Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) Habitat and Connectivity for Conservation and Restoration

  • Physical and Biotic Drivers of Change in Riparian Ecosystems
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The federally-threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) occurs in riparian zones located along the foothills and plains in the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming. Anthropogenic and natural disturbances have extensively modified Front Range riparian ecosystems affecting the location, quality, and connectivity of Z. h. preblei populations and habitat. Previous studies suggest that specific microhabitat conditions influence Z. h. preblei occurrence but no landscape-scale assessments have been conducted. To support conservation and management, we assessed Z. h. preblei habitat in Boulder County, Colorado by mapping riparian land cover composition, creating species distribution models (SDM), and evaluating connectivity between suitable habitat and known Z. h. preblei populations. The SDM identified 5381 ha of suitable Z. h. preblei habitat, compared with 252 ha of known Z. h. preblei occupied habitat. We found limited connections between Z. h. preblei populations in different watersheds, as urban development and large expanses of agricultural land disrupt connectivity. Our modeling approach yielded outcomes that are broadly relevant to understanding the distribution and management of geographically restricted species impacted by habitat loss and has provided insight into Z. h. preblei habitat and connectivity that cannot be gathered from field work alone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allouche O, Tsoar A, Kadmon R (2006) Assessing the accuracy of species distribution models: prevalence, kappa and the true skill statistic (TSS). Journal of Applied Ecology 43(6):1223–1232. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01214.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AloTerra (2015) Rapid stream stability assessment validation study South St. Vrain River, Hall-II St. Vrain River, Western Mobile. Boulder County Parks and Open Space Small Grant Program, Project Report

  • Antonarakis AS (2011) Evaluating forest biometrics obtained from ground lidar in complex riparian forests. Remote Sensing Letters 2(1):61–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong DM (1972) Distribution of mammals in Colorado. Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

  • Bakeman ME (editor) (1997) Report on the habitat findings of the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse. Report presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife

  • Barrows CW, Fleming KD, Allen FA (2011) Identifying habitat linkages to maintain connectivity for corridor dwellers in a fragmented landscape. The Journal of Wildlife Management 75(3):682–691. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beven KJ, Kirkby MJ (1979) A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin 24(1):43–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulder County (2013) Road Map Roads Shapefile. https://gis-bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/f8292cbf379e4df7b9b8f62e21120ea7_0. Accessed 10 Dec 2017

  • Boulder County (2017a) Lakes and Reservoirs Shapefile. http://gis-bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/e0759cd6dc8f4990a04b77a29c988b55_0. Accessed 10 Dec 2017

  • Boulder County (2017b) Streams and Ditches Shapefile. http://gis-bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/d52c150f5f2e48aebd8ef74b34a0dc14_0. Accessed 30 Oct 2017

  • Boulder County Land Use Department (2017) Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/bccp-comprehensive-plan-amended-2017.pdf

  • Boulder County Parks and Open Spaces (2017) POS_AgFields_NAD83SPCoNrth_USft.shp. Provided by Erik Hinkley on 31 Oct 2017

  • Bradley BA, Fleishman E (2008) Can remote sensing of land cover improve species distribution modeling? Journal of Biogeography 35:1158–1159

    Google Scholar 

  • Breiman L (2001) Random forests. Machine Learning 45:5–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell JB, Wynne RH (2011) Introduction to remote sensing, 5th edn. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clippinger NW (2002) Biogeography, community ecology, and habitat of Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) in Colorado. Dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Cohen J (1960) A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement 20:37–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Compton BW, McGarigal K, Cushman SA, Gamble LR (2007) A resistant-kernel model of connectivity for amphibians that breed in vernal pools. Conservation Biology 21(3):787–799

  • De Reu J, Bourgeois J, Bats M, Zwertvaegher A, Gelorini V, De Smedt P, Chu W, Antrop M, De Maeyer P, Finke P, Van Meirvenne M, Verniers J, Crombe P (2013) Application of the topographic position index to heterogeneous landscapes. Geomorphology 156:39–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Digital Globe (2016) Data sheet WorldView-2. Available at https://dg-cms-uploads-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/file/98/WorldView2-DS-WV2-rev2.pdf. Accessed 4 Jun 2020

  • Dutta T, Sharma S, McRae BH, Roy PR, DeFries R (2016) Connecting the dots: mapping habitat connectivity for tigers in Central India. Regional Environmental Change 16:53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Elith J, Leathwick JF (2009) Species distribution models: ecological explanation and prediction across space and time. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 40:677–697

