Work

Effect of Invasive Plant Removal on the Density ofPeromyscus sonoriensisin Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Non-native plants can affect communities through direct competition, and by providing refuge to seed predators, creating apparent competition with native plants. Ammophila arenaria (European beachgrass) has been introduced to coastal dune habitats throughout the western United States, where it forms dense monocultures, stabilizes dunes, and alters abiotic and biotic conditions. The dominance of European beachgrass is linked to declines of Lupinus tidestromii (Tidestrom’s lupine), an herb endemic to coastal dune communities in central and northern California. Peromyscus sonoriensis (western deer mice), a native seed predator, use beachgrass as refuge from predators. Tidestrom’s lupine near European beachgrass stands experience greater predation pressure from deer mice. At Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA (PRNS), mechanical removal, manual pulling, and herbicide treatment have been used to reduce the density of European beachgrass near Tidestrom’s lupine populations. We trapped deer mice at five sites in PRNS that experienced different management regimes and used spatially-explicit capture-recapture models to estimate deer mouse density as a function of site and habitat treatment. We found that deer mouse density was lowest in areas where European beachgrass was mechanically removed and in herbicide-treated foredunes, and highest in areas highly invaded by European beachgrass and Carpobrotus spp. (iceplant). Deer mouse density increased from 2021 to 2022 at every site except one that underwent extensive mechanical removal of European beachgrass from 2010–2011. This study shows enduring effects of European beachgrass removal on the density of a native seed predator and highlights the importance of habitat management for conservation of Tidestrom’s lupine.

Source: Ecological Restoration

DOI: 10.3368/er.42.4.271

Authors: Jonathan P. Rose, Lorraine S. Parsons, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead

Institutions: United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, National Park Service

Language: English

Topic: Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service