Abstract
Activity of three rodent species was measured on tracking stations in 10 different sampling areas within a northeastern deciduous forest throughout the summer of 1974. Total activity was measured as the number of crossings of the stations (903 Peromyscus maniculatus, 186 Clethrionomys gapperi and 9996 Napaeozapus insignis) and was compared with measures of habitat structure. Habitat separation between the rodents was detected by discriminant function analysis. Habitat use differed among the three rodents. Napaeozapus insignis used coniferous areas with heavy ground cover. Clethrionomys gapperi used areas with little ground cover and heavy mid-story cover. Peromyscus maniculatus used areas with heavy ground and mid-story cover. Habitat use changed and separation increased through the summer. Habitat separation between these rodents is insufficient to account for species coexistence. This contradicts previous predictions and observations in southeastern forests. Separation on some other resource axis is necessary for the coexistence of these three rodents.
Published Version
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