Data from: microhabitat selection by the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): an old growth pinyon-juniper woodland specialist
Data files
Mar 22, 2024 version files 74.43 KB
Abstract
Habitat specialists have been largely overlooked in old growth pinyon-juniper woodlands, despite specialists exhibiting heightened sensitivity to anthropogenic habitat loss. Furthermore, small mammal relationships within pinyon-juniper woodlands have most commonly been investigated via species abundance or habitat use, rather than habitat selection, thereby providing limited management metrics. We used the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis) as a model organism to evaluate whether old growth conditions drive resource selection by small mammals associated with pinyon-juniper woodlands. The goal of our study was to determine resources important to the chipmunk to inform management decisions. We evaluated microhabitat selection by testing a priori predictions based on natural history characteristics of the chipmunk and the woodlands. We grouped predictions into habitat characteristics affiliated with or not affiliated with old growth. We tested predictions under a multi-stage modeling framework using generalized linear mixed models with a binomial response variable of use versus availability. Probability of selection by chipmunks increased with increasing mean juniper diameter and increasing variation of pinyon diameter and decreased with increased distance to rocky escape terrain and increased mean percent grass cover. Our findings support the classification of the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk as an old growth pinyon-juniper specialist, as the chipmunk displayed disproportionate preference for old growth microhabitat conditions. We recommend management policies that conserve old growth multi-age stands of pinyons and junipers. Old growth conditions near outcroppings, escarpments, and large boulders are of particular conservation concern. Further, thinning resulting in increased grass cover may be detrimental to this old growth pinyon-juniper specialist.
README: Microhabitat selection by the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): an old growth pinyon-juniper woodland specialist
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n8pk0p33s
The dataset was used in the manuscript Microhabitat selection by the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): an old growth pinyon-juniper woodland specialist, submitted to the Journal of Mammalogy
Description of the data and file structure
The data are contained in an Excel file with two tabs. The first tab is a definition of the 129 variables grouped by hypotheses related to old growth woodland conditions (82 variables representing the 4 old growth habitat characteristics) and factors not related to old growth woodland conditions (47 variables representing 8 non-old growth habitat characteristics). The second tab contains the dataset including site names and variables. Data were collected in the field and from a geographic information system at locations where the chipmunk was detected and paired random locations.
The taxon is listed as threatened by the state of New Mexico. The specific locality has been removed from the online record. These data may be supplied to researchers on request.
Methods
Habitat variables were collected in the field and from a geographic information system at locations where the Oscura Mountains Colorado Chipmunk was detected and at paired random sites.