Sul Ross State University

Abundance and Diversity of Small Mammals and Herpetofauna
at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County, Texas

by Cassandra Schlefsky and Louis A. Harveson

Baseline data assists natural resource managers by providing information about species composition, abundance and distribution. We collected small mammal, reptile and amphibian baseline data for Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, 1 June 1998-31 August 1999, on 30 existing transects across 11 range sites.

We captured 557 small mammals representing 19 species and 649 reptiles and amphibians representing 28 species. Heteromyids were the most common small mammals and teids were the most common reptile.

The 75 percent Loamy, 25 percent Gravelly range site had the most captures and the greatest species richness for both small mammals and reptiles and amphibians. Greatest expected species richness and highest diversity for small mammals was on Igneous Hills and Mountains Desert Grasslands, and 75 percent Loamy, 25 percent Gravelly range sites. 

Greatest expected species richness and highest diversity for reptiles and amphibians was at Draw; Gravelly; and 80 percent Gravelly, 20 percent Loamy range sites. Elevation was inversely related to amphibian and reptile species richness.

Percent raw cover of vegetation was related to small mammal species richness. Periodic species inventories can help assess management techniques as well as uncover species trends.

Cooperative funding for this project was by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, San Antonio Livestock Exposition, and Sul Ross State University.