The responses of small mammals to patches regenerating after fire and rainfall in the Simpson Desert, central Australia

Population dynamics of the Mongolian gerbils: Seasonal patterns and interactions among density, reproduction and climate

“…Rainfalls enhanced desert rodent population growth and even caused the outbreaks of desert rodents of Australia, North America, and South America (Brown and Heske, 1990;Madsen and Shine, 1999;Jaksic and Lima, 2003;Letnic and Dickman, 2005). Zhang et al (2003) reported that the numerical response of Brandt's voles (Microtus brandtii) was determined mainly by availability of habitat with sparse, short grasses in our study area.…”

“…It is generally accepted that precipitation is the main limiting factor directly determining the primary productivity of plants, and population dynamics of rodents in the semi-arid and arid environments follows rainfall fluctuations (Brown and Heske, 1990;Fox et al, 1993;Masters, 1993;Predavec, 1994;Meserve et al, 1995;Madsen and Shine, 1999;Shenbrot and Krasnov, 2001;Jaksic and Lima, 2003;Letnic and Dickman, 2005). Bottom-up trophic processes are believed to be the underlying mechanisms for the positive relationships; accordingly, reproduction of rodents is stimulated by enhanced growth and seed production of annual and perennial plants after rain events (Brown and Heske, 1990).…”

Effects of fire on vegetation and small mammal communities in a Mojave Desert Joshua tree woodland

“…Results of studies of rodent response to fire in arid environments have been inconsistent (Fitzgerald et al, 2001;Fox, 1982;Letnic, 2003;Letnic et al, 2004;Letnic and Dickman, 2005;Valone et al, 2002). However, in a study of the rodents in the Sonoran Desert, it was found that species from the genus Dipodomys were associated with sparser vegetative cover while species of the genera Peromyscus and Perognathus required a more complex shrub cover (Rosenzweig and Winakur, 1969;Simons,1991).…”

Mongolian gerbils and Daurian pikas responded differently to changes in precipitation in the Inner Mongolian grasslands

“…The outbreaks of rodents were related to rainfall peaks in South America (Jaksic and Lima, 2003). High rainfalls also resulted in the eruptions of rodents in the Simpson Desert, Australia (Letnic and Dickman, 2005). Frequent droughts have been predicted as a part of future climate change in Inner Mongolia (Gong et al, 2004).…”