Utilization of Space by Peromyscus Leucopus and Other Small Mammals

Ecology ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky Myton
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus

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 Do Invasive Fire Ants Affect Habitat Selection within a Small Mammal Community?

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendee N. Holtcamp ◽  
Christopher K. Williams ◽  
William E. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Small Mammal Community ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Cotton Rats ◽  
Density Dependent Habitat Selection ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ants

Animals must balance foraging with the need to avoid predators and risky habitats that decrease their fitness, and at the same time they must cope with competitors vying for habitat and resources. We examined how habitat selection and population density of four native small mammals were altered by the presence of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). When population size was low, hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and pigmy mice (Baiomys taylori) as well as white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) used the “safe”, low fire ant habitat, as predicted by theories of density-dependent habitat selection. However, as fire ant population sizes expanded, cotton rats appeared to displace pigmy mice into the fire ant-dense grassland drainage while white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) displaced all the other small mammals from low fire ant forest/brushland habitat.

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.

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