (Juncus sp.), and beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostrellata) even from marshes where non-bulrush plants were uncommon. There was evidence of insects at <1% in two marshes but none in the remaining marshes. Metabarcoding detected ten genera of plants. When considering non-Schoenoplectus targets, for which metabarcoding had poor sensitivity, saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) was the most commonly detected species, with prominent contributions from seaside arrowgrass (Triglochin concinna) and yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) as well. Diversity of vole diets generally increased with increasing site plant diversity, but differences were not statistically significant. Confirming details about dietary behaviors is critical for informing

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Diet composition analysis provides new management insights for a highly specialized endangered small mammal

et al. 2020

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Interspecific interactions, human proximity, and season affect spatiotemporal structure of a Mojave Desert wetlands rodent community with a highly endangered species

et al. 2023

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We analyzed the influences of interspecific interactions and environmental factors on rodent community assembly in Mojave Desert wetlands that support the endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis). A total of 4927 rodents in six species were captured from 2010 to 2021 within 15 marshes, most frequently including Amargosa voles, harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), and house mice (Mus musculus), an invasive species. The structure of the community varied considerably over time and by marsh, driven mainly by reductions in harvest mice and increases in Amargosa voles and house mice between 2014 and 2017, and then reductions in Amargosa voles between 2018 and 2021. Northern marshes were dominated by voles, and southern marshes by house mice. Primary determinants of rodent capture rates were interspecific interactions, human proximity, and season. There was a significant inverse relationship between vole and house mouse captures per session, suggesting competitive exclusion. Distance to the nearest town was positively associated with the numbers of voles and negatively associated with the numbers of harvest mice, suggesting that voles may be more sensitive to human disturbance than other rodents. Amargosa voles and harvest mice had annual population cycles with peaks between July and September occurring 6–7 months after rainfall. Our results allow for valuable insight into the influences on community dynamics in desert rodents and highlight that conservation efforts that support Amargosa voles may simultaneously help control house mouse abundance and expansion.

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Recovering an endangered vole and its habitat may help control invasive house mice

et al. 2023

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Subpopulation augmentation among habitat patches as a tool to manage an endangered Mojave Desert wetlands-dependent rodent during anthropogenic restricted water climate regimes

Cited by 3 publications

References 50 publications

Diet composition analysis provides new management insights for a highly specialized endangered small mammal

Diet composition analysis provides new management insights for a highly specialized endangered small mammal

Interspecific interactions, human proximity, and season affect spatiotemporal structure of a Mojave Desert wetlands rodent community with a highly endangered species

Recovering an endangered vole and its habitat may help control invasive house mice

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