PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 22: Late-Breaking Newsworthy Posters

Friday, August 8 Presentation from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.

The influence of acorn production on winter reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus in a southern Piedmont forest.

Scarlett, Todd¹, ¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster, SC, USA

ABSTRACT- Populations of Peromyscus sp. in eastern deciduous forests typically reach high density in the spring following a large fall mast crop. Increased survival and winter reproduction have been indicated as the cause for high spring populations, but winter reproduction has rarely been directly measured. I trapped Peromyscus leucopus in a Piedmont oak-hickory forest in autumn, before and after peak acorn fall, and in late winter for four consecutive years to determine if mast production influences winter P. leucopus reproduction. As in previous studies, P. leucopus populations increased during and following periods of high mast production. Mean female weight was significantly higher in mast years than non-mast years. Mean male weight was also higher in mast years, but only marginally significant. Winter reproduction occurred in all years, but was more pronounced in high mast years. This study affirms that P. leucopus does exhibit greater reproductive activity in winters following high mast crops. However, unlike most other studies that were conducted in areas with more severe winter climate, this study also demonstrates that P. leucopus in the southern Piedmont also breed during winter in years of poor mast availability. Thus, the effects of fluctuating mast crops on Peromyscus populations should be greater in regions of more severe winter climate.

Key words: eastern deciduous forest, acorn production, mast, Peromyscus leucopus