Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP): Muskrat habitat selection data (1986)

The Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP) was a long-term interdisciplinary study on the ecology of prairie wetlands. A scientific team from a variety of disciplines (hydrology, plant ecology, invertebrate ecology, vertebrate ecology, nutrient dynamics, marsh management) was assembled to design and oversee a long-term experiment on the effects of water-level manipulation on northern prairie wetlands. Ten years of fieldwork (1980 -1989), combining a routine long-term monitoring program and a series of short-term studies, generated a wealth of new and diverse information on the ecology and function of prairie wetlands (Murkin, Batt, Caldwell, Kadlec and van der Valk, 2000). This data set includes muskrat habitat selection data, collected as part of the vertebrate monitoring program of MERP. Re-colonizing muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) populations in the MERP experimental cells were monitored during the 1985-1989 sampling seasons to explore the effects water level and associated vegetation characteristics had on muskrat density, population size, habitat use, body condition, and survival and reproductive rates (Clark and Murkin, 1989). The objective of the muskrat habitat selection study was to quanitfy habitat selection by muskrats in relation to water levels and the succession of marsh vegetation, using replicated manipulation of habitat (Clark, 1994). For further information on the Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP), please visit: http://www.ducks.ca/conserve/research/projects/merp/index.html References: Clark, W.R., and H.R. Murkin. 1989. Vertebrates. In: Marsh Ecology Research Program: Long-term Monitoring Procedures Manual. (Eds.) E.J. Murkin and H.R. Murkin, pp. 35-38. Manitoba, Canada: Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station. Murkin, H.R., B.D.J. Batt, P.J. Caldwell, J.A. Kadlec and A.G. van der Valk. 2000a. Introduction to the Marsh Ecology Research Program. In Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. (Eds) H.R. Murkin, A.G. van der Valk and W.R. Clark. pp. 3-15. Ames: Iowa State University Press. Resulting Publications on Muskrat Populations Clark., W.R. 1990. Compensation in furbearer populations; current data compared with a review of concepts. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural resources Conference 55: 491-500. Clark, W.R. 1994. Habitat selection by muskrats in experimental marshes undergoing succession. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 675-680. Clark, W.R., and D.W. Kroeker. 1993. Population dynamics of muskrats in managed marshes at Delta, Manitoba. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 1620-1628. Clark, W.R. 2000. Ecology of muskrats in prairie wetlands. In Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. (Eds.) H.R. Murkin, A.G. van der Valk, and W.R. Clark, pp. 37-54. Iowa: Iowa State University Press.沼泽生态学研究计划（Marsh Ecology Research Program, MERP）是一项针对草原湿地生态系统的长期跨学科研究。由水文学、植物生态学、无脊椎动物生态学、脊椎动物生态学、营养动力学、沼泽管理等多学科研究者组成的科研团队，旨在设计并监管一项关于水位调控对北部草原湿地影响的长期实验。1980年至1989年的十年野外工作中，研究人员结合常规长期监测项目与一系列短期研究，积累了大量关于草原湿地生态与功能的全新多样的研究数据（Murkin等，2000）。本数据集包含麝鼠栖息地选择数据，该数据采集自MERP的脊椎动物监测项目。 在1985年至1989年的采样季期间，研究人员对MERP实验样地中重新定居的麝鼠（Ondatra zibethicus）种群进行了监测，以探究水位及相关植被特征对麝鼠种群密度、种群规模、栖息地利用、身体状况、存活率与繁殖率的影响（Clark与Murkin，1989）。本项麝鼠栖息地选择研究的目标是，通过对栖息地进行重复调控，量化麝鼠栖息地选择与水位及沼泽植被演替的关联（Clark，1994）。 如需了解沼泽生态学研究计划的更多信息，请访问：http://www.ducks.ca/conserve/research/projects/merp/index.html 参考文献： Clark, W.R. 与 H.R. Murkin. 1989. 脊椎动物. 载于：《沼泽生态学研究计划：长期监测操作手册》.（主编）E.J. Murkin与H.R. Murkin，第35-38页. 加拿大马尼托巴省：德尔塔水禽与湿地研究站。 Murkin, H.R., B.D.J. Batt, P.J. Caldwell, J.A. Kadlec与A.G. van der Valk. 2000a. 沼泽生态学研究计划导论. 载于：《草原湿地生态：沼泽生态学研究计划的贡献》.（主编）H.R. Murkin、A.G. van der Valk与W.R. Clark，第3-15页. 埃姆斯：爱荷华州立大学出版社。 麝鼠种群相关成果论文 Clark, W.R. 1990. 毛皮动物种群的补偿效应：现有数据与概念综述的对比. 《北美野生动物与自然资源学会汇刊》55: 491-500。 Clark, W.R. 1994. 处于演替过程中的实验沼泽中麝鼠的栖息地选择. 《加拿大动物学杂志》72: 675-680。 Clark, W.R. 与 D.W. Kroeker. 1993. 马尼托巴省德尔塔地区管理沼泽中麝鼠的种群动态. 《加拿大动物学杂志》71: 1620-1628。 Clark, W.R. 2000. 草原湿地中麝鼠的生态学. 载于：《草原湿地生态：沼泽生态学研究计划的贡献》.（主编）H.R. Murkin、A.G. van der Valk与W.R. Clark，第37-54页. 艾奥瓦州：爱荷华州立大学出版社。