Corridor use by small mammals: field measurement for three experimental types of Peromyscus leucopus

Structurally complex fencerows were preferred significantly over intermediate or simple structures by all types of mice and the measurement of rate of corridor use also is discussed.

Abstract

Eighteen mice of each of 3 types were radio-tagged and released at 6 standard points in farmland fencerows. Mice were residents (trapped on site) or translocated from distant forest or from distant corn fields. Of total (net) distance moved, most was in fencerows; 77% for residents, 83% for mice translocated from cropland and 92% for mice translocated from forest. Structurally complex fencerows were preferred significantly over intermediate or simple structures by all types of mice. Time spent in movement was not a linear function of distance moved and averaged from 12.5 to 16.5% of total available activity time. Total distance moved in 2 nights averaged 287 to 422 m and area explored averaged 0.67 to 1.15 ha and ranged to 11.0 ha; both exceed literature values for this species in forest. This enlarged scale of landscape use illustrates the potential importance of landscape-specific behaviour. The measurement of rate of corridor use also is discussed.