Habitat Use and Distribution of the Mice Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus on Mount Desert Island, Maine
Garman SL, O'Connell AF, Connery JH. 1994. Habitat Use and Distribution of the Mice Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus on Mount Desert Island, Maine. The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 108(1):67-71
'With the recent discovery of Lyme disease on MDI (Ginsberg and Ewing 1988) and the role of P. leucopus and P. maniculatus as competent reservoirs for the Lyme disease spirochete (Donahue et al. 1987; Rand et al. 1993), there is an increased need to determine the distribution of both species of Peromyscus. Herein, we report on their habitat use and distribution on MDI.' From Abstract, 'We studied habitat use and distribution of Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed mouse) and P. maniculatus (deer mouse) on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Peromyscus leucopus used areas dominated by deciduous vegetation whereas P. maniculatus was more of a habitat generalist occurring equally in deciduous and coniferous habitats. Extent of overlap of these two species does not support an hypothesis of interspecific interactions; P. leucopus appears limited solely by habitat. Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus have been identified as important components in the transmission cycle of lyme disease which has documented from a small section of Mount Desert Island. Land management practices that increase suitable habitat and influence population densities of P. leucopus, the primary host for the lyme disease spirochete, may locally increase the incidence of this disease.' /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Garman, Steven; O'Connell, Allan; Connery, Judith
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Disease, Distribution, Habitats, Lyme Disease, Mount Desert Island, Population