ABUNDANCE OF COTTONTAILS AT A STATE GAME LANDS UNIT IRRIGATED WITH WASTEWATER

We captured 330 eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) before and during the time secondary-treated effluent (wastewater) was applied to the Toftrees portion of State Game Lands 176, Centre County, Pennsylvania. At least 15 cottontails were captured in 7 of 9 years during 1974-1982 prior to 198...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 1994-07, Vol.68 (1), p.37-41
Main Authors: STORM, GERALD L., SHOPE, WILLIAM K., TZILKOWSKI, WALTER M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Barren land
BIOLOGY
Forest habitats
Irrigation
Rabbits
Storms
Surface areas
Surface water
Wastewater
Wastewater irrigation
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Summary:We captured 330 eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) before and during the time secondary-treated effluent (wastewater) was applied to the Toftrees portion of State Game Lands 176, Centre County, Pennsylvania. At least 15 cottontails were captured in 7 of 9 years during 1974-1982 prior to 1983 when no wastewater was applied on the study area. After 1983, less than 15 cottontails were captured per year during 1986-1990. The percentage of juveniles in the population declined from 34 percent prior to 1983 to 20 percent after 1983. Suitable habitat for cottontails also declined because small woody stems in the understory decreased due to breakage from ice formation during winter irrigation. Increased surface water, persistent moist conditions at the forest floor, and decreased numbers of small woody stems may have adversely affected cottontail abundance.
ISSN:1044-6753
2475-1898