The use of index trap lines to estimate population numbers of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in a forest environment in British Columbia

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Petticrew ◽  
R. M. F. S. Sadleir
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Index Line ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Total Capture ◽  
Forest Habitats

Monthly live trapping of three 1-hectare grids in differing forest habitats was carried out over an 8-month period. Immediately after 2 nights of trapping on each grid a central index line was trapped for a further 2 nights. The total capture numbers., numbers of males, and numbers of females of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on the index line correlated significantly with the same parameters on the grid. In addition, survival rates and body weights were almost identical and similar representation of other small mammal species was determined by both arrangements of traps. It is suggested that the index line may be a more efficient method of sampling small mammal populations.

scholarly journals Effects of trap confinement on personality measurements in two terrestrial rodents

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Brehm ◽  
Sara Tironi ◽  
Alessio Mortelliti
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Behavioral Observation ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Trail Cameras

AbstractIn recent years individual differences in the behavior of animals, or personalities, have been shown to influence the response of individuals to changing environments and have important ecological implications. As researchers strive to understand and predict the responses of individuals and populations to anthropogenic changes, personality studies in wild populations will likely continue to increase. Studies of personality in wild populations often require that animals are live-trapped before behavioral observation can occur; however, it is unknown what impact live trapping may have on the behavior of trapped individuals. Specifically, if the duration of trap confinement directly influences behavior, then by obtaining wild animals through live-trapping are we confounding the very measurements we are most interested in? To investigate this question, we performed a study using two small mammal species. We positioned high-definition trail cameras on Longworth small mammal traps in the field to observe capture events and record the time of capture. We then measured personality in captured deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) using three standardized tests. With a repeatability analysis, we confirmed which behaviors could be considered personality traits, and through linear and generalized linear models, we found that the time an animal had spent confined to a trap before testing did not affect the majority of behaviors exhibited. Our results showed two weak behavioral effects of confinement duration on boldness and docility depending on whether an individual had been trapped previously. Our results suggest that personality measurements of wild, trapped small mammals are not determined by trapping procedures, but that researchers should control for whether an animal is naïve to trapping during analysis.

Survival rates of Rattus verecundus and Paramelomys platyops in a murid rich tropical rainforest of Papua New Guinea.

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Enock Kale ◽  
Nathan Whitmore ◽  
Andrew L Mack ◽  
Debra D Wright
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Parsimonious Model

Estimations of survival rates of small mammal populations that occur on the island of New Guinea are crucial for conservation and management strategies. Here, we used mark-recapture data in programme MARK to estimate apparent survival and detection of two murid species in a tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea. The most parsimonious model allowed survival and recapture probability to vary by species. Across the two species, Rattus verecundus generally had lower survival rates, but higher recapture probabilities, whereas Paramelomys platyops had higher survival rates but lower recapture probabilities. Since many small mammal species that occur in New Guinea are already listed under the IUCN red list for Threatened Species, similar studies can be replicated targeting the threatened species to provide information to wildlife managers for management and conservation decision.

Long-term stress level in a small mammal species undergoing range expansion

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien André ◽  
Johan Michaux ◽  
Jorge Gaitan ◽  
Virginie Millien
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Range Expansion ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
White Footed Mouse

Abstract Rapid climate change is currently altering species distribution ranges. Evaluating the long-term stress level in wild species undergoing range expansion may help better understanding how species cope with the changing environment. Here, we focused on the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), a widespread small mammal species in North-America whose distribution range is rapidly shifting northward. We evaluated long-term stress level in several populations of P. leucopus in Quebec (Canada), from the northern edge of the species distribution to more core populations in Southern Quebec. We first tested the hypothesis that populations at the range margin are under higher stress than more established populations in the southern region of our study area. We then compared four measures of long-term stress level to evaluate the congruence between these commonly used methods. We did not detect any significant geographical trend in stress level across our study populations of P. leucopus. Most notably, we found no clear congruence between the four measures of stress level we used, and conclude that these four commonly used methods are not equivalent, thereby not comparable across studies.

scholarly journals Diversity and Diet Differences of Small Mammals in Commensal Habitats

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 346
Author(s):  
Linas Balčiauskas ◽  
Laima Balčiauskienė ◽  
Andrius Garbaras ◽  
Vitalijus Stirkė
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Additional Food ◽  
Δ13c And Δ15n ◽  
Degree Of Separation ◽  
Kitchen Gardens ◽  
Dietary Plasticity ◽  
The Stability

The stability of diversity of syntopic (inhabiting the same habitat in the same time) small mammals in commensal habitats, such as farmsteads and kitchen gardens, and, as a proxy of their diet, their isotopic niches, was investigated in Lithuania in 2019–2020. We tested whether the separation of species corresponds to the trophic guilds, whether their diets are related to possibilities of getting additional food from humans, and whether their diets are subject to seasonal trends. We analyzed diversity, dominance and distribution of hair δ13C and δ15N values. Diversity and dominance was not stable and differed according to human influence. The highest small mammal species richness occurred in commensal habitats that provided additional food. The degree of separation of species was higher in homestead habitats than in kitchen gardens, where a 1.27 to 35.97% overlap of isotopic niches was observed between pairs of species. Temporal changes in δ13C and δ15N values in the hair of the mammals were not equally expressed in different species. The isotopic overlap may depend on dietary plasticity, minimizing interspecific competition and allowing co-existence of syntopic species. Thus, small mammal trophic ecology is likely related to intensity of agricultural activities in the limited space of commensal habitats.

