Climatic factors and population demography in big-eared woodrat, Neotoma macrotis

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

Abstract

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can have marked impacts on small mammal populations that inhabit environments with highly fluctuating water availability. With projected increases in droughts and fewer but more intense rainfall events in the Southwestern United States, the persistence of many wildlife populations may be threatened. Our goal was to assess how temperature and rainfall during distinct dry and wet seasons influenced the dynamics of a population of big-eared woodrats (Neotoma macrotis) in a mixed oak woodland of coastal central California. We applied Pradel's temporal symmetry models to our 21-year biannual capture-markrecapture data set (1993-2014) to determine the effects of climatic factors on the woodrats' apparent survival (Phi) and recruitment rate (f). Monthly Phi averaged 0.945 +/- 0.001 and varied with season. Monthly f was 0.064 +/- 0.001 in the wet season (f was fixed to 0 in the dry season). Monthly population growth rate (lambda) varied from 0.996 +/- 0.001 during the dry season to 1.001 +/- 0.001 during the wet season, which indicated a stable population (0.999 +/- 0.001). Total rainfall from the previous season and mean temperature during the same season positively influenced Phi and f. By contrast, Phi and f were negatively influenced by mean temperature from the previous season and total rainfall in the same season. The resulting lambda fluctuated with total rainfall, particularly in the wet season. Our results suggest that the big-eared woodrat population may not be substantially affected by warm temperatures per se, potentially because of the microclimate provided by its stick houses. We also discuss its adaptability to local food resources and relatively slow life history relative to other cricetids, and propose that the big-eared woodrat population may be equipped to cope with future climate change.

First Page

731

Last Page

742

DOI

10.1093/jmammal/gyab038

Publication Date

2021

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