Behavioral Interactions And Local Distribution Of Three Species Of Peromyscus In South Ceta Canyon Randall County Texas

Author : William J. Austin
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 110 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (76 download)

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Download or read book Local Distribution of Peromyscus Maniculatus, Microtus Montanus, Microtus Pennsylvanicus and Sorex Vagrans on Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Washington written by William J. Austin and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The local distribution of four mammal species was determined for certain sections of the unique ecological area known as Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. The four mammal species encountered in the study were the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), the mountain vole (Microtus montanus), the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and the vagrant shrew (Sorex vagrans). Three habitat types that were judged to be distinctly different were selected for study and are referred to as the mesic Festuca- Symphoricarpos, the xeric Festuca-Symphoricarpos, and the Pinus- Symphoricarpos plant associations. These habitat types were then measured for certain physical characteristics and small mammal densities. Tne physical characteristics measured were soil moisture, herbaceous biomass, total canopy coverage, herbaceous vegetation coverage and grass mat coverage. In addition, the coverage and frequency of most of the plant species present were recorded, Also, the physiognomy of the habitat types was judged and described as various topography types. Six plots of each habitat type were studied. On each of the 18 plots, the relative mammal densities were obtained by way of a three-day removal index. The deer mouse was the most abundant species captured being found in all three habitat types. In addition, this species was highly negatively correlated with all five measured variables, thus indicating an association of this species with dry, sparsely covered areas. The vagrant shrew exhibited just the opposite correlation with the five variables, with a strong positive correlation in evidence. This species favored the mesic Festuca-Symphoricarpos habitat type. Thus, very moist areas with much coverage will be associated with the species' distribution. The ranges of the microtine species overlap at the area of the study. The more numerous mountain vole was found in all three habitat types, but favored the two grassland types. Tne meadow vole, however, was captured only in the mesic Festuca-Symphoricarpos plots, thus indicating a narrower tolerance than that of its congeneric. The mountain vole also failed to show a significant linear correlation with any of the five measured factors indicating further evidence for its reported relatively wider habitat tolerance. The meadow vole displayed significant correlation coefficients for the five variables suggesting this species has a more definite habitat requirement than the mountain vole"--Document.