Heske and Campbell monitored the effects of a livestock exclosure on the abundance of rodent and ant species in the San Simon Valley of southeastern Arizona. The authors set up 11 paired transects within an 11 year grazing exclosure and in the grazed grassland adjacent to the exclosure. Dipodomys (kangaroo rats) and Onychomys (grasshopper mice) species were significantly more abundant inside the exclosure while smaller murids (mice spp.) and ants, were equally abundant in both areas. Vegetation structure showed no significant difference between grazed and ungrazed areas. In terms of rodent abundance and composition, cattle grazing seemed to have a modest effect on the rodent community.
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.