Mark-recapture vs. Simulated Removal Trapping for Assessing Temporal Patterns in Ecological Communities: An Example Using Coccidian Parasites of Two Species of Rodents

• Published in: The American midland naturalist Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 112 - 123
• Main Authors: Wilber, P. G., Patrick, M. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Notre Dame University of Notre Dame 01.01.1997; University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences; American Midland Naturalist
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Data collection; Dipodomys merriami; Ecological research; Ecology; Ground squirrels; Host-parasite relationships; Infections; Kangaroos; Mark release recapture; Parasite hosts; Parasites; Rats; Rodents; Sample size; Species; Spermophilus townsendii; New Mexico; Idaho; USA, West
• ISSN: 0003-0031; 1938-4238
• DOI: 10.2307/2426760

Most studies which discuss temporal patterns of parasite infections are based on information from hosts killed at different times. Using data from 202 Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) in a mark-recapture study at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, and 308 adult Townsend's ground squirrels (Spermophilus townsendii) from a mark-recapture study at the Snake River Birds of Prey Area, Idaho, we show that (1) repeated removals may result in sample sizes that are too small to address questions about temporal patterns in prevalence of infection or parasite community size; (2) repeated removals may cause immigration rates high enough to mask or alter the patterns of interest, and (3) mark-recapture trapping can circumvent these problems.