    Google Scholar 

  • Elith J, Leathwick JR, Hastie T (2008) A working guide to boosted regression trees. Journal of Animal Ecology 77:802–813

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell S, Collier B, Skow K, Long A, Campomizzi A, Morrison M, Hays K, Wilkins R (2013) Using LiDAR-derived vegetation metrics for high resolution, species distribution models for conservation planning. Ecosphere 4:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association) and Boulder County Transportation (2012) Floodplain-FEMA regulated. http://gis-bouldercounty.opendata.arcgis.com/ Accessed 1 Sept 2017

  • Fukuda S, De Baets B, Waegeman W, Vaerwaeren J, Mouton AM (2013) Habitat prediction and knowledge extraction for spawning European grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.) using a broad range of species distribution models. Environmental Modelling & Software 47:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Gage E, Cooper D, Bultema B, McKernan C, Lichvar T (2015) Developing a field-tested wetland indicator rating for blue spruce (Picea pungens) in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Wetlands 36:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-015-0721-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genuer R, Poggi J-M, Tuleau-Malot C (2010) Variable selection using random forests. Pattern Recognition Letters 31:2225–2236

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson J, Moisen G, Frescion T, Edwards TC Jr (2014) Using publicly available forest inventory data in climate-based models of tree species distribution: examining effects of true versus altered location coordinates. Ecosystems 17:43–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie TW, Foody GM, Rocchini D, Giorgi SA (2008) Measuring and modelling biodiversity from space. Progress in Physical Geography 32:203–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Godsall B, Coulson T, Malo AF (2014) From physiology to space use: energy reserves and androgenization explain home-range size variation in a woodland rodent. Journal of Animal Ecology 83:126–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Goetz S (2006) Remote sensing of riparian buffers: past progress and future prospects. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources 02967(04205):133–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory SV, Swanson FJ, McKee WA, Cummin KW (1991) An ecosystem perspective of riparian zones. BioScience 41(8):540–551

    Google Scholar 

  • ICON Engineering (2015) Boulder Creek Restoration Master Plan. https://www.bouldercounty.org/transportation/plans-and-projects/boulder-creek-restoration-master-plan/

  • Janitza S, Strobl C, Boulesteix A-L (2013) An AUC-based permutation variable importance measure for random forests. BMC Bioinformatics 14:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenness J (2013) User manual: DEM surface tools for ArcGIS. Jenness enterprises. Available at: http://www.jennessent.com/arcgis/surface_area.htm

  • Johansen K, Phinn S, Witte C (2010) Mapping of riparian zone attributes using discrete return LiDAR, QuickBird, and SPOT-5 imagery: assessing accuracy and costs. Remote Sensing of Environment 114(11):2679–2691

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson AS, Mackintosh G (1989) The thin green line: riparian corridors and endangered species in Arizona and New Mexico. In Preserving Communities & Corridors. Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.; 35–46

  • Jones KB, Slonecker ET, Nash MS, Neale AC, Wade TG, Hamann S (2010) Riparian habitat changes across the continental United States (1972–2003) and potential implications for sustaining ecosystem services. Landscape Ecology 25(8):1261–1275

    Google Scholar 

  • Keinath DA (2001) Habitat associations of Preble’s meadow jumping mice in Wyoming: a GIS model and descriptive analysis. Report presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Kie JG, Matthiopoulos J, Fieberg J, Powell RA, Cagnacci F, Mitchell MS, Gaillard J, Moorcoft PR (2010) The home-range concept: are traditional estimators still relevant with modern telemetry technology? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 365:2221–2231

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Li D, Li T, Qio Q, Yang J, Zhange H (2010) Application of least-cost path model to identify a giant panda dispersal corridor network after the Wenchuan earthquake—case study of Wolong nature Reserve in China. Ecological Modeling 221(6):944–952

    Google Scholar 

  • Long AL, Kettenring KM, Hawkins CP, Neal CMU (2017) Distribution and drivers of a widespread, invasive Wetland grass, Phragmites australis, in wetlands of the great salt Lake, Utah, USA. Wetlands 37:45–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-016-0838-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCune JL (2016) Species distribution models predict rare species occurrences despite significant effects of landscape context. Journal of Applied Ecology 56:1871–1879. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McRae BH, Kavanagh DM (2011) Linkage mapper connectivity analysis software. The Nature Conservancy, Seattle, Washington. Online at: http://www.circuitscape.org/linkagemapper. Accessed Oct 2017

