Using exotic antigens to measure reproduction and dispersal in Peromyscus leucopus

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 528-530
Author(s):  
Gregory E. Glass ◽  
George W. Korch ◽  
James E. Gomez ◽  
James E. Childs
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Feasible Method ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Uninoculated Control ◽  
Free Ranging

Free-ranging female white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, were inoculated with a series of exotic (not encountered in the environment) antigens to evaluate the utility of maternally transferred antibodies in identifying offspring under field conditions. Inoculated females suffered no apparent effects from the antigens, and their survival, growth, and reproductive success did not differ from those of uninoculated, control females. Six of nine marked females produced seven offspring. These offspring dispersed an average of 64 m from their mothers' centers of activity. Recruitment rates per adult female were similar to those reported for nest box studies. The exotic antigen technique appears to be a feasible method for studying the population biology of secretive small mammals.

scholarly journals Differences in Depredation by Small Predators Limit the Use of Plasticine and Zebra Finch Eggs in Artificial-Nest Studies

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Maier ◽  
Richard M. Degraaf
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Zebra Finch ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Neotropical Migrant ◽  
Passerine Species

Abstract Small mammals, such as mice and voles, have been implicated as major egg predators of Neotropical migrant passerines by field studies using soft plasticine eggs or the very small eggs of Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Nevertheless, the effort required to depredate these commonly used egg surrogates may be less than that required to depredate the larger, thicker-shelled eggs of most passerine species. To compare the depredation of these surrogates to that of the eggs of a mid-sized passerine by a ubiquitous small predator, we exposed dissimilar pairs of plasticine, Zebra Finch, and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs to captive white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Plasticine eggs were marked by mice more than either kind of real egg, and Zebra Finch eggs were breached more often than House Sparrow eggs. We conclude that the use of either plasticine or Zebra Finch eggs may lead to overestimation of the ability or proclivity of small mammals to actually depredate the eggs of most passerines.

scholarly journals Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Boyle ◽  
Noé U. de la Sancha ◽  
Pastor Pérez ◽  
David Kabelik
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Hair Shaft ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

Effects of adults on survival and recruitment of Peromyscus leucopus

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 2519-2523
Author(s):  
Gregory H. Adler ◽  
Mark L. Wilson ◽  
Michael J. DeRosa
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Control Grid ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
And Control

A population of Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) in northeastern Massachusetts was manipulated for 3 years to determine the effects of adults on survival and recruitment. Two experimental grids were established, from which either all adult males or all adult females were removed continually. The effects of these two manipulations were compared with demography on a control grid. Manipulations had no apparent effect on breeding intensity of young, survival rates of adults, or residency rates of adults and young. Recruitment of adult males was higher on the adult male removal grid than on the control grid. Recruitment rates of adult males and of young males and young females were lower on the adult female removal grid than on the control grid. Survival rates of young males were higher on the adult female removal grid than on the control grid; this effect may have been due to either reduced adult female residency or adult male recruitment. All differences between experimental and control grids were noted only during breeding seasons. Adult males apparently limited recruitment of adult consexuals. The effects of manipulations on other measured parameters were inconclusive because of high immigration rates of adult males onto the adult male removal grid and reduced recruitment of adult males and decreased production of young on the adult female removal grid.

Demographic characteristics of Peromyscus leucopus inhabiting a natural dispersal sink

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2321-2325 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Krohne
Keyword(s):  
Population Biology ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Winter Survival ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
West Central ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Natural Dispersal

The population biology of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) inhabiting a 1.4-ha naturally occurring dispersal sink was studied for 5 years in west-central Indiana and compared with that in surrounding old-growth habitat. Densities in the dispersal sink were consistently lower than in prime habitat. Autumn and winter survival were practically nil. The sink was recolonized by adults in the spring following extreme low winter densities or extinction. Summer reproductive rates and the pattern of territoriality were similar to those in prime habitat. Mice colonized elsewhere when empty prime habitat was made experimentally available. The data suggest that few dispersing mice can be accommodated by the dispersal sink.

scholarly journals Field Chemical Immobilization of Free-Ranging Crested Porcupines with Zoletil®: A Reviewed Dosage

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Francesca Coppola ◽  
Enrico D’Addio ◽  
Lucia Casini ◽  
Simona Sagona ◽  
Antonio Felicioli
Keyword(s):  
Induction Time ◽  
Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Chemical Immobilization ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Recovery Times ◽  
Crested Porcupine ◽  
Time Average ◽  
Free Ranging

The tiletamine-zolazepam mixture is a widely used anesthetic for chemical immobilization of wild mammals due to its short induction time, good muscle relaxation, smooth recovery with low convulsions occurrence, and minimal effect on respiration. An injection dose of 7–8 mg/kg of tiletamine-zolazepam has been proven to be an effective and safe immobilizing mixture for crested porcupines under field conditions. However, the occurrence of long immobilization and recovery times, with high excitement and convulsion during awakening, were recorded. In order to reduce such side effects after recovery, the effectiveness of a lower dosage (4–6 mg/kg) of tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil®) was tested. The results obtained confirm that the use of tiletamine-zolazepam in crested porcupine immobilization provides a quick induction, wide safety margin, and predictable awakening under field conditions. A smaller injection dosage of 5 mg/kg has been proven to be sufficient to ensure a short induction time (average: 7.1 min), with good muscle relaxation and little excitement of the animals during awakening. The lower dosage of tiletamine-zolazepam, while providing a shorter recovery time (average: 53.6 min), proves to be adequate for standard handling procedures. Furthermore, the smaller amount of tiletamine-zolazepam also ensures safe immobilization for pregnant individuals and porcupettes.

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