last update December 1, 1998
Monthly livetrapping was employed to monitor the demography of the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi) at three sites in Riverside Co., California, over a period of 16-19 months. Temporal changes in numbers, reproduction, survival, and recruitment generally were similar and synchronous at the three study sites. Peaks in abundance were observed in the late spring-early summer and were preceded by periods of intense reproductive activity and high recruitment. Males in reproductive condition were found in all months of study, whereas reproduction in females was more temporally restricted. Within adult and subadult age classes, males and females had similar survival rates, but adults displayed higher survival than subadults. Demographic processes in these species were closely correlated with seasonal patterns of precipitation.
