scholarly journals Effect of Blarina brevicauda on trap response of Microtus pennsylvanicus

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 438-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudy Boonstra ◽  
F. Helen Rodd ◽  
David J. Carleton
Keyword(s):  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Blarina Brevicauda

The response of Microtus pennsylvanicus to traps with or without various prior occupants is described. Microtus were most frequently captured in traps previously visited by Microtus, but they showed a significant avoidance of traps previously visited by Blarina brevicauda. However, the probability of entry into such traps was no lower than into traps previously visited by other rodent species (Mus musculus, Peromyscus leucopus, or Zapus hudsonicus). There was an even lower probability of entry into traps which were previously empty. Blarina had a significantly higher probability of entering traps previously capturing Blarina than traps previously capturing Microtus or no one. We conclude that this evidence gives no support for the hypothesis that Blarina is a significant predator of Microtus pennsylvanicus.

Trypanosomes of small mammals in southern Ontario

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. K. Woo ◽  
D. R. Grant ◽  
L. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Blarina Brevicauda ◽  
Tamias Striatus ◽  
Southern Ontario

Using the haematocrit centrifuge technique, 53 of 619 small mammals from seven areas in southern Ontario were found to be infected with three species of trypanosomes. Trypanosoma microti was found in 10 of 374 (2.7%) Microtus pennsylvanicus examined from two of five locations. Thirty-five of 102 (34%) of Tamias striatus from one area were infected with Trypanosoma tamiasi and over 94% (33 of 35) of the infected animals were juveniles. This would indicate that the trypanosome is primarily a parasite of juveniles. A trypanosome which was tentatively identified as Trypanosoma soricis was found in 8 of 36 (22%) Blarina brevicauda; it was recorded from two of four areas where the shrews were caught. A detailed description of the trypanosome was given because the original description was inadequate. No trypanosome was found in 74 Peromyscus maniculatus, 31 Mus musculus, and 2 Zapus hudsonius examined.

scholarly journals Morphological Stability of Rural Populations Confirms Their Use As Controls in Urban Ecology Studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Regacho ◽  
Javier delBarco-Trillo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Ecology ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Developmental Stress ◽  
Urban Populations ◽  
Morphological Asymmetry

Abstract The expansion of urban environments and how animals may be affected by them are being increasingly investigated, leading to a surge in urban ecology studies. Many urban ecology studies involve a direct comparison between rural and urban populations, or the use of urban gradients along a continuum from rural to urban areas. The implicit, although not properly investigated, assumption in these rural vs urban comparisons is that the rural populations offer a control that represents a lack of the anthropogenic stressors affecting the urban populations. Here we used museum skulls from 14 rodent species to conduct two separate studies, measuring fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as a proxy of developmental stress to assess the effect of anthropogenic disturbance. First, we compared urban and rural specimens of house mice (Mus musculus) to validate our methodological approach. Second, we compared rural specimens from 14 rodent species collected during the last two centuries across Austria. We hypothesised that FA in rural populations has not increased over the last two centuries, which would support the use of rural populations as a proper control in rural vs urban comparisons. We found higher morphological asymmetry in urban populations of Mus musculus compared to rural populations, which is consistent with similar studies in other species. However, we did not find any significant increase in FA over time in rural populations for any of the studied species. This supports the common practice of using rural populations as a control in rural vs urban comparisons when assessing the effects of urbanisation.

Sélection des proies par l'hermine en captivité

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1973-1980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Raymond ◽  
Jean-Marie Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Food Preference ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Blarina Brevicauda ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Certain aspects of prey selection were studied in ermines (Mustela erminea) kept in an enclosed arena that simulated a temporary meadow. Four males and eight females were involved in the 12-h experiments. Four types of prey were used: (i) meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), (ii) deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), (iii) short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda), and (iv) young albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Males were more efficient at catching prey than females, both in number of individuals and number of species captured. Meadow voles and rats were the prey captured most regularly and rapidly by both males and females. Males were more efficient at catching deer mice, but shrews were rarely captured. There was a great similarity in the performance of the four males, but considerable variation was observed among the females. No food preference could be detected in these experiments. The results are discussed in relation to food preferences observed during studies of ermines in a natural environment.[Journal translation]

scholarly journals Comparative effect of the three rodenticides warfarin, difenacoum and brodifacoum on eight rodent species in short feeding periods

1981 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lund
Keyword(s):  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Microtus Agrestis ◽  
Apodemus Flavicollis ◽  
Comparative Effect ◽  
Field Rodents

SummaryShort laboratory feeding tests were carried out with the anticoagulants warfarin, difenacoum, and brodifacoum on a number of European rodent species: Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis, Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Mus musculus, Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus. It was found that the toxicity to all species was highest with brodifacoum and lowest with warfarin, and that only 0·005% brodifacoum would give a complete mortality in most species after one day's feeding. The potential of this compound for the control of microtine field rodents is suggested.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document