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Effects of microhabitat and temporal factors on foraging behavior of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)

Jacob, Suellen A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337888535

Abstract Details

2012, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
Microhabitat selection occurs when animals choose certain areas of their home ranges in which to spend more time than in other areas. Preferences of specific microhabitats can reflect availability of resources, predation risk, or favorable abiotic conditions, and can improve fitness of selective individuals. We investigated microhabitat selection in the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, by using giving-up densities (GUDs) to ascertain how microhabitat affected their foraging behavior. We also investigated how factors affecting nighttime forest illumination (e.g., cloud cover, moon phase) related to foraging behavior. We found that microhabitat had no effect on foraging behavior by itself or in interactions with factors affecting forest illumination. White-footed mice did adjust foraging behavior in response to moon illumination by eating less and at fewer locations during times of greater moon illumination. Our results, which contradict past studies which found that cover affected foraging behavior of Peromyscus, suggest that microhabitat preference of small mammals may vary widely depending on the scale and method of assessing behavior.
Guy Cameron, PhD (Committee Chair)
Stephen Matter, PhD (Committee Member)
Kenneth Petren, PhD (Committee Member)
27 p.
Zoology
giving-up densities; moon illumination; space use; vertical cover; ; ;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jacob, S. A. (2012). Effects of microhabitat and temporal factors on foraging behavior of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337888535

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jacob, Suellen. Effects of microhabitat and temporal factors on foraging behavior of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). 2012. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337888535.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jacob, Suellen. "Effects of microhabitat and temporal factors on foraging behavior of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337888535

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1337888535
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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.