LE3 .A278 1997

1997

Herman, Tom

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

Six species of wetland small mammals (Blarina brevicauda, Zapus hudsonius, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Sorex cinereus, Mustela erminea and Peromyscus leucopus) were tracked using a powder that glows under UV light to reveal fine-scale movement patterns. Analysis of fine-scale movement revealed similarities in trail structure and complexity, in all but the smallest species, Sorex cinereus. Individuals within a species exhibited similar patterns of fine-scale movement regardless of age or reproductive condition. Despite measurable differences in habitat use and structure, trails did not differ significantly between alder and meadow habitats. It is speculated that similarities in trail structure and complexity may be attributed to similarities in morphology among species. Detailed examinations of trailing methods and movement analyses indicated that the methods were appropriate and did not bias significantly the results of the study. Data suggest that it may be more appropriate to study small mammal movement at the wetland subclass level rather than at finer scales; the factors that need to be considered before identifying the crucial scales of study were critically evaluated in a discussion of organism-defined landscapes. The organism-defined landscape is often suggested as a solution to conservation-based problems, but no one has discussed the difficulties with such an application.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2911