Effects of grazing on the northern three‐toed jerboa pre‐ and post‐hibernation

Abstract

ABSTRACTResource availability pre‐hibernation and post‐hibernation may be crucial phases for the survival of hibernators. However, the effects of grazing on food availability in pre‐hibernation and on the winter survival of hibernating rodents remains unstudied. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of domestic sheep grazing on northern three‐toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) populations pre‐, post‐, and during hibernation. We conducted a grazing exclusion experiment with randomized complete block design in the Alxa Desert, Inner Mongolia, China, from April to October 2006 to 2011. We live‐trapped jerboas in 3 grazed plots and 3 ungrazed plots. We measured the quantity of vegetation in grazed and ungrazed plots to determine the relationship between jerboas and plant food resources. We observed higher jerboa densities both pre‐ and post‐hibernation, and heavier individual body mass pre‐hibernation, in ungrazed sites. More food availability contributed to higher jerboa body mass in ungrazed areas during pre‐hibernation, and attracted more jerboas immigrating to ungrazed areas during the post‐hibernation period. These results demonstrate that grazing negatively affects the northern three‐toed jerboa population by adjusting food availability pre‐ and post‐hibernation; survival rates were not affected by grazing. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.