Mammal Studies: Phase II - Gulf Islands National Seashore, Contract : CX5320-5-1546
Esher RJ. 1987. Mammal Studies: Phase II - Gulf Islands National Seashore, Contract : CX5320-5-1546. National Space Technologies Laboratories Station. Stennis Space Center, MS
A 2-year population study of the mammals located on Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands was made. The survey included location, food habits, reproduction, sex and age composition, and the impact on the habitat by raccoons (Procyon lotor), nutria (Myocaster coypus), cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), black rats (Rattus rattus), and rice rats (Oryzomys palustris). The major food items of the raccoon were crabs, fruit, and insects. The cottontail rabbits food habits varied by what is available in season, but commonly contained sea oats (Uniola paniculata), sea rocket (Cakile constricta), and torpedograss (Panicum repens). Nutria food habits also varied by season, but commonly included sea oats (Uniola paniculata), torpedograss (Panaicum repens), cattails (Typha angustifolia), and cordgrass (Spartina patens). Food sources of the black rat and the rice rat are not included in this report. Mammalian impact on vegetation was evident by slower recovery and apparent weaker plants, but no where was any plant species eliminated by animal feeding habits.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Esher, Robert
- Date of Issue
- 1987
- Publisher
- National Space Technologies Laboratories Station
- Units
- GUIS
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Black rat (Rattus rattus), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), Food Habits, Gulf Islands National Seashore FL - MS, Mammals (Mammalia), nutria (Myocastor coypus), Population Studies, Raccoon (Procyon lotor), rice rat (Oryzomys palustris)