Small Mammal Research
One of the largest mammal studies ever accomplished is
ongoing at Ames Plantation. Much of the project has been
completed, however, some of the work remains to be done. At this
time, most of the work is focused on writing dissertations or
theses, and also in getting the information into the appropriate
scientific journals. The work sets the stage for other work that
can be accomplished - work that does not exist anywhere in the
scientific world, absolutely unique and leaping off the cutting
edge of science.
The study has focused on medium sized predators, referred to as
mesopredators, and is largely confined to three that are common
in west Tennessee: raccoons, stripped skunks and opossums. These
three predators are commonly called generalists, moving around
on the landscape and making their living off of a wide array of
resources. They can adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
Their numbers, to a large degree, are not depressed by hunting.
They are not, themselves, depressed by larger predators,
although the coyote perhaps is a factor. As a result, a new
situation, or paradigm, has formed, where a mesopredator group,
or guild, is functioning in a new circumstance; one that is
missing the population controls that once were here. Very little
is known about how these predators react with microhabitats or
how to predict the places that they visit regularly, how to
control their numbers with habitat management, or, conversely,
how to help their populations with habitat manipulations. This
information simply does not exist in great detail where a
generalist predator population, mostly lacking the habitat
limits or predation that would normally be imposed on it, can
influence prey populations, such as the bobwhite quail, an
animal that requires very specific habitats.
Five separate studies are centered around the mammal research.
However, other studies also are underway, including study of
small mammal such as mice. Mice form a prey base for many of the
larger predators.