Duckwitz, Jeremy J. 2001. Small Mammal Survey of Wind Cave National Park. South Dakota State University. 95 p.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been escalating concern for loss of biodiversity at the global scale. National and state parks have been established, in part, to preserve biodiversity of a region; however, a park cannot manage biota without first conducting a biological inventory. An inventory of species abundance, along with habitat preference, and ecological roles, provides an indication of biodiversity. Wind Cave National Park (WCNP) is nearly 100 years old, during this time no parkwide small mammal survey has been conducted. The purpose of this research project was to conduct a biodiversity survey of the small mammal community that inhabits WCNP. For this study, small mammals are defined as those mammals which weigh less than 4.54 kg (10 pounds), the upper limit weight for the white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii). Bats were not included in this small mammal survey. The objectives of this research project were to: (1) determine the small mammals that occur in WCNP; (2) associate small mammals with vegetation alliances found within WCNP; (3) document areas of high species richness of small mammals in WCNP; (4) document the locations of northern flying squirrels in WCNP; and (5) determine vegetation alliances found within flying squirrel home ranges. Field work was conducted during the summers of 1999 and 2000. In 1999, 20 vegetation alliances with multiple replicates were sampled for small mammals using 400 m traplines consisting of 20 stations. In 2000, 16 vegetation alliances were sampled for small mammals for eight nights.