Small mammal population dynamics and community structure were studied in three East Central Florida communities. The communities were compared as distinct stages of a sand pine scrub sere. The small mammals live-trapped with greatest frequency in this 3852 trap-night study were all cricetine rodents, Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris (beach mouse), Sigmodon hispidus littoralis (cotton rat), and Peromyscus gossypinus palmarius (cotton mouse). Population numbers, survival, body weights, hind foot lengths, age structure, sex ratios, reproductive cycles, and movements were discussed for each of three species mentioned. These data will serve as a baseline information for ecological monitoring studies associated with NASA Space Shuttle operations. Small mammal community structure was examined with regard to interspecific spatial overlap and body size ratios. Vegetation density was compared within and among the study sites. Within study sites vegetation density appeared to influence mammal microhabitat selection. Among study sites a highly significant correlation was found between small mammal species diversity and vegetation density.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:rtd-1427 |
| Date | 01 October 1979 |
| Creators | Keim, Mary Helen |
| Publisher | University of Central Florida |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Retrospective Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Public Domain |
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