Observations of the Activities of Small Animals (Reptilia and Mammalia) on a Quadrat in Southwest Texas
Milstead WW. 1961. Observations of the Activities of Small Animals (Reptilia and Mammalia) on a Quadrat in Southwest Texas. The American Midland Naturalist. 65(1):127-138
Observations on the daily activities of reptile and small mammals were made on a quadrat near Alpine, Brewster County, Texas, during the early summer of 1957. Thirty-six live-mouse traps and nine nest boxes were arranged in grid patterns on a quadrat 300 feet square. Thirteen drift-fence traps were arranged in two lines which bisected the quadrat in the north-south and east-west directions, and crossed in the center of the quadrat. During the study 114 reptiles of nine species, mostly lizards, were marked and released, and 74 of these were recovered at least once for a total of 230 recoveries. Whiptail lizards (Cnemidophorus sacki) formed the bulk of the reptiles captured and recovered. Nineteen mammals of three species were marked and released, and seven were recovered for a total of 22 recoveries. On the basis of the observed activities of other animals reported in various papers, it is proposed that the term 'home realm' be adopted for all of the area in which an animal is normally active. The term 'home range' then becomes restricted to the smaller, inner area in which an animal is usually active.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Milstead, William
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Brewster County TX, Mammals, plots (quadrats - USE plots?), Range, Reptiles