50 Years of Archeology at the Apostle Islands
As we look to the future of the Lakeshore, this knowledge will inform preservation planning and further study for ...
Longitudinal Trends and Ecology of the Small Mammal Community
April 1, 2021
As part of the first ever comprehensive survey of the mammal community of the Apostle Islands archipelago, we documented changes in distribution of small mammals since the establishment of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in 1970.
Using recent data, we also described trends in abundance and multiple aspects of small mammal species ecology. We trapped small mammals from 20 of the 22 islands of the archipelago (2017-2020) and compared those results to historical (1961- 2004) records. Small mammal community diversity was driven by island size and less so by island isolation, regardless of variation over time.
Since the establishment of the Lakeshore, Microtus pennsylvanicus distribution declined significantly, while Sorex cinereus distribution increased significantly, and Peromsyscus spp. colonized at least three islands, potentially through human-facilitated dispersal (i.e., boating, kayaking). Myodes gapperi remained widespread and abundant, making them an ecologically important aspect of the archipelago’s mammal community.
Habitat, parasitism, predation, and Myodes gapperi abundance and body condition interact to shape the ecology of Myodes gapperi within the archipelago.
Canada yew, Taxus canadensis, appears to play an important role in shaping these ecological interactions. Long-term changes in small mammal populations across the archipelago likely reflect reduction of human extractive activities following the establishment of the national lakeshore and the corresponding succession of vegetative communities.
Our work suggests that the small mammal communities of the archipelago have changed since the establishment of the national lakeshore 50 years ago. Moreover, island size appears to be an important factor mitigating small mammal community dynamics over time, and Canada yew may be an important habitat feature for small mammal species of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Presenter biography
Dr. Erik Olson, Northland College
Erik Olson is Associate Professor of Natural Resources at Northland College.
Erik received his MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and his BS from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
Currently, his research focuses on three projects: 1) Canopy Ecology of Temperate Forests – a project examining the habitat-use of the upper canopy, 2) JaguarOsa – a long-term wildlife monitoring project in two Costa Rican National Parks, and 3) Great Lakes Island Ecology – focusing on the ecology of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore archipelago.
To sample more sessions choose below
A Retrospective – Research and Resource Management at Apostle Islands NL
An overview of the history of natural resource management and research at the national lakeshore over the past 5 ...
A singing wilderness: Songbirds of the Apostle Islands
Monitoring bird populations helps us keep an ear out for troubling changes in the island soundtrack.
A Vulnerability Assessment for Terrestrial Ecosystems
How might climate change affect Apostle Islands National Lakeshore? It’s a simple question with lots of potential ...
American Martens on the Apostle Islands
Our findings suggest that the Apostle Islands were naturally recolonized by progeny of translocated individuals ...
Amphibians of the Apostle Islands
The Apostles support 6 species of salamanders and 7-9 species of frogs.
Apostle Islands Flora
Diverse physical landforms and a variety of habitats contribute to the high total plant diversity of 810+ species ...
Emerging Water Resource Issues in the Apostle Islands
The lake is big, omnipresent, and seemingly resistant to change. However, a closer look reveals a variety of ...
Fifty Years of Cultural Resource Research at Apostle Islands NL
This presentation will look at the Lakeshore’s half century of efforts to study, understand, and steward these ...
Gaylord Nelson: mover, shaker, deal-maker
Without Gaylord Nelson’s unmatched political acumen and years of commitment to public service, the Apostle Islands ...
Longitudinal Trends and Ecology of the Small Mammal Community
Long-term changes in small mammal populations across the archipelago likely reflect reduction of human extractive ...
New Insights Into the Dynamics of Apostle Islands Carnivore Communities
To determine how human activity and footprint affect the spatiotemporal activity of wildlife on the Apostle ...
Past, Present and Future of Fire in the Apostle Islands
We reconstructed fire history from fire-scarred red pine stumps collected on Stockton Island tombolo to better ...
Past, present and future of fisheries management in the Apostle Islands
New challenges are emerging and will direct fisheries management for the future.
Past, present, and future of piping plovers in the Apostle Islands
Partnerships with tribal, state, and federal officials have been key to monitoring piping plovers in the islands.
Resiliency and vulnerability of Apostle Islands coastal wetlands
We investigated wetland hydrology, geomorphology, vegetation, macro-invertebrates, and fish to identify ...
Through the eyes of 4th graders
Through the Eyes of Fourth Graders is a book written and illustrated by students about their experiences in the ...
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
What is TEK? How does it relate to scientific knowledge? Traditional knowledge is embedded within the very fabric ...
Under the surface and Zaaga’igan Ma’iinganag (lakewolves)
In this presentation, program directors Ian Karl and Toben Lafrançois highlight the photos and reflections from ...
Underwater Landscapes of the Apostle Islands
Since 2010, NPS and partners have developed high resolution benthic habitat maps for six coastal parks in the ...
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