A new method to discriminate the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) from the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) using species-specific primers in multiplex PCR

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1832-1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Tessier ◽  
Sarah Noël ◽  
François-Joseph Lapointe
Keyword(s):  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Specific Primers ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Mitochondrial Region ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
White Footed Mouse

Morphometric measurements or biochemical methods are often required to differentiate deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845), from white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818), particularly when they are found in sympatry. However, these approaches cannot easily be applied to juveniles, or to degraded or ancient museum specimens. In this paper, we propose a rapid and non-invasive molecular approach to discriminate these cryptic species from one another. This technique relies on species-specific primers designed in the COIII mitochondrial region to amplify fragments of different lengths in each species. The method developed proved useful for the identification of ethanol-preserved, frozen, degraded, or dry museum specimens.

Seeds of doubt: feeding preferences of white-footed deer mice (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) and woodland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis) on maple (genus Acer) seeds

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 771-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Specific Difference ◽  
Species Specific

This study explores foraging choices made by seed predators (white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis (Fischer, 1829), and woodland deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis (LeConte, 1855)) presented with seeds of two dominant tree species (sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marsh., and red maple, Acer rubrum L.). I hypothesized that both species would prefer A. saccharum seeds, as they are larger and ostensibly contain more energy. Although P. l. noveboracensis consumed more seed than P. m. gracilis, there was also a species-specific difference in preference. Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis clearly preferred A. rubrum over A. saccharum, whereas preferences of P. l. noveboracensis were less specific. Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis, being a habitat generalist, may demonstrate higher plasticity in response to different food types. Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis may prefer A. rubrum because of differences in nutrition, handling costs, or germination schedules, although this was not explicitly tested. This species-specific difference in preference indicates the common assumption that Peromyscus species are ecologically similar should be made with caution.

Microsatellite markers reveal low frequency of natural hybridization between the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) in southern Quebec, Canada

Genome ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 454-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah S.T. Leo ◽  
Virginie Millien
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Natural Hybridization ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
White Footed Mouse

In some parts of southern Quebec, two closely related rodent species — the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) — have recently come in contact because of climate-driven changes in the distribution of the former. Both species share similar morphology, ecology, and life history traits, which suggests that natural hybridization may be possible. Hybridization among these two species can have important implications on the ecological roles these rodents play in disease transmission, yet few researchers have attempted to examine this phenomenon and results from previous hybridization experiments have remained inconclusive and conflicting. In this study, we attempt to investigate the occurrence of hybridization among white-footed mice and deer mice in southern Quebec by genotyping wild caught specimens with selectively neutral, polymorphic microsatellite markers. Our analyses suggest that hybridization may be occurring at extremely low frequency between both species in our study area. The presence of such hybridization events, even at low frequencies, may have implications on disease transmission risk in the region and further detailed studies are necessary.

scholarly journals Field Identification of the Mice Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus gracilis in Central New York

2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Stewart Lindquist ◽  
Charles F. Aquadro ◽  
Deedra McClearn ◽  
Kevin J. McGowan
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Field Method ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Central New York ◽  
Field Identification ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
White Footed Mouse

Field identification of the White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) and Long-tailed Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis) is difficult because of their similar external morphology. Peromyscus were sampled by live-trapping during a five-year period (1992-1996) at the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, Van Etten, New York and identified to species by electrophoresis of their salivary amylase. No electromorphs were shared between P. leucopus and P. maniculatus, thus permitting unambiguous species identification of individuals. Means and ranges of four external measurements (ear, head-body, hind-foot, and tail) and tail to head-body ratio were determined for amylase-genotyped live mice. Although some body measurements did differ on average between the two species (ear, head-body, and tail for adults; hind-foot and tail for juveniles), the ranges of these overlap considerably. When the four external measurements (excluding the tail to head-body ratio) were used to construct two discriminant-function equations, they yielded correct identification of 80% of the adult P. l. noveboracensis and P. m. gracilis assessed excluding juveniles, and 71% of adult and juvenile mice combined. The function reported here allows partial field identification, but genetic analysis remains the only reliable field method for differentiation between live P. l. noveboracensis and P. m. gracilis. Includes erratum for a figure in this article.

scholarly journals Development and Characterization of a Sin Nombre Virus Transmission Model in Peromyscus maniculatus

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryce Warner ◽  
Derek Stein ◽  
Bryan Griffin ◽  
Kevin Tierney ◽  
Anders Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Sin Nombre Virus ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Heat Shock Responses

