WOODRAT POPULATION-DYNAMICS FOLLOWING MODIFICATION OF RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

We examined the influence of four experimental brush treatments on rel ative population density, reproduction and body condition of eastern w oodrat (Neotoma floridana) populations on Cross Timbers rangeland in O klahoma. Experimental brush treatments were tebuthiuron and triclopyr herbicides, applied with and without annual prescribed burning. Untrea ted reference sites also were evaluated. A total of 333 eastern woodra ts were collected from March 1986 through December 1988. Relative popu lation density varied among seasons and experimental treatments. Maxim um summer peaks in density were observed each year on triclopyr treatm ents. Density was similar between populations on tebuthiuron treatment s and reference sites. Reproductive activity of females varied among s easons but not among experimental treatments; peaks occurred in spring and autumn 1986 and summer 1987. Percentage of reproductively active males, as evidenced by spermatogenesis, was less than expected in wint er. Mean body weights and condition scores were highest in autumn and spring but were not influenced by experimental treatments. Mean stomac h content weight did not differ among seasons or experimental brush tr eatments.