TIMING OF PARTURITION OF 3 LONG-TAILED SHREWS (SOREX SPP.) IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Timing of parturition has been proposed as a factor allowing coexisten ce of sympatric shrews. We examined the timing of parturition for thre e species of sympatric long-tailed shrews (Sorex) in the southern Appa lachians. We found a marked similarity in patterns of parturition amon g these species, with significant correlations between S. fumeus and b oth S. cinereus (r = 0.86, P = 0.0004) and S. hoyi (r = 0.72, P = 0.00 80). However, parturition dates for S. cinereus and S. hoyi were not s ignificantly correlated (r = 0.43, P = 0.1588),with the average partur ition date significantly earlier for S. hoyi. We suggest that patterns of breeding among Sorer spp. in the southern Appalachians are highly similar, although early breeding may help S. hoyi avoid competition wi th S. cinereus.