Habitat Selection and Movement Patterns in Sandhills Rodents

摘要: Using fl uorescent pigments, we were able to gather accurate information about the use of habitat and movement patterns small nocturnal rodents. Use is strongly affected by patchiness vegetation sandhills. Microtus ochrogaster occupies dense grass, Dipodomys ordii open sandy area, Perognathus hispidus P. avescens occupy a mixed grass-forb zone. Advantages method over more traditional methods determining are presented. There signifi cant differences in trails species at fi ne 10-cm scale, but these disappear larger 3-m scale. The cance this difference discussed context foraging strategy rodents optimal pathways. great deal contained pathway an animal makes as it moves through environment. A path can document preference macroand microhabitat, vertical habitat, diet, home range, strategy. As useful might be ecologists, has been diffi cult such data for mammals. This study ex plores pigment ultra-violet light, technique that produces extremely picture (Lemen Freeman 1985), community sandhills central Nebraska. We investigated preferences each species, summer winter use, estimated habitats produced versus conventional trapping. Differen tial proposed one mechanisms allowing their coexistence (Rosenzweig Winakur 1969, Brown 1975, Price 1978, Lemen Rosenzweig M’Closkey 1976, Grant 1972). differential particular interest because mosaic radically different with sharp transitions from (grass) another (open). It may combination types allows diverse prairie vole, ochrogaster, grassland Ord’s kangaroo rat, ordii, ground species. wanted see whether or not showed similar pattern preferred habitat. While oristically interesting largest relatively undisturbed grasslands North America sup ports rodents, little work directed how using (Baumann 1982). Vegetation Arapaho Prairie, Arthur County, NE, described Keeler et al. (1980). Valley oors between stabilized dunes characterized stands grass. However, disturbance regular feature habitats. Disturbances occur when grass cover opened up animals