Influences of Cliffs on Wildlife Communities in Southcentral Wyoming

Abstract

Cliffs increased topographic heterogeneity in grasslands and influenced physical and biological processes to create an array of vegetative characteristics that were only observed on cliff sites. Although heterogeneity may occur in hilly terrain without cliffs, cliffs provided benefits for some wildlife species that hilly terrain alone could not provide; e.g., secure nesting sites and protection against predation and extreme environmental conditions. Cliff sites had a higher diversity of vegetation that was associated with an increase in small mammal and bird diversity and abundances than control sites. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(4):673-678 Maser et al. (1979) concluded that cliffs in forest habitats were essential and important to a variety of wildlife species. Cliffs may influence wildlife communities directly by providing shelter, nesting and denning sites, and cover, or indirectly by influencing vegetation structure and diversity. Wildlife managers should know which combinations of cliff attributes best serve as habitat for particular species of wildlife. Our objectives were to evaluate the influence of cliffs on wildlife communities located on a high altitude short grass prairie, and determine what cliff structures or associated habitat parameters influence small mammal and bird species abundance, richness, and diversity. L. M. Shultz and M. A. Shields reviewed this manuscript. R. R. Hartman and B. E. Nelson, University of Wyoming Botany Department, identified plants. R. W. Marrs, University of Wyoming Geology Department, provided assistance with the Datacolor Image Analyzer used to calculate cliff surface roughness. The Arch Mineral Corporation, Bureau of Land Management, Office of Surface Mining, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Wyoming Cooperative Fisheries and Wildlife Research Unit