Donald W. Kaufman, Professor

Contact information

11 Bushnell Hall
(785) 532-6622
dwkaufma@ksu.edu

Education

Ph.D., 1972, University of Georgia, Zoology.

Area(s) of Specialization

Population and community ecology of rodents and shrews; Ecology, evolution, and behavior of mammals.
Not accepting graduate students

Research Focus

My research group studies the population dynamics, assemblage structure, habitat selection, and individual characteristics (body mass, reproductive patterns) of small mammals in tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies. As part of these efforts, we continue to examine patterns and magnitudes of long-term temporal variation in populations and assemblages of small mammals (rodents and shrews) in tallgrass prairie of eastern Kansas. Using information gained from these long-term field studies of sites that vary in fire and grazer regimes, we are examining the effects of fire (both periodicity and season of fire), bison grazing, and weather (primarily precipitation) on small mammals in tallgrass prairie. Influence of weather on abundances of different species of small mammals in tallgrass prairie gathered during these field projects will allow an opportunity to consider the possible influences of climate change on future distribution and abundance of prairie mammals. Finally, we continue to assess the influence of land use changes on rodents (e.g., abundance, body mass, patterns of reproduction) in the mixed-grass prairie region of north-central Kansas.

Selected Publications

Kaufman, D. W. and G. A. Kaufman. 2017. Small mammals in anthropogenic brome fields as compared to native tallgrass prairie in the northern Flint Hills of Kansas. Trans Kansas Acad Sci 120:157-169.

Kaufman, D. W. and G. A. Kaufman. 2017. Low biodiversity of small mammals in soybean fields in the northern Flint Hills, Kansas. Trans Kansas Acad Sci 120:175-182.

Kaufman, D. W. and G.A. Kaufman. 2015. Ord’s kangaroo rats in north-central Kansas: Patterns of body size and reproduction. Trans Kansas Acad Sci 118:251-263.

Kaufman GA, Kaufman DW. 2014. Plains harvest mice in tallgrass prairie: Abundance, habitat association and individual attributes. Trans Kansas Acad Sci 117:167-180.

Kaufman GA, Matlack RS, Kaufman DW, Higgins JJ. 2012. Multiple factors limit use of local sites by Elliot's short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga) in tallgrass prairie. Can J Zool 90:210-221.

Kaufman GA, Kaufman DM, Kaufman DW. 2012. Hispid pocket mice in tallgrass prairie: abundance, seasonal activity, habitat association, and individual attributes. West N Am Nat 72:377-390.

Matlack RS, Kaufman DW, Kaufman GA. 2008. Influence of woody vegetation on small mammals in tallgrass prairie. Am Midl Nat 160:7-19.

Reed AW, Kaufman GA, Kaufman DW. 2006. Species richness-productivity relationship for small mammals along a desert-grassland continuum: differential responses of functional groups. J Mamm 87: 777-783.

Kaufman DW, Kaufman GA, Clark BK. 2000. Small mammals in native and anthropogenic habitats in central Kansas. Southwest Nat 45:45-60.

Kaufman GA, Kaufman DW. 1997. Ecology of small mammals in prairie landscapes. pp. 207-243. In Ecology and Conservation of Great Plains Vertebrates (F. L. Knopf and F. B. Samson, eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York.