Demographics of Small Mammals Using Anthropogenic Desert Riparian Habitat in Arizona

Abstract

Resource managers attempting to rehabilitate degraded desert riverine ecosystems must understand the effects of vegetation management on riparian wildlife. I used capture-recapture methods in February, june, and September 1992, and February 1993 to investigate demography of small mammals at a 4-ha site on the xerified lower Colorado River floodplain, 5 years after treatment to replace saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) with native woody plants. The site had become a mosaic of various vegetation types, including closed-canopy cottonwood/willow (Populus fremontii/Salix nigra), with no natural counterpart. I captured 9 of 15 native small mammal species potentially resident in local riparian habitats