Responses of Selected Wildlife Species to the Removal of Mesquite from Desert Grassland in Southeastern Arizona

Abstract

Activities of selected wildlife species were observed from September 1976 to June 1978 in an undisturbed velvet mesquite (Prosopis juliflora var. velutina) stand, on range cleared of mesquite, and in a mesquite stand with spot clearings on the Santa Rita Experimental Range near Tucson, Ariz. More black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus), antelope jackrabbits (Lepus alleni), and Gambel's quail (Lophortyx gambelii), were seen in undisturbed mesquite and mesquite with clearings than on mesquite-free range. Likewise, more bird calls were heard in the undisturbed and partially cleared mesquite than on mesquite-free range. Apparent differences in bird and mammal populations between the undisturbed stand and the partially cleared stand were not significant and were generally small.