Use and partitioning of montane habitat by small mammals
Belk MC, Smith HD, Lawson J. 1988. Use and partitioning of montane habitat by small mammals. Journal of Mammalogy. 69(4):688-695
Structure of the microhabitat used by four species of rodents in a montane environment was investigated using principal-component analysis of trap-site characteristics. Most species of rodents were associated with fallen logs and brush during June but microhabitat use shifted to areas of more herbaceous growth in July-August. This shift was concurrent with rapid herbaceous growth. Females of each species occupied more structured microhabitat than males of the same species. Differential segregation of habitat by sex may be a function of the variability of resource use by the species as a whole. Unused microhabitat does not differ from random with respect to vegetative structure, and reasons for nonuse probably differ among sites.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Belk, M; Smith, H; Lawson, J
- Units
- TICA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Mammals