Natal dispersal of Ozark pocket gophers Geomys bursarius ozarkensis: Who and when?

Natal dispersal is a fundamental phase of the life history of species despite associated risks with that dispersal. These risks are increased for subterranean mammals which are uniquely adapted for movement in a subterranean environment and invest much energy into building burrows and creating food caches. The Ozark pocket gopher Geomys bursarius ozarkensis (Elrod, Zimmerman, Sudman and Heidt, 2000), endemic to north central Arkansas, is an imperiled and geographically isolated subspecies of the plains pocket gopher Geomys bursarius (Shaw, 1800). Understanding its natal dispersal patterns is necessary for long-term conservation plans. We conducted radio telemetry of 33 juvenile Ozark pocket gophers to characterize dispersal frequency, distance, seasonality, and sex bias. Natal dispersal was rare (9.1%) in Ozark pocket gophers and occurred over shorter distances (20–70 m) than documented in other gopher species. The low number of dispersers identified (n = 3) precluded us from determining seasonal or sex bias. We had limited evidence of above-ground dispersal despite the adaptations of pocket gophers to the subterranean environment.