Carlson and Crist investigated plant responses to gopher (Thomomys talpoides attenuatus) mounds, as they vary in topography and grazing history (light or heavy grazing by cattle). There were more gopher mounds on lightly grazed areas than on heavy, but the mounds in the heavily grazed area were larger. There was greater cover of grazing tolerant species, such as blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), on mounds in the heavily grazed area, which is consistent with off-mound response. Mounds did not differ in overall plant species richness and composition, despite the variation in cover of blue grama. Detrended correspondence analysis showed that pasture had a greater effect on plant species composition of mounds than topography or yearly variation. These results demonstrate that topography affected the spatial distribution of pocket gopher disturbances, and pasture influenced the pool of plant species colonizing mounds. It is important to assess animal-disturbance effects and plant responses to disturbances on rangelands within the broader context of topography and grazing.
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