The Influence of Habitat on the Distribution and Abundance of Small Mammals in the Southwest Everglades
Riggs DM. 2000. The Influence of Habitat on the Distribution and Abundance of Small Mammals in the Southwest Everglades. Florida International University
The goals of this study were to describe the distribution and C;tbundance of small mammals of the southwest Everglades, and to determine the influence of habitat on small mammal distribution and abundance. Since the small mammal communities of the mangrove, marsh and mangrove-marsh ecotones within the southwest Everglades had not yet been described, it was important to gather baseline data on mammals using a markrecapture technique. Three native and one introduced species were captured during a one-year study period: Oryzomys palustris, Sigmodon hispidus, Peromyscus gossypinus and Rattus rattus. Habitat variables were measured and compared to species richness and abundance with correlation, regression and multivariate analyses. Habitat variables that influenced small mammal distribution and abundance were water levels, salinity, elevation and vegetative structure (e.g., tree height and density). Most small mammal species in the southwest Everglades demonstrated a macrohabitat (e.g, mangrove) preference and a microhabitat (e.g, tree height) selection.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Riggs, Diane
- Date of Issue
- 2000-07-31
- Publisher
- Florida International University
- Units
- EVER , SFCN
- Keywords
- Abundance, Biodiversity, Distribution, ecotone, habitat heterogeneity, Habitat Influence, habitat variables, Macro habitat, micro habitat, Small Mammals, thesis