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Spatial And Temporal Partitioning Between Sympatric Rodents: Zapus And Peromyscus, Emma Bernice Speer

Theses and Dissertations

Partitioning space and time by seemingly sympatric rodents, Zapus princeps and Peromyscus maniculatus, were examined as possible mechanisms allowing coexistence. The two populations were studied in Central Utah with an electrically monitored grid. Spatial separation of individuals and the populations minimized confrontations and created local allopatric distribtuions. Temporal partitioning was not used as a mechanism to allow coexistence and was apparently independent of spatial partitioning. The Peromyscus population was composed primarily of males which may have been due to less favorable habitat and/or presence of Zapus. The data show that Peromyscus tend to avoid Zapus, possibly due to deleterious aggressive …