Effects of biosolids on a grassland community of rodents and birds of prey in British Columbia
department or school: Science, Irving K. Barber Faculty of (Okanagan)
department or school: Biology, Department of (Okanagan)
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCO
creator: Meineke, Jennifer K.
issued: 2020-10-21T18:16:24Z
issued: 2020
related degree: Master of Science - MSc
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Grasslands around the world are becoming degraded due to human causes. In British Columbia, Canada, grasslands cover only ~1% of the landmass, yet 20% of species listed as “at-risk” of extinction in British Columbia occupy grasslands. Grassland restoration is therefore important to managing imperiled species. Biosolids (post-treatment sewage) are being used to increase forage for livestock grazing in some areas. These grasslands appear to support high densities of insects and small mammal prey, potentially enhancing populations of owls and raptors. To examine impacts of biosolids on populations of prey and predators, I studied small mammals, raptors, and owls at the OK Ranch, a cattle ranch near Clinton, British Columbia. I quantified differences in North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations on biosolids and control pastures and studied populations of Short-eared Owls (Asio flammeus), Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), comparing yearly abundance, habitat use, and diet within this biosolids-influenced ecosystem. Deermouse populations were smaller in pastures with biosolids, likely due to an increase in grass cover in these areas, thus indicating these pastures may be being restored. American Kestrels and Short-eared Owls used biosolids pastures over control pastures disproportionate to availability. American Kestrels ate prey that were most abundant each year. When present on the study area, Short-eared and Long-eared Owls primarily ate voles, however Short-eared Owls diversified their diets more in 2019, when vole populations were low. This research has expanded our knowledge about how biosolids can impact small mammal populations and raptor and owl habitat use. These results suggest biosolids could be used in an explicit conservation capacity to help restore wildlife populations on degraded grasslands.
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/76323
note: EFFECTS OF BIOSOLIDS ON A GRASSLAND COMMUNITY OF RODENTS AND BIRDS OF PREY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by Jennifer K. Meineke B.Sc., Unity College, 2017 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Biology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Okanagan) September 2020 © Jennifer K. Meineke, 2020 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the College of Graduate Studies for acceptance, a thesis/dissertation entitled: Effects of biosolids on a grassland community of rodents and birds of prey in British Columbia submitted by Jennifer K. Meineke in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science. Dr. Karen E. Hodges, Biology Department, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Supervisor Frank Doyle, M.Sc. R.P. Bio., Wildlife Dynamics Consulting Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Adam Ford, Biology Department, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Cole Burton, Department of Forest Resources Management, UBC Faculty of Forestry University Examiner iii Abstract Grasslands around the world are becoming degraded due to human causes. In British Columbia, Canada, grasslands cover only ~1% of the landmass, yet 20% of species listed as “at-risk” of extinction in British Columbia occupy grasslands. Grassland restoration is therefore important to managing imperiled species. Biosolids (post-treatment sewage) are being used to increase forage for livestock grazing in some areas. These grasslands appear to support high densities of insects and small mammal prey, potentially enhancing populations of owls and raptors. To examine impacts of biosolids on populations of prey and predators, I studied small mammals, raptors, and owls at the OK Ranch, a cattle ranch near Clinton, British Columbia. I quantified differences in North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations on biosolids and control pas…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2020-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0394776
language: eng
degree discipline: Biology
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/76323