| During this study, differences were investigated in the small mammal communities existing in four different situations after lands were surface mined for coal in Clay and Vigo Counties, Indiana. Originally, land was abandoned after mining with no regard to reclamation. The soil was left where convenient, often leaving ridges and valleys with varying qualities of soil. More recently, laws were enacted in stages, which finally caused the topsoil and the original contours to be replaced, resulting in four different reclamation situations. Comparisons were made of the small mammal communities within and between these four situations relating to the differing habitats, soil conditions, plant community effects, seasonal and weather relationships and ecological succession.; Randomly placed study plots, totaling 335, were sampled for small mammals and ecological data were collected on each. During the two year field study, 30,150 trapnights using snaptraps and pitfall traps with drift fences yielded 785 small mammals. White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), prairie deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) comprised 74.2% of the catch. Prairie deer mice were inversely associated with herbaceous cover, whereas white-footed mice and northern short-tailed shrews were directly associated with it. Abandonment without reclamation resulted in a prairie community remaining for many years because of the exposure of much poor soil. As topsoil and contours were replaced, succession proceeded much faster, resulting in shrub and woodland much sooner. White-footed mice and short-tailed shrews were directly associated with treecover, whereas meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and prairie deer mice were inversely associated with tree cover. Few significant relationships were found between small mammal communities and variation in soil, seasonal or weather effects. |
