HABITAT PARTITIONING, BODY SIZE, AND TIMING OF PARTURITION IN PYGMY SHREWS AND ASSOCIATED SORICIDS

A total of 388 shrews of four species was captured during 14 months of pitfall trapping on 20 sites located in five habitat types on Land Be tween the Lakes, in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The soricid commun ity was made up of one large species (Blarina brevicauda), one medium- sized species (Cryptotis parva), and two small species (Sorex hoyi and S. longirostris). All species showed significant differences in frequ ency of capture in four of the five habitats, although there was consi derable interspecific overlap in habitat use. Based on estimated age a nd time of capture, the major period of parturition for pygmy shrews w as January through early March. Individuals entered the trappable popu lation ca. 8 weeks later. Young pygmy shrews had attained adult body s ize by the time they entered the trappable population. Parturition als o occurred from August through December, but at a lower rate, with few individuals born in June and July. Ninety-three pygmy shrews were cap tured, most from March through May. No pygmy shrews were captured from June through August, a period when 30.2% of 43 southeastern shrews we re captured. These two species of small shrews, which were not signifi cantly different in size on Land Between the Lakes, may partially segr egate during summer, with pygmy shrews much less active above ground.