The influence of pocket gophers on the status of nutrients in Alpine soils

Litaor, M. Iggy; Mancinelli, Rocco L.; Halfpenny, James C.

doi:10.1016/0016-7061(95)00069-0

Cited by 39 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The impact of these mammals on nitrogen (N) dynamics is of particular interest because N availability strongly influences the productivity and community dynamics of grasslands (Burke et al, 1997;Sala et al, 1988). Recently created gopher mounds often experience an intense flush of inorganic N (Litaor et al, 1996) due to: (1) a stimulation of mineralization due to disruption of the soil structure that physically protects labile organic matter, (2) a stimulation of nitrifying activity, and (3) a decrease in plant N uptake and in root-enhanced microbial N-immobilization (Canals et al, 2003). In California annual grasslands, the intense activity of BottaÕs pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae Mewa) in late winter and early spring overlaps a time of intense plant demand and microbial retention (Jackson et al, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Colonizers Shape Early N-dynamics in Gopher-mounds

et al. 2005

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Disturbances by fossorial mammals are extremely common in many ecosystems, including the California annual grassland. We compared the impact of juveniles of four common plant colonizers (Aegilops triuncialis, Cerastium glomeratum, Aphanes occidentalis and Lupinus bicolor) on the pools and fluxes of N in mounds created by pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae Mewa). The mechanisms and magnitude of biotic N retention differed among plant species. In mounds colonized by Cerastium, Aphanes and Lupinus, the microbial N pool was significantly larger than the plant N pool, as is typical in California grasslands in the early spring, whereas in mounds colonized by Aegilops, there was a more equal distribution of biotic N between plant and microbial pools. A 1-day 15 N pulse field experiment demonstrated that plant species significantly differed in their effects on the distribution of isotopic N, with the N-fixing Lupinus leaving most (82%) 15 N as inorganic N in soil, whereas more 15 N was immobilized in plants or otherwise removed from the available soil pool in mounds colonized by other species. The impacts of early colonizers on N dynamics suggest that the identity of plant species that initially colonize gopher mounds may have important consequences on the dynamics of the overall grassland community.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Colonizers Shape Early N-dynamics in Gopher-mounds

et al. 2005

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“…In contrast to ecosystems in which mounds constitute nutrient-rich microsites favorable for plant growth (Litaor et al 1996, Sherrod and Seastedt 2001, Canals et al 2003, mound soils in the study system were resource poor. We suggest that low bulk density in gopher mounds increases soil water infiltration rates resulting in low soil moisture and low net N mineralization rates relative to intermound soils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…It has been reported that despite having low total C and N pools, mounds often have elevated NO 3 -levels (Litaor et al 1996, Sherrod and Seastedt 2001, Canals et al 2003 high NO 3 -concentrations likely reflect decreased root activity in mounds and are also expected to improve growth of ruderal species, which require large N concentrations to maintain rapid growth rates. However, in this study, while C and N concentrations were lower on mounds than on intermounds, NO 3 -concentrations were not elevated on mounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, of these studies, none tested C:N, and 2 tested soil moisture but found no significant mound-intermound differences (Cortinas andSeastedt 1996, Eviner andChapin 2005). Still, mounds have been consistently shown to have high levels of nitrate (NO 3 -; Litaor et al 1996, Sherrod and Seastedt 2001, Canals et al 2003. Because N availability can promote nonnative establishment (Burke andGrime 1996, Brooks 2003), high N concentrations or N mineralization rates may be important for nonnative plant establishment on rodent mounds.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…While this is generally true for plant establishment in canopy gaps (Grubb 1977, Gross 1987, establishment on rodent mounds may also be influenced by properties of mound soils, which differ from those of the surrounding soils (reviewed in Reichman and Seabloom 2002). Relative to "intermound" soils, gopher mounds typically have higher maximum daytime temperatures, reduced bulk density, and lower total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools (Litaor et al 1996, Sherrod and Seastedt 2001, Reichman and Seabloom 2002, Canals et al 2003. Sherrod and Seastedt (2001) found mound soils to have lower C:N than surrounding soils, and lower soil moisture has also been reported (Simkin et al 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Influence of pocket gopher mounds on nonnative plant establishment in a shrubsteppe ecosystem

Kyle¹,

Kulmatiski²,

Beard³

2008

Western North American Naturalist

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ABSTRACT.-Soil disturbances across a wide range of spatial scales have been found to promote the establishment of invasive plant species. This study addresses whether mounds built by northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) in the shrubsteppe environment of north central Washington are facilitating plant invasions into native-dominated fields. Research was conducted in native-dominated plant communities adjacent to ex-arable, nonnative-dominated fields. To determine the effect of mounds on plant growth, we recorded new establishment and persistence of all plant species over 2 growing seasons on 10-19 mound and intermound areas in 10 fields. Nonnative plant establishment was not affected by mounds, but native plant establishment, particularly of the dominant native Pseudoroegneria spicata was lower on mounds than on intermounds. Early in the growing season, mounds had reduced soil moisture, bulk density, soil strength, N mineralization rates, and total N and C concentrations, and similar extractable NO 3 -concentrations relative to intermound soils. Our results did not suggest that soil disturbance improved nonnative growth resulting in competitive suppression of natives; rather, our results suggested that low soil moisture and slow N mineralization rates on mounds in this ecosystem present relatively stressful conditions for native plant growth.

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Small mammal activity alters plant community composition and microbial activity in an old‐field ecosystem

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Herbivores modify their environment by consuming plant biomass and redistributing materials across the landscape. While small mammalian herbivores, such as rodents, are typically inconspicuous, their impacts on plant community structure and chemistry can be large. We used a small mammal exclosure experiment to explore whether rodents in a southeastern old field directly altered the aboveground plant species composition and chemistry, and indirectly altered the belowground soil community composition and activity. In general, when rodents were excluded, C 3 graminoids increased in cover and biomass, contributing toward a shift in plant species composition relative to plots where rodents were present. The plant community chemistry also shifted; plant fiber concentration and carbon : nitrogen were higher, whereas plant nitrogen concentration was lower in exclosure plots relative to access plots. While microbial community enzyme activity increased when rodents were excluded, no significant changes in the fungal : bacterial or potential nitrogen mineralization occurred between treatments. Our results show that rodents can rapidly influence aboveground plant community composition and chemistry, but their influence on belowground processes may require plant inputs to the soil to accumulate over longer periods of time.

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The influence of pocket gophers on the status of nutrients in Alpine soils

Cited by 39 publications

References 19 publications

Plant Colonizers Shape Early N-dynamics in Gopher-mounds

Plant Colonizers Shape Early N-dynamics in Gopher-mounds

Influence of pocket gopher mounds on nonnative plant establishment in a shrubsteppe ecosystem

Small mammal activity alters plant community composition and microbial activity in an old‐field ecosystem

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