Mk. Stokes et al., Influences of weather and moonlight on activity patterns of small mammals:a biogeographical perspective, CAN J ZOOL, 79(6), 2001, pp. 966-972
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE
We analyzed 15 years of trapping data on prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaste
r) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) to elucidate behavioural responses t
o weather by season and time of day. Use of such a long-term data set is ra
re and ameliorates many of the problems with short-term data sets typically
used for such analysis. The trapping was conducted in the east-central par
t of Kansas (U.S.A.), near the southern edge of the distribution of prairie
voles and the northern edge of the distribution of cotton rats. These dist
ributions provide the framework for differing hypotheses as to responsivene
ss of individuals of the two species to weather phenomena as indicated by t
he probability of capture. Probability of capture was statistically signifi
cantly affected by weather, most frequently by precipitation and temperatur
e. Effects varied with season and between species, and were generally consi
stent with hypotheses based on the northern (boreal and temperate) history
of prairie voles and southern (subtropical and temperate) history of cotton
rats and with predation-avoidance hypotheses. Variation in the probabiliti
es of capture of cotton rats was more associated with weather, especially i
n the colder seasons, than was variation in the probabilities of capture of
prairie voles. In summer, capture rates of prairie voles were more suscept
ible to weather than were those of cotton rats.