Seasonal Activity and Reproductive Patterns of Five Species of Sonoran Desert Rodents
Reichman OJ and Van De Graaff KM. 1973. Seasonal Activity and Reproductive Patterns of Five Species of Sonoran Desert Rodents. The American Midland Naturalist. 90(1):118-126
Activity patterns of five species of Sonoran Desert rodents (Dipodomys merriami, Perognathus amplus, P. intermedius, P. baileyi, and Peromyscus eremicus) were closely related to temperature fluctuations, the heaviest species being most affected by high temperatures. There was a direct correlation between low ambient temperature, body weight, and inactivity, with the lightest rodent, P. amplus, being the least active in the winter. D. merriami had two reproductive peaks during the year (June and October). The three species of Perognathus reproduced only in the early summer. Young Peromyscus eremicus were consistently trapped through the summer and autumn. Work done on Silver IBP site, 30 miles NW of Tucson.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Reichman, O; Van De Graaff, Kent
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Ecology, Inventory and Monitoring (I&M), Mammalia (Mammals)