Volta

Effects of Cattle Grazing on Food Web Dynamics: Meso-predators and Rodents in a Sagebrush Ecosystem

We used a network of motion-sensitive cameras and weekly transect surveys during a replicated cattle grazing experiment to assess the influence of dormant season grazing, spring-summer rotational grazing, and grazing exclusion on the activity of rodent, meso-mammalian, lagomorph and reptilian species in southeast Oregon, USA, from 2018–2021. Activity of chipmunks ( Neotamias spp.) and mice (subfamily Neotominae ), was lower in moderate intensity rotationally grazed pastures compared to nongrazed pastures. When considering differences with respect to rotation (spring or summer) or cattle presence, we found evidence for reduced activity of most rodents (including chipmunks, ground squirrels [ Urocitellus spp.], kangaroo rats [family Heteromyidae ], and mice), with the largest reductions during summer grazing. We did not observe a direct effect …

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