Small mammal population implications for wetland conservation and restoration dynamics

Background/Question/Methods   Wetland conservation and restoration continues to be an important area of research with the spread of urbanization, and abandoned and degraded wetlands are growing in number due to changes in land use and agricultural practices. Progress in these restoration efforts, however, hinges on understanding the essential components and working interactions that these ecosystems exhibit. The development of complete ecosystem monitoring methods is essential for creating and maintaining these important wetland habitats. Important components of these wetland ecosystems are small mammals whose interactions have been undervalued in restoration. Most notably small mammal species differences regarding seed predation, seed dispersal mechanisms, and the availability of these mammals as prey have not been assessed as drivers of ecosystem condition. Using analysis of small mammal populations and feeding ecology in post-agricultural cranberry bogs of varying hydrology and restoration modification, this study aims to; (1) develop indicators of mammals as active participants in the restoration of post-agricultural lands, and (2) increase working knowledge of understudied ecosystem components essential to whole-system conservation.

Results/Conclusions   From previous research done near the study site, natural wetland communities in the area should support high species diversity of small mammals and dry grassland areas should be dominated by white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). The current research in post-agricultural cranberry bogs shows meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as the strongly dominant species (>100 individuals/hectare) in both wet and dry conditions, but population size between hydrological conditions is variable. Data show that meadow vole populations are highly fluid with high individual turnover rates and extreme fluctuations in seasonal population size. This is a very interesting development, as preliminary hydrological and vegetative assessments would suggest opportunities for further community complexity. Continuing research will evaluate seasonal shifts in community structure, elucidate restoration modification efficacy, and trends in feeding ecology.