Competition and Habitat Selection: Test of a Theory Using Small Mammals

Citations Over TimeTop 14% of 1983 papers

Abstract

Two hypotheses about community structure were examined for the small mammals occupying a wet grassland in SW North Dakota, USA. First, we ask whether competition occurs between members of this community. Then, an hypothesis concerning the relationship between competitive ability and habitat selection is addressed. Relative densities of Microtus pennsylvanicus, Zapus hudsonius, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, and Peromyscus maniculatus were determined by live-trapping in July and September 1976. Species interactions and patterns of habitat occupancy were examined using regression analysis. Microtus, Zapus, and Spermophilus were each competitively dominant to Peromyscus. No competitive effects were observed among Microtus, Zapus and Spermophilus. The four species differed markedly in habitat utilization. Microtus, Zapus, and Spermophilus were each specialized on different habitats. Peromyscus was a habitat generalist and its distribution was determined primarily by competitive interactions with the other species.

Related Papers

• → Competition Between Peromyscus maniculatus and Microtus townsendii in Grasslands of Coastal British Columbia(1977)55 cited
• → Competition and Niche Shifts of Mice Introduced onto Small Islands(1976)151 cited
• → Habitat Selection and Species Interactions: An Experimental Analysis with Small Mammal Populations(1985)65 cited
• → Xperimental studies of competitive interaction in a two-species system II. The behaviour of Mkrotus, peromyscus and Clethrionomys species(1970)45 cited
• → Competition between lactating Peromyscus leucopus and juvenile Microtus pennsylvanicus(1977)11 cited