Jj. Root et al., Relationships of deer mouse movement, vegetative structure, and prevalenceof infection with Sin Nombre virus, J WILDL DIS, 35(2), 1999, pp. 311-318
The effects of vegetative structure on movement of deer mice (Peromyscus ma
niculatus) were examined in two distinct vegetation associations, one near
Hesperus and the other near Molina in western Colorado (USA) from June-Octo
ber 1994 to October 1998. We monitored movement by live-trapping small mamm
als within Gambel's oak/mixed-grass (Hesperus) and sage brush/juniper (Moli
na) vegetation types. Vegetative structure differed between the sites with
Molina having more cover provided by shrubs and Hesperus having more cover
provided by forbs. Adult male deer mice moved greater distances at Hesperus
than at Molina. Sub-adult males tended to move greater distances than did
adult females. Relative abundances of deer mice tended to differ by season,
but the average relative abundance of deer mice was greater at Molina. Lon
g-term prevalence of infection with SNV was greater at Hesperus and was gre
atest in adult males at Hesperus (36.1%). Adult males at Molina exhibited a
prevalence of infection with SNV of 25.0%. Infection with SNV tvas highly
associated with scars or wounds for adult male, adult female, and juvenile
male deer mice at Hesperus, but only for adult female deer mice at Molina.
The presence of scars or wounds tended to be associated with greater age, b
ut male deer mice at Hesperus were more likely to have wounds than female d
eer mice of the same age class. A similar pattern, excluding juveniles, was
observed at Molina. Intraspecific interactions and environmentally elicite
d long-distance movements of deer mice may play a role in prevalence of inf
ection with SNV in these animals.