Spencer et al. assessed the impacts of pocket gophers (Geomys attwateri) on both burned and unburned grasslands of coastal Texas. Results suggested gopher mounds had a positive effect on vegetation surrounding them in the burned area since samples taken around mounds yielded more dicot biomass than random samples. Thus, while the overall effect of burning was to reduce dicot biomass, gopher mounds appeared to ameliorate this effect since dicot biomass was significantly greater around mounds in the burned area. New mounds in this study were deficient in phosphorus, nitrate, and potassium when compared with soil collected at random since sub soil deposited on the surface has had nutrients both leached from it and drawn from it by plant roots.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.