PARENT SESSION
Oral Session # 42: Mammal Ecology: From Mice to Elephants.
Presiding: H Howe
Wednesday, August 6. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, SITCC Meeting Room 104.
Weight loss in species of the Old Field Mouse in inland and coastal Florida.
Suazo, Alexis*,1, 2, DeLong, Angelique 2, Bard, Alice1, Oddy, Donna 3, 1 Department of Environmental Protection, Apopka, Florida, USA2 University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA3 Dynamac Corporation, Titusville, Florida, USA
ABSTRACT- The purpose of this study is to investigate weight loss based on repeated trapping of Peromyscus polionotus sp. and to determine if the weight loss is of statistical significance. As a consequence of the trapping experience, it has been hypothesized that small mammals, which are repeatedly captured within a short interval, will lose body weight. This tendency has been observed in Sigmodon hispidus, Microtus ochrogaster, Microtus pennsylvanicus, and four species of small mammals from Europe and Africa. The Anastasia Island Beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma,) at Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL was trapped for two days every three months for seven years. Mean weight loss was analyzed using a two-tailed t-test (p<0.001). The Southeastern Beach mouse (P. p. niveiventris) at Cape Canaveral, Titusville, FL was trapped for three days every 3 months for two years. Analysis of variance (p=0.0124) supports our contention that repeatedly captured mice will generally lose a small amount of their body weight. The Old Field mouse (P. p. rhoadsi) at Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont, FL was trapped for three days every week for five months. Preliminary results show a similar negative trend in weight loss as observed in the coastal subspecies of beach mice. Analysis of variance will be used to determine if this trend is of statistical significance.
Key words: Beach Mouse, Recaptures, Weight Loss, Old Field Mouse