I designed and tested experimental enclosures with 1-way exits for the study of emigration in house mice. Rapid emigration from barren enclosures supported the contention that all mice can find and use the exits if conditions in the enclosures are unsuitable for them. Invariable residency in resource-rich enclosures during the spring, summer and fall revealed that resident animals will not cross the exits during routine behaviors. The enclosures and exits permitted normal emigratory and residency behavior. In experiments on the role of emigration in population regulation, the number of resident mice was consistent in enclosures with fixed levels of resources. The number of residents was about double in enclosures with twice the resources. The first male and few females added in each trial usually became resident, and mice added subsequently usually emigrated. My data suggest that mice were regulating their numbers to available resources through spacing and emigration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278253 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Nelson, Anthony Richard, 1964- |
| Contributors | Mannan, R. William |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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