Microhabitat Use by Golden Mice (Ochrotomys Nuttalli) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Southern Illinois

Microhabitat Use by Golden Mice (Ochrotomys Nuttalli) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Southern Illinois
Author: Amy S. Cross
Publisher:
Total Pages: 101
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

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Similarities between golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli ) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus ) have been well-studied in both field and laboratory settings. Often sympatric, these species share similar habitat, as well as other resources, yet previous researchers have found little evidence for interspecific competition. Niche partitioning may reduce direct competition through specialization of resource use. Although the golden mouse is considered a resource specialist, it is likely that the degree of habitat specialization differs by locality, and thus, the degree of interspecific competition with similar species is variable. To determine the extent to which microhabitat use differs between golden mice and white-footed mice, I measured 16 and 15 microhabitat variables during the leaf-on and leaf-off seasons, respectively, in Jackson County, Illinois. Trapping took place on 3 grids from March 2010 to September 2011. The ratio of individual golden mice (n = 74) to white-footed mice (n = 85) was unusually high during this study. Microhabitat use models were constructed for both species during both seasons using logistic regression by comparing microhabitat at trapping stations where each species was captured vs. stations without captures. Few variables described habitat occupied by golden mice. Overall, dense vegetation up to 2.0 m was most important for golden mice and ground-level structures such as logs were most important for white-footed mice. Captures and noncaptures were predicted with a high degree of accuracy by logistic regression (81.5-90.3%). Discriminant function analysis was used to identify which microhabitat variables optimally discriminated between habitat used by golden mice, white-footed mice, and neither species. More variables discriminated between species during the leaf-on season than the leaf-off season although discriminating variables during leaf-off were more important overall. Habitat where either species was captured was combined and compared against habitat where no mice were captured; microhabitat used by mice was statistically distinct within the study area. Captures and noncaptures were classified correctly more than would be expected by chance by discriminant function analysis but moderate classification success values indicated microhabitat differences between species were subtle. Microhabitat and elevated trap use varied between seasons for both species, but neither species used ground or elevated traps more than expected during the leaf-on season. Spatial segregation was more apparent during the leaf-off season when golden mice used elevated traps more than expected and white-footed mice used ground traps more than expected. Overall results suggest that golden mice exhibited a great deal of plasticity in microhabitat use seasonally, and are more habitat generalists than previous literature would suggest. Although some spatial segregation was apparent between golden mice and white-footed mice, there was no evidence for avoidance between species, which implies a lack of interference competition. It is likely that other life-history factors (such as metabolic rate, nest building, or sociality) in combination with microhabitat and vertical partitioning allow coexistence between these species rather than microhabitat segregation alone.

Habitat Use by Golden Mice (Ochrotomys Nuttalli) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Southern Illinois

Habitat Use by Golden Mice (Ochrotomys Nuttalli) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Southern Illinois
Author: Amy S. Cross
Publisher:
Total Pages: 176
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

Download Habitat Use by Golden Mice (Ochrotomys Nuttalli) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Southern Illinois Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Similarities between golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli ) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus ) have been well-studied in both field and laboratory settings. Often sympatric, these species share similar habitat, as well as other resources, yet previous researchers have found little evidence for interspecific competition. Niche partitioning may reduce direct competition through specialization of resource use. Although the golden mouse is considered a resource specialist, it is likely that the degree of habitat specialization differs by locality, and thus, the degree of interspecific competition with similar species is variable. Overall results suggest that golden mice exhibited a great deal of plasticity in microhabitat use seasonally, and are more habitat generalists than previous literature would suggest. Although some spatial segregation was apparent between golden mice and white-footed mice, there was no evidence for avoidance between species, which implies a lack of interference competition. It is likely that other life-history factors (such as metabolic rate, nest building, or sociality) in combination with microhabitat and vertical partitioning allow coexistence between these species rather than microhabitat segregation alone.

Master's Theses Directories

Master's Theses Directories
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 488
Release: 1997
Genre: Dissertations, Academic
ISBN:

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"Education, arts and social sciences, natural and technical sciences in the United States and Canada".

The Effects of Predation and Supplemental Food on Foraging and Abundance of White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Relation to Forest Patch Size

The Effects of Predation and Supplemental Food on Foraging and Abundance of White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) in Relation to Forest Patch Size
Author: Gregory James Marcello
Publisher:
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2005
Genre: Peromyscus leucopus
ISBN:

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The purpose of this study was to examine some of the possible causes for the negative density-area relationship reported for the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus. I examined predation and food availability in three small and three large forest fragments. Giving up density trays and various odors were used to test the variation in foraging behavior in the presence of a predator odor. Nest boxes and counts of periodical cicada emergence holes were used to test the effects of an emergence of periodical cicadas on P. leucopus population densities. Predator odors had no effect on foraging behaviors. P. leucopus responded to indirect, but not direct, cues of predation. Estimated densities of periodical cicada emergence holes were strongly related to the relative population density of P. leucopus. Continued study of predation and food differences in forest fragments of different sizes is needed to further examine the negative density-area relationship of P. leucopus.

Influence of Microhabitat on the Local Distribution of White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) and Red-backed Voles (Clethrionomys Gapperi) in Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) Swamps and Contiguous Uplands in Rhode Island

Influence of Microhabitat on the Local Distribution of White-footed Mice (Peromyscus Leucopus) and Red-backed Voles (Clethrionomys Gapperi) in Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) Swamps and Contiguous Uplands in Rhode Island
Author: Michael W. Abell
Publisher:
Total Pages: 202
Release: 1992
Genre: Clethrionomys
ISBN:

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