TY - JOUR
T1 - Invasion of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in southeastern Kentucky and its possible impact on the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi)
AU - Krupa, James J.
AU - Haskins, Kristin E.
PY - 1996/1
Y1 - 1996/1
N2 - Robinson Forest is a 4450-ha eastern deciduous forest located in southeastern Kentucky on the Cumberland Plateau. Historically, the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) was the dominant microtine rodent in forest clearings. However, within the last 15 yr, the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) has expanded its range southward into southeastern Kentucky and has invaded clearings in Robinson Forest. Recent trapping efforts revealed that M. pennsylvanicus was the most abundant microtine in clearings, accounting for 48% of all small mammals caught. It invaded an isolated, grass-dominated clearing within 3 yr of tree removal. By contrast, S. cooperi was the most rarely caught small mammal in these clearings and tended to occupy herb-dominated clearings where fewer M. pennsylvanicus occurred. Synaptomys cooperi has become rarer since the arrival of M. pennsylvanicus, possibly due to competitive exclusion. Extensive deforestation, coupled with a 50-yr period of climatic cooling, may have led to the range expansion of M. pennsylvanicus.
AB - Robinson Forest is a 4450-ha eastern deciduous forest located in southeastern Kentucky on the Cumberland Plateau. Historically, the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) was the dominant microtine rodent in forest clearings. However, within the last 15 yr, the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) has expanded its range southward into southeastern Kentucky and has invaded clearings in Robinson Forest. Recent trapping efforts revealed that M. pennsylvanicus was the most abundant microtine in clearings, accounting for 48% of all small mammals caught. It invaded an isolated, grass-dominated clearing within 3 yr of tree removal. By contrast, S. cooperi was the most rarely caught small mammal in these clearings and tended to occupy herb-dominated clearings where fewer M. pennsylvanicus occurred. Synaptomys cooperi has become rarer since the arrival of M. pennsylvanicus, possibly due to competitive exclusion. Extensive deforestation, coupled with a 50-yr period of climatic cooling, may have led to the range expansion of M. pennsylvanicus.
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U2 - 10.2307/2426867
DO - 10.2307/2426867
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0030060897
SN - 0003-0031
VL - 135
SP - 14
EP - 22
JO - American Midland Naturalist
JF - American Midland Naturalist
IS - 1
ER -