Genetic Variation in Thomomys bottae Pocket Gophers: Macrogeographic Patterns

Evolution ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 697 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Patton ◽  
Suh Y. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Pocket Gophers ◽  
Thomomys Bottae

Subsurface Stone Lines, Stone Zones, Artifact-Manuport Layers, and Biomantles Produced by Bioturbation via Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Bottae)

1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Site Formation ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Pocket Gophers ◽  
Subsurface Zone ◽  
Thomomys Bottae ◽  
Gravelly Soil

A prominent subsurface zone (layer) of large stones with diameters greater than 6-7 cm occurs in gravelly soil on colluvial aprons in the Lompoc area of California. The soil is mounded and churned by botta pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae). Sedimentological analyses show that the soil within and above the stone zone—and within the gopher mounds—is relatively homogeneous in fine fraction and forms a biomantle. None of the mounds contained stones with long-axis diameters greater than the maximum diameter of gopher burrows, about 6-7 cm. Larger stones gradually subside and form a stone zone. Both field observations and laboratory tests confirm that gopher bioturbation produces stone zones in coarse gravelly soil. This finding, and similar findings in two other recent studies, have important implications for interpreting archaeological site formation, and for interpreting geologic-pedologic processes inasmuch as artifact layers (and nonartifact layers) in some sites entirely may be due to nonanthropic, nongeologic, postdepositional biological agents.

The Uptake and Distribution of Buried Radionuclides by Pocket Gophers (Thomomys bottae)

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Budd ◽  
G. J. Gonzales ◽  
P. R. Fresquez ◽  
E. A. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Pocket Gophers ◽  
Thomomys Bottae

scholarly journals Bothersome burrowers: tracking gopher (Thomomys bottae) time-averaging in a late-Holocene site in California

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Viteri ◽  
Elizabeth Hadly
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Time Averaging ◽  
Faunal Remains ◽  
Pocket Gophers ◽  
Thomomys Bottae ◽  
Sediment Layers ◽  
Shed Light

Understanding the taphonomic biases affecting fossil deposits is necessary in order to extract their true ecological signals. In terrestrial sites, the mixing of fossil material by mammalian bioturbators can substantially increase time-averaging, obscuring or even erasing stratification. In particular, pocket gophers (Thomomys sp.) are known to burrow in Holocene sites and thereby complicate the contextualization of faunal remains. Not only is it unclear if bones have been transported vertically by gophers, but the gophers themselves have the potential to die in their burrows, adding young skeletal remains to older deposits. We establish the degree of bias introduced by gopher remains in a late-Holocene archaeological site in Woodside, California by radiocarbon dating skeletal remains of Thomomys bottae and non-fossorial small mammals from the same stratigraphic units. The ages of T. bottae bones are younger overall, and span a wider range, than the distribution of ages from other small mammals from the same site and sediment layers. This suggests that a significant number of gopher remains have been introduced after the site’s deposition as a consequence of burrowing. These results shed light on a common taphonomic process that affects archaeological and paleontological sites, and may prompt reevaluation of faunal community reconstructions from fossil deposits impacted by gophers and other fossorial mammals.

Respiratory adaptations in burrowing pocket gophers from sea level and high altitude

1976 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Lechner
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Hemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Pocket Gopher ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Pocket Gophers ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Thomomys Bottae ◽  
Buffer Value

To examine the adaptations to low O2 and high CO2 among fossorial and nonfossorial rodents, hematological parameters were determined for laboratory rats, the valley pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) from 250 m, and the mountain pocket gopher (T. umbrinus melanotis) from 3150 m. Hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and O2 capacity were higher in pocket gophers than in rats. Blood PO2 at 50% saturation and pH 7.4 was 33 mmHg for both gophers and 39 mmHg for rats. Bohr factors for all three rodents were similar (-0.55 to -0.61) but buffer value, delta log PCO2/delta pH, was -2.54 for T. umbrinus, -1.97 for T. bottae, and -0.98 for Rattus. Concentrations of total acid-soluble phosphates were 50–75% higher in gophers than in rats, while bicarbonate values were within the normal mammalian range. All three rodents had similar myoglobin concentrations in cardiac muscle. Myoglobin concentrations were significantly higher in skeletal muscles (diaphragm, gastrocnemius) of T. umbrinus when compared to T. bottae, and significantly higher in both gophers when compared to rats. These differences may constitute important adaptations to the hypoxia and hypercapnia in burrows; certain of these factors in pocket gophers respond to the additional stress of high altitude hypoxia.

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