Utilization of Space by Peromyscus Leucopus and Other Small Mammals
1974
Myton, Becky
Mark—recapture studies were made on a grid over an extended period of time to investigate home range utilization by small mammals, especially Peromyscus leucopus, the most numerous small mammal on the study area. Since captures were largely concentrated around a home range center, Calhoun's (1963) bivariate normal density, which predicts a more diffuse capture pattern, did not adequately describe space utilization in Peromyscus. Mark—recapture results showed a similar pattern as a continual removal regimen: 50% of the total Peromyscus contrary to Calhoun's (1963) predictions that as dominant species are removed (here Peromyscus), subordinate" species (here Blarina and Pitymys) enlarge their home ranges and are caught more often. My results can better be explained by invoking behavior—mediated differences in trappability between species and/or ecological differences in the use of the habitat (fossorial vs. runaways in undergrowth, etc.). Finally, my evidence suggests that Peromyscus are arranged in family groups consisting of one adult female, several adult males (one dominant, several subordinate), and a number of juveniles.
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