Population dynamics of muskrats in managed marshes at Delta, Manitoba / Darryl W. Kroeker
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TextPublication details: Ames, IA : Iowa State University, 1988.Description: ii, 43 leaves : ill. ; 29 cmOnline resources: Abstract: Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are an important component of wetland ecosystems, as well as being an economically important furbearer.Muskrats are the only significant resident vertebrate consumer of emergent vegetation in many North American wetlands. The large proportion of vegetation which they waste plays an important role in decomposition. Decomposing vegetation provides substrate for bacteria and fungi, which, in turn, feed increased populations of invertebrates (Godshalk and Wetzel 1978). Muskrat foraging and house-building improves interspersion in dense stands of emergent vegetation (Weller and Spatcher 1965, Weller and Fredrickson 1974) which increases invertebrate population levels and results in richer communities of invertebrates (Whitman 1974, Voigts 1976). Spatial interspersion of water and vegetation and increased invertebrate biomass in turn result in greater avian abundance, diversity, and waterfowl use in marshes (Weller and Spatcher 1965, Weller and Fredrickson 197
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Thesis(M.S.)-Iowa State University, 1988.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-43).
Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are an important component of wetland ecosystems, as well as being an economically important furbearer.Muskrats are the only significant resident vertebrate consumer of emergent vegetation in many North American wetlands. The large proportion of vegetation which they waste plays an important role in decomposition. Decomposing vegetation provides substrate for bacteria and fungi, which, in turn, feed increased populations of invertebrates (Godshalk and Wetzel 1978). Muskrat foraging and house-building improves interspersion in dense stands of emergent vegetation (Weller and Spatcher 1965, Weller and Fredrickson 1974) which increases invertebrate population levels and results in richer communities of invertebrates (Whitman 1974, Voigts 1976). Spatial interspersion of water and vegetation and increased invertebrate biomass in turn result in greater avian abundance, diversity, and waterfowl use in marshes (Weller and Spatcher 1965, Weller and Fredrickson 197