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Ecology Of Small Mammals, Vegetation, And Avian Nest Survival On Private Rangelands In Nebraska, Kent A. Fricke, Silka L.F. Kempema, Larkin A. Powell

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences

Small mammals can be an important bioindicator of ecosystem health. They serve as both predator and prey in many ecosystems. By means of live trapping and nest monitoring, we studied the ecological relationships between small mammals, avian nest survival, and vegetation composition and structure on six private ranches in the Sandhills of Nebraska during 2004. Our study documented six species (132 captures) of small mammals, and we monitored 139 bird nests. Pastures with high small-mammal populations did not suffer higher nest mortality, indicating that small-mammal abundance does not predict avian productivity. We found several vegetation characteristics that influenced small-mammal abundance …