Small Mammal Abundance on Native and Improved Foothill Ranges, Utah

Abstract

Small mammal populations were sampled annually over 4 years in native plant communities and improved rangeland types. All species of rodents were relatively less abundant where western wheatgrass was the dominant vegetation, but other differences among types were specific to individual species. Due to species-specific habitat preferences, total rodent numbers were highest where both sagebrush and seeded vegetation occurred together, and total rodent biomass was slightly greater along this ecotone than in a pure sagebrush type. Small-scale type conversion projects designed to increase the diversity of seeded and native stands may maintain or increase rodent abundance where species with such dissimilar habitat requirements occur.