The Flint Hills represent the largest tract of tallgrass prairie in North America and is located near the western edge of the native range of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). This region is undergoing rapid landscape changes (e.g., urbanization, agriculture, woody encroachment) that are negatively affecting mammal communities. Although previous research has revealed northward distributional expansions of Virginia opossums facilitated by urban development, no studies have assessed how landscape change affects distribution patterns along the western edge of their geographic range. During 2016–2018, we monitored site (n = 74) occupancy along urban–rural transects in the Flint Hills to assess the influence of landscape change (i.e., urban, grassland, agriculture, woody encroachment) and water availability on the distribution of Virginia opossums. Sites surrounded by urban land cover had greater initial occupancy probabilities and lower extinction rates. Sites closer to permanent water sources experienced greater colonization rates and lower extinction rates. In addition, site extinction rates were lower in areas surrounded by woody encroachment. Our results concur with other studies suggesting that growing urban areas may expand opossum distributions along the edges of their geographic range. Our study also suggests that woody encroachment into tallgrass prairies may provide an alternative pathway for future distributional expansions. Future research must consider the potential for landscape change, along with dynamic water availability, in models predicting the distribution of Virginia opossums.

中文翻译：

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弗吉尼亚负鼠的分布受到高草草原人类改造景观和水资源可用性的影响

弗林特山是北美最大的高草草原，位于弗吉尼亚负鼠 (Didelphis virginiana) 原产地的西部边缘附近。该地区正在经历快速的景观变化（例如城市化、农业、木本侵占），对哺乳动物群落产生负面影响。尽管之前的研究表明城市发展促进了弗吉尼亚负鼠向北的分布扩张，但没有研究评估景观变化如何影响其地理范围西部边缘的分布模式。2016-2018 年期间，我们监测了 Flint Hills 城乡断面沿线的场地 (n = 74) 占用率，以评估景观变化的影响（即城市、草原、农业、木本侵占）和水供应对弗吉尼亚负鼠分布的影响。被城市土地覆盖包围的场地具有更高的初始入住概率和更低的灭绝率。靠近永久性水源的地点的定植率更高，灭绝率更低。此外，被树木侵占的地区的遗址灭绝率较低。我们的结果与其他研究一致，表明不断增长的城市地区可能会扩大其地理范围边缘的负鼠分布。我们的研究还表明，木本植物侵入高草草原可能为未来的分布扩张提供另一种途径。未来的研究必须在预测弗吉尼亚负鼠分布的模型中考虑景观变化的潜力以及动态可用水量。被城市土地覆盖包围的场地具有更高的初始入住概率和更低的灭绝率。靠近永久性水源的地点的定植率更高，灭绝率更低。此外，被树木侵占的地区的遗址灭绝率较低。我们的结果与其他研究一致，表明不断增长的城市地区可能会扩大其地理范围边缘的负鼠分布。我们的研究还表明，木本植物侵入高草草原可能为未来的分布扩张提供另一种途径。未来的研究必须在预测弗吉尼亚负鼠分布的模型中考虑景观变化的潜力以及动态可用水量。被城市土地覆盖包围的场地具有更高的初始入住概率和更低的灭绝率。靠近永久性水源的地点的定植率更高，灭绝率更低。此外，被树木侵占的地区的遗址灭绝率较低。我们的结果与其他研究一致，表明不断增长的城市地区可能会扩大其地理范围边缘的负鼠分布。我们的研究还表明，木本植物侵入高草草原可能为未来的分布扩张提供另一种途径。未来的研究必须在预测弗吉尼亚负鼠分布的模型中考虑景观变化的潜力以及动态可用水量。