"Effect of Human Disturbance on Small Mammal Communities in Itasca Stat" by Nancy L. Staus, Kathleen Conforti et al.

Article Title

Effect of Human Disturbance on Small Mammal Communities in Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Authors

Nancy L. Staus, University of Minnesota
Kathleen Conforti, University of Minnesota
Leslie N. Clapper, University of Minnesota
Jennifer A. Longhenry, University of Minnesota
C. C. Schoenbauer, University of Minnesota
Michael S. Rentz, University of Minnesota
John R. Tester, University of Minnesota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1999

Keywords

Mammal communities; Nature--Effect of human beings on; Itasca State Park (Minn.)

Abstract

We determined effects of different levels of human disturbance on small mammal richness and relative abundance from live-trapping data obtained in Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota. We developed a quantitative measure of human disturbance based on disturbance units and trapped small mammals on three study sites, each reflecting a different level of disturbance. Our data revealed that small mammal diversity decreased with increasing human disturbance. Amount of ground cover and litter depth also appeared to be important in explaining differences in the demographic patterns of small mammals among sites.

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Last Page

Recommended Citation

Staus, N. L., Conforti, K., Clapper, L. N., Longhenry, J. A., Schoenbauer, C. C., Rentz, M. S., & Tester, J. R. (1999). Effect of Human Disturbance on Small Mammal Communities in Itasca State Park, Minnesota. Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 64 No.1, 1-5.
Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/jmas/vol64/iss1/2

Primo Type

Article

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