Inbreeding effects among inbred and outbred laboratory colonies of Peromyscus maniculatus

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 820-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
David O. Ribble ◽  
John S. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measures ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Outbreeding Depression ◽  
Sibling Pairs ◽  
Laboratory Colonies ◽  
And Control

We examined the effects of sibling matings upon reproductive performance among inbred and outbred laboratory colonies of Peromyscus maniculatus. The inbred colony was founded by 12 females collected from one locality in Alberta and bred for 20 generations, with 35–45 pairs each generation. The outbred colony consisted of first-generation mice born of wild-caught females from diverse areas in Alberta. Consistent with theoretical expectations, there were no differences in reproductive performance between sibling and control (outbred) pairs within the inbred colony of mice. In contrast, sibling pairs had significantly fewer young per litter than control pairs within the outbred colony. Reproductive performance measures (proportion breeding, days from pairing to first litter, number of litters, and total number of offspring produced) were also significantly lower among sibling pairs from the outbred colony than among sibling pairs from the inbred colony. Lastly, we predicted that reproductive performance of the control pairs from the outbred colony would be less than that of control pairs from the inbred colony, due to outbreeding depression. Contrary to our predictions, average litter survival rates were greatest among the outbred colony control pairs. We suggest that the benefits of inbreeding or outbreeding extend broadly across the inbreeding–outbreeding continuum in natural populations of northern Peromyscus.

Survey and control of small mammal populations on two hardwood plantations in southern Ontario

1974 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 181-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Radvanyi
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
And Control ◽  
Rodent Populations ◽  
Ingredient Cost

Live trapping and tagging methods were employed to assess small mammal populations within two hardwood plantations in southern Ontario. Excessive girdling damage in past years to young planted trees necessitated an evaluation of rodent populations and development of effective control measures. The application of an anticoagulant rodenticide to oat groats bait broadcast over the study area at an ingredient cost of approximately three dollars per acre virtually wiped out the small mammals. Reinvasion from surrounding areas was, however, fairly rapid, particularly during late summer. Further research on longer term control measures using poisoned bait feeder stations is recommended.

Small mammal mycophagy in hemiboreal forest communities of Lithuania

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Kataržytė ◽  
Ernestas Kutorga
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractThe diets of small mammals in different hemiboreal spruce-dominated, oak-dominated and mixed forests in western part of Lithuania were studied by examination of fungal spores in fresh fecal pellets of caught animals. In the diets of mice (Apodemus spp.), bank voles (Myodes glareolus), and common and pygmy shrews (Sorex araneus and S. minutus), 22 different fungal taxa were identified, 15 of which were hypogeous fungi. The sporocarp abundance and the spores in fecal samples of Elaphomyces fungi prevailed in study area during this investigation. Although most of the captured individuals consumed fungi, the consumption varied among small mammal species. The data show that the fungi were more frequent and taxonomically diverse in Myodes glareolus than in Apodemus spp. diets. The study provided evidence that the fungal component in the diets of insectivorous Sorex species is more diverse than previously known. The availability of sporocarps and the fungal component in the diets of small mammals showed seasonal effects. Annual hypogeous and epigeous sporocarp abundances did not vary significantly across forest types. The significant difference in mycophagy was observed across all forest cover types, with the greatest fungal diversity in fecal samples collected in mixed coniferous-deciduous tree stands.

Response of wildlife to forest herbicide applications in northern coniferous ecosystems

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2286-2299 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Lautenschlager
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
Coniferous Ecosystems

Reviewed studies of the effects of forest herbicide applications on wildlife often lacked replication, pretreatment information, and (or) were conducted for only one or two growing seasons after treatment. Because of these problems, as well as the use of dissimilar sampling techniques, study conclusions have sometimes been contradictory. A review of eight studies of the effects of herbicide treatments on northern songbird populations in regenerating clearcuts indicates that total songbird populations are seldom reduced during the growing season after treatment. Densities of species that use early successional brushy, deciduous cover are sometimes reduced, while densities of species which commonly use more open areas, sometimes increase. A review of 14 studies of the effects of herbicide treatments on small mammals indicates that like songbirds, small mammal responses are species specific. Some species are unaffected, while some select and others avoid herbicide-treated areas. Only studies that use kill or removal trapping to study small mammal responses show density reductions associated with herbicide treatment. It seems that some small mammal species may be reluctant to venture into disturbed areas, although residents in those areas are apparently not affected by the disturbance. Fourteen relevant studies examined the effects of conifer release treatments on moose and deer foods and habitat use. Conifer release treatments reduce the availability of moose browse for as long as four growing seasons after treatment. The degree of reduction during the growing season after treatment varies with the herbicide and rate used. Deer use of treated areas remains unchanged or increases during the first growing season after treatment. Eight years after treating a naturally regenerated spruce–fir stand browse was three to seven times more abundant on treated than on control plots (depending on the chemical and rate used). Forage quality (nitrogen, ash, and moisture) of crop trees increased one growing season after the soil-active herbicide simazine was applied to control competition around outplanted 3-year-old balsam fir seedlings.

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