Ecological Relationships of Small Mammals in a New Jersey Barrier Beach Habitat

Abstract

Studies were conducted at Island Beach State Park, New Jersey, to determine the distributional patterns and movements of small mammals in a barrier beach habitat. Species captured were Peromyscus leucopus, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Zapus hudsonius, Mus musculus, and Sorex cinereus. Most barrier beach communities contained a greater abundance of small mammals than reported from the New Jersey mainland. the distribution of small mammals at Island Beach was related to the topographically controlled pattern of environment and vegetation. Few mice foraged in the sparse cover of the highest dune zone elevations. Peromyscus leucopus occupied the thicket and woodland habitats of the more protected dune areas while Microtus pennsylvanicus dominated those hydric bayshore habitats containing dense herbaceous cover. Both habitat orientation and interspecific interactions may be involved in the distributional pattern of M. pennsylvanicus and P. leucopus. Succession in dune zone locations results in an increased abundance of P. leucopus as shrub cover increased during seral stages. Recapture distances of P. leucopus were inversely related to both population size and density of shrub cover. Zapus hudsonius, which was associated with moist habitats of the barrier beach, had either large or unstable home ranges.