2004-01-29_REVISION - M1987113 (2)

Home Browse Search

Final OU 11 Combined Phases RFI/RI were completed in 5-meter-by-5-meter grids in spray areas, non-spray areas, and reference areas. These transects evaluated vegetation density and diversity and found that the spray areas showed lower basal coverage than the non-spray and reference azeas. Belt transect data suggest this might be a result of the change in species composition resulting from supplemental nitrogen and water additions. Subsequently, production data showed higher plant biomass in spray versus non-spray and reference areas. The data also suggested a much higher litter biomass on the spray areas. The conclusio^ from this data Is that the water and nitrogen supplement has resulted in a greater biomass of large bunch grasses, including little bluestem and big bluestem. These results may be analogous to those from watering and fertilizing a lawn heavily and then withdrawing the external treatments, resulting in less cover but elevated litter and biomass. This data is presented in further detail in [he OU 11 FSP TM 3.7.2 Wildlife RFETS in general, and OU 11 specifically; supports a wide variety of wildlife, including large and small mammals, birds, and reptiles. This relatively rich animal community is partly the result of tlae site's isolation from the increased human activity in the surrounding areas. The most abundant large mammal is the mule deer, with white-tail deer observed less frequently. Large carnivores present at RFETS, and traversing OU 1 I, include coyotes. red foxes, gray foxes, striped skunks, "long-tailed weasels, badgers, bobcats, and raccoons. Eastern cotton-tail and white-tailed jack rabbits are also present. Small mammals reported across RFETS include harvest mice, deer mice, meadow voles, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, hispid pocket mice, silky pocket mice, pocket gopher, and the house mouse. More recently, Mexican woodrats, plains and western harvest mice, prairie voles, and both western and meadow jumping mice have been reported at RFETS. The varied habitats at RFETS support many bird species. The grassland habitats of OU 11 Support tcesiew n;eadu~.aatks, iiutue~ ia~l.a, .csp_r ;p~u~ruw°s, giassituppct sparrows, western kingbirds, and eastern kingbirds. A lack of trees and open water at OU 11 generally precludes birds that favor those habitats; however, birds of prey have been sighted passing through OU 11. Birds of prey at RFETS include prairie falcons, rough-legged hawks, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, Swainson's hawk, and northern harriers. Reptiles presr'nt include the bullsnake, yellow-bellied racer, western terrestrial gartersnake, and prairie rattlesnake. rp\2509072\~ec3.doc 3-2J 6/R/95