Low population density and biology of an island population of house mice Mus musculus on South Georgia

摘要: South Georgia has been the southernmost location where populations of invasive house mice Mus musculus are found. The distribution was investigated at Cape Rosa and Nunez Peninsula, two areas species is known to occur. Live-trapping kill-trapping took place during March 2012, end austral summer, with traps in four grids (3.2–4.0 ha area) on 34 trap lines distributed across a range habitats from shoreline 250 m above sea level. Mice were scarce, just 68 captures about 1750 nights. Mouse densities tussock habitat estimated 2.1–2.8 mice/ha, higher 5.3–6.4 mice/ha along coastline. found all apart higher-altitude fellfield, but relatively less abundant large numbers seals. breeding both sites 58 % mature females pregnant or lactating. Litter size (7.1 ± 2.3 embryos) adult body mass (21.4 4.6 g) typical most other island populations. Population orders magnitude lower than mouse measured sub-Antarctic islands. very low population density its restricted distribution, close shore, presence burrowing petrels pipits Anthus antarcticus sites, suggest that have limited impact Georgia’s vertebrate biodiversity.