Search

Biofluorescence in mammal pelage is considered rare, but has been documented in multiple taxa in recent years. Herein, we provide the first observations of biofluorescence in fossorial mammals. We documented biofluorescence in live Geomys pinetis (southeastern pocket gopher) and in museum specimens of four additional geomyid species. Although unknown, the adaptive significance of biofluorescence in pocket gophers is likely similar to that documented in terrestrial and arboreal species previously, including communication or predator evasion.

Animals living underground deal with multiple physiological challenges, such as hypoxia and hypercarbia, but may have reduced thermoregulation demands because of the more stable underground microclimate. Southeastern pocket gophers (Geomys pinetis Rafinesque) occur in the fire-adapted, open-pine forests of the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain where prescribed fire is commonly used to manage understory vegetation. They are almost exclusively fossorial, and their tunnels provide ecological services, including shelter, for a suite of commensal vertebrates and invertebrates. To quantify potential thermoregulation benefits of southeastern pocket gopher tunnels, we compared temperatures in active tunnels (n = 31) to aboveground temperatures during winter (December 2018–February 2019), and to aboveground temperatures during prescribed fire events (n = 16) occurring in spring (March–May 2019). During winter, tunnels provided a more stable thermal environment (average range = 6.5 ± 0.8 C; mean ± se) relative to aboveground (average range = 24.8 ± 1.8 C) temperatures. Similarly, mean tunnel temperature range (2.05 ± 0.5 C) was significantly narrower than aboveground temperature range associated with fire events (497.0 ± 101.4 C). Clearly, tunnels provide a stable thermal environment for pocket gophers and commensals that use their tunnel systems.

Many sympatric species use Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) burrows as refugia from predators, extreme temperatures, and fire. As part of an ongoing project involving trail-camera monitoring at Gopher Tortoise burrows, we observed a Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel) sheltering in an occupied burrow twice in a single day. Eastern Fox Squirrels primarily forage on the ground, and Gopher Tortoise burrows likely offer refuge from avian predators but could expose Eastern Fox Squirrels to increased predation risk from mammalian and reptilian predators. Alternatively, the squirrel may have been seeking refuge from higher-than-average temperatures. Our observation further demonstrates the importance of Gopher Tortoise burrows to vertebrate fauna in the southeastern United States.

Numerous vertebrate species including Pituophis spp. (pine snakes) and birds of prey have been shown to consume Geomys pinetis (Southeastern Pocket Gopher), but its full spectrum of predators remains undocumented. As a part of a larger project involving radiotracking Southeastern Pocket Gophers in southwestern Georgia, a female Pocket Gopher was consumed by a Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake) while making an aboveground movement. Timber Rattlesnakes are a previously undocumented predator for Southeastern Pocket Gophers. Our observation further demonstrates predation risks associated with aboveground movement.

Sciurus niger L. (Eastern Fox Squirrel) is associated with montane Pinus palustris Mill. (Longleaf Pine) forests in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley, but little is known about the species' distribution and abundance within this region. We conducted an occupancy study of Eastern Fox Squirrels in montane Longleaf Pine forests of the Talladega National Forest, AL. We surveyed 73 camera trap sites for Eastern Fox Squirrels and measured surrounding vegetation and landscape features. Eastern Fox Squirrels were patchily distributed across the study area and only observed at 11% of sites. Occupancy modeling indicated Eastern Fox Squirrels had a relatively high probability of detection (0.680) but a low probability of occupancy (0.111). Eastern Fox Squirrel occupancy was negatively associated with slope steepness. This result is possibly because prescribed fire and other restoration efforts of open-pine conditions associated with Eastern Fox Squirrel habitat in Talladega National Forest are focused on logistically accessible ridges and more moderately sloped areas. Steep slopes also likely decrease accessibility and dispersion ability for Eastern Fox Squirrels. The overall low occupancy of Eastern Fox Squirrels in the Shoal Creek Ranger District of Talladega National Forest may be linked to the highly fragmented montane Longleaf Pine habitat caused by topography and past fire suppression.

Human induced land-use change in the form of urbanization and agriculture are rapidly transforming our planet’s terrestrial landscapes and causing the loss of species at unprecedented rates. Studies documenting the impacts of development are extensive; however, less is known about the scale at which species respond to development and specific features of altered landscapes that make them vulnerable. This shortcoming may be due to the difficulty of collecting data across large spatial extents, but filling these information gaps are critical, particularly for species that have a disproportionate influence on ecosystems, such as ecosystem engineers. One such species, the southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis), has been declining throughout its range (southeastern United States) and continued loss will likely have strong effects on the imperiled longleaf pine ecosystem in which it is closely associated. Using range-wide data from presence-absence surveys and publicly available presence-only data, we used recent advances in species distribution modeling to understand this ecosystem engineer’s associations with extensive land use and cover changes. Our study showed that pocket gophers inhabit a variety of land-use types, including regions with low levels of anthropogenic development, but are largely absent from intensely urbanized areas and closed-canopy forests. Conservation planning to reduce the spread of extensive development and forest management strategies to reduce closed-canopy systems will be instrumental in reducing the decline of the species and ultimately protection of the longleaf pine ecosystem. The approach used in this study will be increasingly beneficial for understanding species response to land-use change.

Geomys pinetis (Southeastern Pocket Gopher) is absent from much of its historic distribution due to reductions in suitable habitat, which consists largely of open Pinus (pine) systems. Restored open pine habitat represents an opportunity to reestablish Southeastern Pocket Gophers into areas within their historic distribution through translocation. Using radio telemetry, we documented evidence of avian predation on experimentally translocated Southeastern Pocket Gophers and no predation on non-translocated individuals. Translocated individuals exhibited greater movement rates, including aboveground movements, likely exposing them to increased predation risk.