  • McRae BH, Hall SA, Beier P, Theobald DM (2012) Where to restore ecological connectivity? Detecting barriers and quantifying restoration benefits. PLoS One 7(12):e52604

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney CA, Ruggles AK, Lubow BC, Clippinger NW (2003) Abundance, survival, and hibernation of Preble’s meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) in Boulder County, Colorado. Southwestern Naturalist 48:610–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeslund JE, Arg L, Bøcher PK, Dalgaard T, Odgaard MV, Nygaard B, Svenning J (2013) Topographically controlled soil moisture is the primary driver of local vegetation patterns across a lowland region. Ecosphere 4(7):1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody JA (2016) Estimates of peak flood discharge for 21 sites in the Front Range in Colorado in response to extreme rainfall in September 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5003, 64 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165003

  • Muchlinski AE (1988) Population attributes related to the life-history strategy of hibernating Zapus hudsonius. Journal of Mammalogy 69:860–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Naiman RJ, Decamps J (1997) The ecology of interfaces: riparian zones. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 28:621–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Naimi B,Araújo MB (2016) sdm: a reproducible and extensible R platform for species distribution modeling. Ecography 39:368–375 

  • Noble WS (2006) What is a support vector machine? Nature Biotechnology 24(12):1565–1567

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips SJ, Dudík M, Schapire RE (2004) A maximum entropy approach to species distribution modeling. Page 83 in Proceedings of the twenty-first international conference on Machine learning. ACM

  • Pinto N, Keitt TH (2009) Beyond the least-cost path: evaluating corridor redundancy using a graph-theoretic approach. Landscape Ecology 24:253–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabinowitz A, Zeller KA (2010) A range-wide model of landscape connectivity and conservation for the jaguar, Panthera once. Biological Conservation 143(4):939–945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers AR, Kie JG (2011) HRT: home range tools for ArcGIS. Center for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Online at: http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~arodgers/hre/HRT%20Users%20Manual%20Draft%20August%2010%202011.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2018

  • Root KV (1998) Evaluating the effects of habitat quality, connectivity, and catastrophes on a threatened species. Ecological Applications 8(3):854–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruggles AK, Whittemore LS, Armstrong J, Clippinger N (2004) Preble’s meadow jumping mouse habitat monitoring protocol. Prepared for the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Bear Canyon Consulting, LLC. Boulder, Colorado, USA

  • Salo JA, Theobald DM (2016) A multi-scale, hierarchical model to map riparian zones. River Research and Applications 32:1709–1720. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salo JA, Theobald DM, Brown T (2016) Evaluation of methods for delineating potential riparian zones in semi-arid mountain regions of the Western United States. Journal of American Water Resource (JAWRA) 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12414

  • Santos MJ, Smith AB, Thorne JH, Mortiz C (2017) The relative influence of change in habitat and climate on elevation range limits in small mammals in Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A. Climate Change Responses 4:7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40665-017-0035-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schorr RA (2001) Meadow Jumping Mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) on the U.S. Air Force Academy El Paso County, Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program

  • Schorr RA (2003) Meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) on the U.S. Air Force Academy, El Paso County, Colorado: Populations, Movement and Habitat from 2000-2002. Colorado Natural Heritage Program unpublished report to the Natural Resources Branch, U.S. Air Force Academy. 25 pp.

  • Schorr RA (2012) Using a temporal symmetry model to assess population change and recruitment in the Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). Journal of Mammalogy 93(5):1273–1283

    Google Scholar 

  • Schorr RA, Mihlbachler BS (2018) Understanding habitat quality for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse: how survival responds to vegetation structure and composition. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 9:545–553. https://doi.org/10.3996/052018-JFWM-040

  • Seaman DE, Powell RA (1996) An evaluation of the accuracy of kernel density estimators for home range analysis. Ecology. 77(7):2075–2085. https://doi.org/10.2307/2265701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith H, Beauvais GP, Keinath DA (2004) Species assessment for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) in Wyoming. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming

  • Sousa-Silva R, Alves P, Honrado J, Lomba A (2014) Improving the assessment and reporting on rare and endangered species through species distribution models. Global Ecology and Conservation 2:226–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Strobl C, Boulesteix AL, Zeileis A, Hothorn T (2007) Bias in random forest variable importance measures: illustrations, sources and a solution. BMC Bioinformatics 8:25

