The influence of pocket gophers on the biotic and abiotic environment

Abstract

Subterranean, herbivorous rodents are widespread in the temperate regions of all but two continents (Australia and Antarctica; Andersen 1987). The subterranean habit has evolved independently in at least seven families, some of which are composed entirely of subterranean forms. Their impacts on the environment are profound (Reichman and Seabloom2002) but because they occur in the dense, opaque mediumof the soil the rodents' influence is often underappreciated.