Mast and Weather Influences on Population Trends of a Species of Concern: the Allegheny Woodrat

• Published in: The American midland naturalist Vol. 162; no. 1; pp. 52 - 61
• Main Authors: Manjerovic, Mary Beth, WOOD, Petra Bohall, Edwards, John W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The University of Notre Dame, P.O. Box 369, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369 American Midland Naturalist 01.07.2009; University of Notre Dame; University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal traps; Birds; Depopulation; Female animals; Forest management; Forest resources; Natural resources; Neotoma magister; Outcrops; Parasitic diseases; Population; Population density; Population trends; Rain; Rodent populations; State forests; Temperature; Trapping; Weather; Winter; Young animals; United States
• ISSN: 0003-0031; 1938-4238
• DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-162.1.52

Over the past 20–30 y, northern and western populations of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) have experienced large declines, whereas populations in the core of the range are assumed to be stable. We examined population trends at two study areas in northcentral West Virginia along the western ridge of the central Appalachian Mountains. Temperature and precipitation parameters along with mast production were examined to determine if these environmental variables impacted the population. Based on a 5 y dataset, our results indicate a yearly decrease in the overall population, with adult females most affected. Hard and soft mast availability related to adult female capture rates, whereas temperatures significantly affected juvenile, adult female and overall capture rates. Juvenile summer capture rates increased with warmer temperatures the preceding winter. Female summer capture rates decreased with warmer temperatures the preceding spring suggesting that effects of warming should be added as a potential threat to the Allegheny woodrat.