In North America, Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is the main cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe respiratory disease with a fatality rate of 35–40%. SNV is a zoonotic pathogen carried by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and few studies have been performed examining its transmission in deer mouse populations. Studying SNV and other hantaviruses can be difficult due to the need to propagate the virus in vivo for subsequent experiments. We show that when compared with standard intramuscular infection, the intraperitoneal infection of deer mice can be as effective in producing SNV stocks with a high viral RNA copy number, and this method of infection provides a more reproducible infection model. Furthermore, the age and sex of the infected deer mice have little effect on viral replication and shedding. We also describe a reliable model of direct experimental SNV transmission. We examined the transmission of SNV between deer mice and found that direct contact between deer mice is the main driver of SNV transmission rather than exposure to contaminated excreta/secreta, which is thought to be the main driver of transmission of the virus to humans. Furthermore, increases in heat shock responses or testosterone levels in SNV-infected deer mice do not increase the replication, shedding, or rate of transmission. Here, we have demonstrated a model for the transmission of SNV between deer mice, the natural rodent reservoir for the virus. The use of this model will have important implications for further examining SNV transmission and in developing strategies for the prevention of SNV infection in deer mouse populations.

The ecology of the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, in a coastal coniferous forest. III. Stomach-weight variation

1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1311-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Harling ◽  
R. M. F. S. Sadleir
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Full Stomach ◽  
Weight Variation ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Stomach Weight

The frequency distribution of over 600 stomach weights of deer mice showed considerable variation and was highly skewed. Because of the difficulty of defining a "full" stomach, it was not possible to use the weights of stomachs sampled to estimate consumption rates. There were no significant seasonal changes in mean stomach weights over a 3-year study and no relationship between stomach weights and sexual condition was found.

Sodium pentobarbital induced alterations in regional distribution of blood in Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse) and Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat)

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1931-1935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefine C. Rauch ◽  
David D. Beatty
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Sodium Pentobarbital ◽  
Blood Distribution ◽  
Big Brown Bat ◽  
Pentobarbital Anaesthesia

This study demonstrates the effect of sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia on heart rate (HR) and blood distribution (Sapirstein method) in the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, and in the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus.Resting HR's average 400 beats/min and 334 beats/min in deer mice and bats, respectively. Administration of 40 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital results in marked tachycardia in deer mice but not in bats. A dose of 60 mg/kg causes a slight increase of HR above resting values in the mice and a significant decrease in the bats. The comparatively low HR's in bats are considered to be due to their lowering of body temperature to near environmental levels.The general pattern of blood distribution is comparable between the two species investigated. Sodium pentobarbital administration results in a pronounced redistribution of blood which includes an increase in the fractional delivery of cardiac output to viscera of the abdomen primarily at the expense of skeletal muscle.

Population Dynamics of Deer Mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Yellow-pine Chipmunks, Tamias amoenus, in Old Field and Orchard Habitats

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan ◽  
Eugene J. Hogue
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Old Field ◽  
Tamias Amoenus ◽  
Yellow Pine ◽  
Mammal Communities

There are often several rodent species included in the small mammal communities in orchard agro-ecosystems. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the population levels of Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Yellow-pine Chipmunks (Tamias amoenus) would be enhanced in old field compared with orchard habitats. Rodent populations were intensively livetrapped in replicate old field and orchard sites over a four-year period at Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. Deer Mouse populations were, on average, significantly higher (2.5 – 3.4 times) in the old field than orchard sites in summer and winter periods. Mean numbers/ha of Deer Mice ranged from 12.1 to 60.4 in old field sites and from 3.3 to 19.9 in orchard sites. Breeding seasons in orchards were significantly longer than those in old field sites, in terms of proportion of reproductive male Deer Mice. Recruitment of new animals and early juvenile survival of Deer Mice were similar in orchard and old field sites. Populations of Yellow-pine Chipmunks ranged in mean abundance/ha from 5.6 – 19.0 in old field sites and from 1.9 – 17.5 on one orchard site, with no difference in mean abundance in 2 of 4 years of the study. Recruitment and mean survival of Yellow-pine Chipmunks also followed this pattern. This study is the first detailed comparison of the population dynamics of these rodent species in old field and orchard habitats. These species should be able to maintain their population levels and help contribute to a diversity of small mammals in this agrarian landscape.

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