Abstract
Rodents, beyond keystone species such as beaver (Castor canadensis), provide several important ecosystem functions that can impact restoration activities Rodent ecosystem functions include ecosystem engineering such as burrowing and mound building, trophic interactions like herbivory and seed dispersal, and serving as reservoirs for diseases. These functions will vary in importance over time and have mixed effects depending on the types of restoration employed and the level of desired control over outcomes. Specific outcomes may be highly contextual, but some generalizations can be made. In situations where active restoration or high levels of human control over the outcome are desired, ecosystem engineering and herbivory can negatively impact restoration activities and will need to be managed. In passive restoration, some functions, such as seed dispersal, will provide positive outcomes early in the process. Some functions, such as dam building by beaver, may never be viewed positively in highly controlled situations. Importantly, for any type of restoration activity, over time the disturbance caused by rodent foraging and burrowing appears to positively impact plant diversity and biomass. In highly managed systems, particular species of rodent could be managed to provide specific functions in lieu of other species.
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