Home Ranges and Burrow Activity of Peromyscus polionotus in Southeastern Georgia

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

6-24-2016

Abstract

Home ranges and burrow activity of Peromyscus polionotus in southeastern Georgia found in early successional habitats in the southeastern United States. Past studies primarily relied on live-trapping techniques to explore population biology and life history attributes of this species. From these studies, we learned that oldfield mice are obligate burrowers and functionally monogamous. However, movement patterns and burrow use of oldfield mice are not easily or precisely studied using traditional trapping methods. Our study evaluated the movement patterns of oldfield mice within three similar early successional habitats using radio telemetry. We sampled 45 wild mice (21 females, 24 males) over the winter, spring, and summer seasons of 2014-2015. Some but not all of these individuals were paired. Paired individuals were often seen foraging in close proximity. Mouse burrows were characterized by a clumped distribution pattern in all habitats. The distribution pattern was not related to obvious habitat differences. Individual mice within the “colonies” had overlapping territories with each other but not with mice in other areas of the same field. In all seasons, paired males and females had overlapping territories and shared burrows. Mice were found more often in burrows during nightly telemetry in the winter and spring compared to the summer months. In winter, multiple individuals were found together in the same burrow.

Sponsorship/Conference/Institution

American Society of Mammalogists Annual Meeting (ASM)

Location

Minneapolis, MN

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