Decline of the Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) in two Mountain Ranges in New Mexico

• Published in: The Southwestern naturalist Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 31 - 44
• Main Authors: Frey, Jennifer K, Malaney, Jason L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Biology, Box 1651, Edwardsville, IL 62026 The Southwestern Association of Naturalists Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 01.03.2009; Southwestern Association of Naturalists
• Subjects: Castor canadensis; Climate; Distribution; Endangered & extinct species; Feature s; Field study; Fish hatcheries; Forest habitats; Grazing; Habitat conservation; Habitat loss; Habitats; Livestock; Meadows; Microtus pennsylvanicus; Museums; Natural history; Protection and preservation; Spatial behavior in animals; Surface water; Vegetation; Wetlands; Wildlife habitats; Wildlife management; Zapus hudsonius; Zoogeography; New Mexico
• ISSN: 0038-4909; 1943-6262
• DOI: 10.1894/MLK-07.1

The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) is endemic to riparian habitats in the American Southwest. We evaluated current status and habitat of this species in the Jemez and Sacramento mountains, New Mexico. We compiled historical capture localities and conducted field surveys at historical and potential new localities during 2005 and 2006. We did not find the species or its habitat at 73% of historical localities surveyed in the Jemez Mountains and 94% of historical localities surveyed in the Sacramento Mountains. It persisted in two drainages (five localities) in the Jemez Mountains and two small, isolated localities in the Sacramento Mountains. Zapus h. luteus was associated with tall, dense, herbaceous riparian vegetation, especially areas dominated by sedges. The lower bound to the 95% confidence interval for vertical cover at localities where Z. h. luteus was captured was 63 cm. Decline in distribution was due to loss of this habitat, primarily as a result of livestock grazing. However, drought, development, recreation, forest fire, and loss of the American beaver (Castor canadensis) also contributed. We recommend that conservation of Z. h. luteus will require establishment of refugial areas of suitable habitat through protection from livestock grazing.