Restoration Catch-22: Overcoming issues with seed predation by small mammals when trying to restore habitat

Dean E. Pearson; Yvette K. Ortega

Treesearch

Restoration Catch-22: Overcoming issues with seed predation by small mammals when trying to restore habitat

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Dean E. Pearson, Yvette K. Ortega

Year:

2022

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), March 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.

Download (PDF 950 KB)

Download (PDF 950 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64802.pdf

Abstract

We assume animal populations rebound when we restore their habitat by using native plants. But what happens when you are trying to restore native plant habitat for small mammal communities, and these same mammals are eating the seeds of the plants you are trying to reintroduce? Recently published work by Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists Dean Pearson and Yvette Ortega and collaborators addresses this "restoration Catch-22" by looking at how active plant restoration fosters small mammal communities, and how these mammals can be prevented from eating the seeds of the native plants during the restoration process.

Keywords

Science You Can Use, SYCU, seed predation, small mammals, habitat, native plants, restoration

Citation

Pearson, Dean; Ortega, Yvette. 2022. Restoration Catch-22: Overcoming issues with seed predation by small mammals when trying to restore habitat. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), March 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.