Microhabitat preferences of Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in young pine plantations in the Canadian boreal forest

Authors

  • M. Isabel Bellocq Departamento de Ciencias Bilógicas, FCEN- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria - Pab. 2 - Piso 4, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Sandy M. Smith Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B.

Abstract

The fluorescent pigment tracking technique was used to identify features of microhabitats preferred by Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer mouse) and to examine the ecological significance of such preferences in the Canadian boreal forest. Data were also analyzed by sex. Mice spent most of their travel time in areas lacking plant cover, or in areas associated with low shrubs, herbaceous dicots, leaf litter, and woody debris. They preferred deciduous trees as canopy cover, logs 5-10 cm in diameter as understory cover, and leaf litter as a substrate. Grass and bare soil were avoided as understory cover and substrate, respectively. Males showed no preference for low shrubs and avoided herbaceous dicots, whereas females showed no preference for herbaceous dicots and avoided low shrubs. Males showed no preference for sand and avoided rocks, whereas females preferred sand and showed no preference for rocks.

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Published

1997-12-01

How to Cite

Bellocq, M. I., & Smith, S. M. (1997). Microhabitat preferences of Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in young pine plantations in the Canadian boreal forest. Ecología Austral, 7(2), 057–064. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1638

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Vol. 7 No. 2 (1997)

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