Salt marsh harvest mouse

The salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), also known as the red-bellied harvest mouse and sometimes called the saltmarsh harvest mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in CA.[2] There are two distinct subspecies, both endangered and listed together on federal and state endangered species lists. The northern subspecies (Reithrodontomys raviventris halicoetes) is lighter in color and inhabits the northern marshes of the bay, and the southern subspecies (Reithrodontomys raviventris raviventris) lives in the East and South Bay marshes. They are both quite similar in appearance to their congener species, the [Western harvest mouse, R. megalotis], to which they are not closely related. Genetic studies of the northern subspecies have revealed that the salt marsh harvest mouse is most closely related to the plains harvest mouse, R. montanus, ([3]), which occurs now in the Midwest]. Its endangered designation is due to its limited range, historic decline in population and continuing threat of habitat loss due to development encroachment at the perimeter of San Francisco Bay.

Salt marsh harvest mouse
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Reithrodontomys
Species:
R. raviventris
Binomial name
Reithrodontomys raviventris
Dixon, 1908

Description and comparison to similar species

The southern population of the salt marsh harvest mouse tends to have dark brown fur above and a pinkish cinnamon or tawny belly; moreover, the tail is likewise bicolored. An adult's length is five to seven centimeters (2 to 3 inches) and a tail length of six to ten centimeters (2 to 4 inches). The height is between 1.5 and 2.1 centimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches). Weight of a mature mouse is approximately 10 to 20 grams (0.35 to 0.7 ounces). The northern subspecies is also dorsally brown or reddish brown, but the venters tend to be white or cream, and rarely with a hint of reddish; tail length is usually about 120% of the body length.[4] The upper incisors are grooved. As a member of the Neotominae subfamily, the dental formula of R. raviventris is 1.0.0.31.0.0.3 × 2 = 16.[5]

This species is nocturnal, with particularly noted activity on moonlit nights. This mouse is particularly resourceful, making use of ground runways of other rodents; moreover, he also exhibits climbing agility. It occupies marsh habitats where pickleweed and marsh plants abound. Its many predators feature hawk, snake and owl species, as well as shorebirds and larger mammals. Predation by domestic cats is an issue due to encroachment of the limited habitat by humans at the perimeter of the San Francisco Bay.

As would be expected of a mouse native to salt marshes, this species is a competent swimmer and is tolerant of salt in its diet and water supply. It eats seeds and plants, especially pickleweed and glasswort, one of the most common salt marsh plant species.

Similar species are the Plains Harvest Mouse, and the Fulvous Harvest Mouse, which has a longer tail. The species co-occurs with the similar Western harvest mouse, which tends to have dorsal fur that is more gray than R. raviventris and with ventral fur that is white to grayish; and the House mouse which is gray, has a scaly tail and incisors without grooves, unlike those of the salt marsh harvest mouse.

Lifestyle

Survey data from Suisun Marsh found that the salt marsh harvest mouse can live up to 18 months and possibly longer. Females commonly have two litters per year. In the summer, when salinity of water and vegetation increases, the mice have a notable advantage due to their ability to drink and survive purely on salt water. The northern species can survive purely on salt water, but prefers freshwater to saltwater. The southern species can survive on either, and does not display a preference.[6]

Habitat

The mice depend heavily on vegetation cover, particularly pickleweed and tules (Schoenoplectus spp.). Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica) is their primary and preferred habitat as well their main food source; However, R. raviventris are found in a variety of marsh habitats, including diked and tidal wetlands.[7] The salt marsh harvest mouse is not an aggressive species; many mice live in close quarters, withstanding short durations of high population density due to seasonal flooding that restricts individuals to small patches of dry ground. They can also survive tidal or seasonal flooding due to their superior ability to swim, float and climb.[6]

R. raviventris home range and habitat use differ temporally across age and sex. Juveniles exhibit home ranges of 600–700 m² whereas adults exhibit home ranges of 1300–1500 m².[8] Males and females also differ in the structural complexity of their occupied habitat during fall and summer (breeding season) but occupy the same habitat during winter and spring. While the cause is still unknown, this seasonal disparity in habitat use may be related to a reduced risk of predation and intraspecific competition in more structurally complex habitats.[9] Furthermore, movement of R.raviventris individuals within their home ranges varies seasonally, with mean distance traveled highest in June and lowest in November.[10]

Range
The salt marsh harvest mouse is an endangered species that is endemic to the San Francisco Bay. Its salt marsh habitat could be highly impacted by sea-level rise.

This organism is known to be found in the following specific locales (among others):

Conservation

The salt marsh harvest mouse has lost much of its habitat to extensive development of bayside marshland, pollution, drugs, boat activity, and commercial salt harvesting. It has been on the endangered lists since the 1970s, and has protected habitat within numerous Bay Area wildlife refuges. Individual political jurisdictions have conducted research and established habitat protection strategies to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse. For example, the city of San Rafael, California has established a shoreline setback standard to prevent any land development within fifty feet of the shoreline; this measure has been applied to several specific land developments along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.[12] Researchers like Katherine Smith of California Department of Fish and Wildlife are at the forefront of research helping to identify how threats like climate change impact the species while increasing the understanding of its biology, ecology and behavior.[13][14]

Reference in 2009 economic stimulus debate

The preservation of the salt marsh harvest mouse habitat was a subject of discussion in 2009 Economic Stimulus package. The mouse was mentioned numerous times in Congress by Republicans such as Rep. Mike Pence and Rep. Dan Lungren to highlight the wasteful spending of the bill.[15] It was claimed that $30m of the 2009 economic stimulus would be spent on habitat restoration to protect the mouse. The rumor was apparently started by Michael Steel, press secretary for John Boehner.[16][17] This was disputed in a San Francisco Chronicle article by Democratic U.S. Rep Jackie Speier.[18]

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References
  1. Whitaker Jr., J.O.; Hammerson, G.; Williams, D.F. & NatureServe (2008). "Reithrodontomys raviventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T19401A8875959. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19401A8875959.en.
  2. Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
  3. Presentation by Sarah Brown: Conservation genetics of salt marsh harvest mice (Reithrodontomys raviventris). Presented at College of Science and Math Symposium, California State University, San Luis Obispo. 5/01
  4. Sustaita et al. Salt marsh harvest mouse demography and habitat use in the Suisun Marsh, CA. Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 75, Issue 6, pp 1498-1509. August 2011.
  5. Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801882210.
  6. Golovanova, Galina. The Biogeography of the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodonomys raviventris).
  7. Sustaita, Diego; Quickert, Patty Finfrock; Patterson, Laura; Barthman-Thompson, Laureen; Estrella, Sarah (1 August 2011). "Salt marsh harvest mouse demography and habitat use in the Suisun Marsh, California". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 75 (6): 1498–1507. doi:10.1002/jwmg.187. ISSN 1937-2817.
  8. Geissel, W.; Shellhammer, H.; Harvey, H. T. (29 November 1988). "The Ecology of the Salt-Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) in a Diked Salt Marsh". Journal of Mammalogy. 69 (4): 696–703. doi:10.2307/1381624. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1381624.
  9. Bias, Michael A.; Morrison, Michael L. (1 June 2006). "Habitat Selection of the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse and Sympatric Rodent Species". Journal of Wildlife Management. 70 (3): 732–742. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[732:HSOTSM]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-541X.
  10. Bias, Michael A.; Morrison, Michael L. (1999). "Movements and Home Range of Salt Marsh Harvest Mice". The Southwestern Naturalist. 44 (3): 348–353. JSTOR 30055230.
  11. "Threatened & Endangered Animal Species of Point Reyes" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  12. Hogan, C. Michael et al. (1989). Spinnaker-on-the-Bay Expanded Initial Study, Earth Metrics Inc., prepared for the city of San Rafael, California
  13. "Researchers seek secrets of Suisun salt marsh harvest mouse". Daily Republic. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  14. "Salt-Water Science up Close". UC Davis. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  15. Mentions of the Mouse. Metavid.org (2009-02-13). Retrieved on 2012-12-30.
  16. Mercury News: Bay Area mouse spurs national debate over stimulus bill. February 13, 2009.
  17. Erbe, Bonnie. Republicans Flop On Pelosi Mouse Lie, Haven't Learned Environmental Lesson. CBS News. 13 February 2009.
  18. Speier, Jackie (14 February 2009). The myth of the 'San Francisco mouse'. sfgate.com

Further reading
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