Track-tube assessment of a small mammal population in an urban ecosystem

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Anthropology; Botany; Conservation Ecology; Environmental Science; Freshwater Science; Geosciences; Mathematics & Computer Science; Neuroscience; Physics & Eng; Science Education; Terrestrial Ecology & Management.
  In Poster Session: Terrestrial Ecology Poster Session

Abstract

Thirty track-tubes were placed in a 6 X 5 pattern ca. 10 m apart on the Environmental Studies Area (EnStA) of East Texas Baptist University. Tubes were checked for tracks once a week from 22 Sept. through 17 Nov. 2017. The first 2 weeks tubes were not baited after which they were baited with dry oatmeal. The EnStA is part of a larger urban ecosystem located in Marshall, TX (32°33’N; 94°22’W) with private homes located on the west and east sides, a five-lane highway on the north and the athletic fields of ETBU located on the south. Track-tubes were located close to the athletic fields in an area where the edge plants had been cleared. Because of the clearing of the edge plants, we were investigating if this clearing had any potential effect on the presence of small mammals. Thirty-four tracks of three species were found in 20 of 30 tubes during the 9 weeks of the study. Estimated density of small mammals in the area was 0.008 / ha. Tracks of white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), rat (Rattus sp.; most likely the black rat R. rattus), and southern short-tail shrew (Blarina carolinensis) were identified. Previous mark-recapture studies have shown a small density of these species. Therefore, it is difficult to assess if the clearing of the edge plants had an affect on the presence of small mammals.

Authors

• Austin Word, East Texas Baptist University

• Benjamin Dyess, East Texas Baptist University

• Troy A Ladine, East Texas Baptist University