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Swets JA (1988) Measuring the accuracy of diagnostic systems. Science 240:1285–1293

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Theobald DM, Stevens DL, White D, Urquhart NS, Olsen AR, Norman JB (2007) Using GIS to generate spatially balanced random survey designs for natural resource applications. Environmental Management 40(1):134–146

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thuiller W, Brotons L, Araújo MB, Lavorel S (2004) Effects of restricting environmental range of data to project current and future species distributions. Ecography 27(2):165–172

  • Trainor AM, Shenk TM, Wilson KR (2007) Microhabitat characteristics of Preble's meadow jumping mouse high-use areas. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(2):469–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Trainor AM, Shenk TM, Wilson KR (2012) Spatial, temporal, and biological factors associated with Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) home range. Journal of Mammalogy 93(20):429–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner W, Spector S, Gardiner N, Fladeland M, Sterling E, Steininger M (2003) Remote sensing for biodiversity science and conservation. TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution 18(6):306–314

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program (2017) USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Best Resolution 20170715 for Colorado State or Territory FileGDB 10.1 Model Version 2.2.1: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. http://prd-tnm.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/?prefix=StagedProducts/Hydrography/NHD/State/HighResolution/GDB/ Accessed 17 Aug 2017

  • United States Department of the Interior (2010) Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; revised critical habitat for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) in Colorado; final rule. Federal Register 75:78429–78483

    Google Scholar 

  • US Census Bureau (2017) Quick facts Boulder County. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bouldercountycolorado/PST045216 Accessed 28 Dec 2017

  • USFWS (2018) Recovery plan Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), Colorado. Region 6, Lakewood, Colorado A. https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/species/mammals/preble/RECOVERY%20PLAN/Sept2018FinalRecoveryPlan.pdf. Accessed 10 Jun 2020

  • USFWS (2003) Federal Register, May 23, 2003: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei); Final Rule. Volume 68, No. 120. Document ID 03–14490. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2003-06-23/html/03-14490.htm. Accessed 30 Jan 2018

  • USFWS (2004). Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) survey guidelines. Accessed 10 June 2020. https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/protocols/PMJM2004.pdf

  • USFWS (2009) A System for Mapping Riparian Zones in the Western United States. http:// www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/A-System-for-Mapping-Riparian-Areas-In-The-Western-United-States-2009.pdf. Accessed 13 Aug 2017

  • USFWS (2016) Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) trapping database for scientific collection activities conducted under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act. Colorado Ecological Services Field Office, Denver

    Google Scholar 

  • Vignieri SN (2005) Streams over mountains: influence of riparian connectivity on gene flow in the Pacific jumping mouse (Zapus trinotatus). Molecular Ecology 14:1925–1937

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss A (2001) Topographic position and landforms analysis. Poster presentation, ESRI User Conference, San Diego

  • Wiens JA, Stralberg D, Jongsomjit D, Howell CA, Snyder MA (2009) Niches, models, and climate change: assessing the assumptions and uncertainties. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106:19729–19736

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Williams AK, Ratnaswamy MJ, Renken RB (2001) Impacts of a flood on small mammal populations of lower Missouri River floodplain forests. The American Midland Naturalist 146(1):217–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Worton BJ (1989) Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in home ranges. Ecology 70:164–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright GB, Frey JK (2015) Habitat selection by endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse on an irrigated floodplain. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 6(1):112–129; e1944-687X. https://doi.org/10.3996/062014-JFWM-044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeller KA, McGarigal K, Whitely AR (2012) Estimating landscape resistance to movement: a review. Landscape Ecology 27(6):777–797

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a grant from Boulder County Parks and Open Space. The authors thank Tim Shafer and the staff at Boulder County Parks and Open Space for their thoughtful comments and contributions. The comments provided by Mark Dixon and three anonymous reviewers greatly improved this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA

    Jessica Salo

  2. Department of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 9455, USA

    Edward Gage

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Gabrielle Katz

  4. National Geospatial Program, United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA

    Jason Stoker

Authors
  1. Jessica Salo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edward Gage
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gabrielle Katz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jason Stoker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica Salo.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 2699 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salo, J., Gage, E., Katz, G. et al. Assessing Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) Habitat and Connectivity for Conservation and Restoration. Wetlands 40, 1813–1827 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01374-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01374-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation