Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse – Brock Linder
My name is Brock Linder and I am a senior at CSU majoring in Biology with a concentration in Ecology. This summer, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a Siegele Conservation Science Intern at CNHP. I had the opportunity to participate in 6 different projects throughout the summer and I am extremely grateful for all the knowledge I gained through so many great mentors. During this internship, I spent 2 weeks at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs studying the threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (PMJM) species. I had never had any experience with field work or small mammal trapping prior to this trip, but it was one of my most eye-opening experiences this summer. I participated in a mark-recapture study that has been ongoing for more than 25 years to better understand the population of meadow jumping mice in Colorado. This work consisted of setting traps late in the afternoon and checking these traps early in the mornings. We would often find other small mammals such as voles, deer mice, and harvest mice in our search for the threatened PMJM population. When we discovered the threatened mice, they were scanned for passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to identify if they have been captured before. Newly captured mice were injected with PIT tags, weighed, observed for reproductive status, then released into dense willow (Salix) forests.
As a part of this research, we were able to conduct vegetation sampling of the PMJM habitat along monument creek to identify the relationship between population characteristics and vegetation in these areas. I was able to set up transects and record data in this process, and I really enjoyed seeing the connection between small mammals and the vegetation in an area. This is something I have only ever learned about, but first-hand experience and knowledge of the ecology of this area was truly an eye-opening experience.
This data collection of the population characteristics of the PMJM population along monument creek will continue to provide insights into the diversity and growth of this species. It was an honor to be a part of a study that has been going on for so long and to see the changes we are making as conservationists. I feel incredibly privileged to have worked with Robert Schorr, a Zoologist with CNHP, as he taught me a lot about the value of dedicated science and data collection. Conservation is truly a multi-faceted challenge today, and I fully experienced the interconnectedness of the scientific process through this research.
Being a Siegele Intern this summer was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I have truly obtained a new outlook on the world of conservation and ecology. CNHP is an amazing program with so many passionate and intelligent mentors that have helped me understand the importance of this work. I hope to take these experiences with me throughout my life and make a difference in the world any way that I can. Thank you!
Brock Linder
