Effects of Small Mammal Burrows on Water Infiltration in a Cool Desert Environment

The hypothesis that small mammal burrows can increase the amount of water infiltrating into the soil profile was tested. The amount of water added to the soil profile from spring recharge in areas adjacent to ground squirrel (Spermophilus townsendii and S. elegans) burrows was compared to nearby are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 1993-01, Vol.94 (1), p.43-48
Main Author: LAUNDRE, J. W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biochemistry and biology
Biological and medical sciences
Burrows
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
Desert soils
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Mammals
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Precipitation
Silt loam soils
Soil ecology
Soil infiltration
Soil profiles
Soil science
Soil water
Soil water recharge
Spermophilus
Zoology (interactions between soil fauna and agricultural or forest soils)
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Summary:The hypothesis that small mammal burrows can increase the amount of water infiltrating into the soil profile was tested. The amount of water added to the soil profile from spring recharge in areas adjacent to ground squirrel (Spermophilus townsendii and S. elegans) burrows was compared to nearby areas without burrows. Recharge amounts in burrow areas were significantly higher than nonburrow areas. An average of 21% more of the winter precipitation infiltrated into the soil near burrows. The amount of recharge was also found to be positively related to burrow density. Burrows also affected the distribution of the recharge by adding significantly more water to the deeper portions (>50 cm) of the soil profile.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/bf00317299