The role of pocket gophers as subterranean ecosystem engineers

Reichman, O. J.; Seabloom, Eric W.

doi:10.1016/s0169-5347(01)02329-1

Cited by 274 publications

(224 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Quadrats off the mound were divided into two equal groups or "plots" -"near" and "far." This allowed us to test whether presence of mounds exerted an effect on adjacent meadow vegetation (Grant et al, 1980;Reichman and Seabloom, 2002) and whether it was necessary to utilize far plots to represent meadow conditions (see Analyses, below).…”

Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Succession on Gopher Mounds in Western Cascade Meadows: Consequences for Species Diversity and Heterogeneity

Jones

Halpern

Niederer

2008

The American Midland Naturalist

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ABSTRACT. -Pocket gophers have the potential to alter the dynamics of grasslands by creating mounds that bury existing vegetation and locally reset succession. Gopher mounds may provide safe sites for less competitive species, potentially increasing both species diversity and vegetation heterogeneity (spatial variation in species composition). We compared species composition, diversity and heterogeneity among gopher mounds of different ages in three montane meadows in the Cascade Range of Oregon. Cover of graminoids and forbs increased with mound age, as did species richness. Contrary to many studies, we found no evidence that mounds provided safe sites for early successional species, despite their abundance in the soil seed bank, or that diversity peaked on intermediate-aged mounds. However, cover of forbs relative to that of graminoids was greater on mounds than in the adjacent meadow. Variation in species composition was also greater within and among mounds than in adjacent patches of undisturbed vegetation, suggesting that these small-scale disturbances increase heterogeneity within meadows.3

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Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Succession on Gopher Mounds in Western Cascade Meadows: Consequences for Species Diversity and Heterogeneity

Jones

Halpern

Niederer

2008

The American Midland Naturalist

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“…For example, ecosystem engineers may enhance diversity by facilitating the presence of other organisms or communities (e.g., Bruno et al 2003) which may eventually lead to succession (e.g., Castellanos et al 1994;Fogel et al 2004). Engineering species may also enhance diversity by causing spatial or temporal heterogeneity (e.g., excavations by pocket gophers, Reichman and Seabloom 2002; fungusgrowing termites, Jouquet et al 2004). On the other hand, the physical alteration of ecosystems by invasive ecosystem engineers can have cascading effects on many resident species (Crooks 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing biodiversity effects among ecosystem engineers of contrasting strength: macrofauna diversity in Zostera noltii and Spartina anglica vegetations

2008

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Whereas it is well known that ecosystem engineers can have a large influence on biodiversity, underlying mechanisms are still not fully clear. We try to enhance insight by comparing biodiversity effects of two neighboring intertidal, clonal, ecosystem engineering plant species that modify the physical environmental parameters in a similar way, but with a different magnitude. Macrobenthic assemblages were compared between meadows of the seagrass Zostera noltii, small patches (B0.5 m Ø) and large areas ()5 m Ø) of the emergent halophyte Spartina anglica and the surrounding bare tidal mudflat (control). Multivariate analyses revealed that the mudflat benthic assemblage and Zostera meadow assemblage showed highest similarities, whereas the Spartina marsh assemblage showed the highest dissimilarity with these two areas. Whereas the descriptive nature of our study limits interpretation of the data, some clear patterns were observed. For all vegetated areas, species diversity was lower compared to the unvegetated mudflat, and we observed a strong shift from endo-towards epibenthic species, suggesting that increased above-ground habitat complexity may be a main driving process in our system. As there were no clear patterns related to feeding types, food availability/productivity appeared to be of minor importance in structuring the benthic assemblages. Nevertheless, animals were in general smaller in vegetated areas. Patchiness had a distinct positive effect on biodiversity.

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“…Since gophers disrupt up to 30% of the California grassland soil surface each year, their effects on plant communities and soil nutrient cycling may be of enormous importance to the overall dynamics of the ecosystem (Eviner and Chapin, 2003a;Hobbs and Mooney, 1985;Reichman and Jarvis, 1989;Reichman and Seabloom, 2002). 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).…”

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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The role of pocket gophers as subterranean ecosystem engineers

Cited by 274 publications

References 29 publications

Plant Succession on Gopher Mounds in Western Cascade Meadows: Consequences for Species Diversity and Heterogeneity

Plant Succession on Gopher Mounds in Western Cascade Meadows: Consequences for Species Diversity and Heterogeneity

Comparing biodiversity effects among ecosystem engineers of contrasting strength: macrofauna diversity in Zostera noltii and Spartina anglica vegetations

Plant Colonizers Shape Early N-dynamics in Gopher-mounds

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