Virginia
Journal of Science.
2005. Vol 57 (4) : 153-165 |
Distribution
and Status of the Southern Bog Lemming, Synaptomys cooperi, in
Southeastern Virginia Robert K. Rose, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0266 ABSTRACT
The Dismal Swamp subspecies of the
southern bog lemming, Synaptomys cooperi helaletes, was named based on
specimens collected during the 1895-1898 biological surveys conducted
in the Dismal Swamp by the US Department of Agriculture.
Unknown in the 20th Century until re-discovered in 1980, this small
boreal rodent was believed to be restricted to the Great Dismal Swamp
of Virginia and North Carolina where the cool damp conditions had
permitted it to survive during the Holocene. However, field
studies conducted since 1980 have revealed southern bog lemmings to be
widespread throughout southeastern Virginia, with populations
encompassing an area of more than 3300 km2, including the cities of
Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, and Isle of Wight
County. Lemmings were present on 38 of 165 (23%)
pitfall-trapping sites; their frequency was much greater in prime
habitats dominated by grasses and sedges on damp organic soils.
Thus, southern bog lemmings are distributed widely in southeastern
Virginia and, where present, they often are among the most numerous
species of small mammal. |