Abstract
Track tubes may help measure impacts of disturbances on small mammals by providing information about the magnitude and timing of fluctuations in relative abundance. We evaluated live-capture and track-tube data from 8 trapping grids to test the utility of track tubes for monitoring abundance of beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) through time and for comparing relative abundance of beach mice among sites. When averaged across grid sites, track indexes and abundance estimates exhibited strong covariation through time. Associations between the track index and estimated abundance on different grids varied from strong to very poor depending on sample period. Associations between track indexes and abundance estimates were strong when mouse densities on all grids were relatively low, but they were weak during other sample periods when densities were highly variable among grids. This study points to the need to understand factors that influence the relationship between indexes from track tubes and mouse abundance before track tubes can be used to compare abundances among sites.
Highlights
Beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) depend on coastal dune habitat in Alabama and Florida for burrow sites and other resources, making them vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic disturbances that are common to southeastern coastlines (Blair 1951; Oli et al 2001; Pries et al 2009; Swilling et al 1998)
Covariation was strongest at lag distance 0 (Fig. 2b; March 2008 (Mh): r 5 0.96, P, 0.01, MKA: r 5 0.97, P, 0.01) but dropped precipitously at lag distances 21 (Mh: r 5 20.34, P . 0.05, MKA: r 5 20.11, P . 0.05) and +1 (Mh: r 5 0.02, P . 0.05, MKA: r 5 20.09, P . 0.05), which demonstrates that the average track index and estimated abundance (Mh or MKA) covary in phase with each other
Removal of the 2 grids that did not meet the assumption of closure did not change associations between track indexes and abundance estimates
Summary
Beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) depend on coastal dune habitat in Alabama and Florida for burrow sites and other resources, making them vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic disturbances that are common to southeastern coastlines (Blair 1951; Oli et al 2001; Pries et al 2009; Swilling et al 1998). Recent studies have examined the utility of track tubes for population monitoring These tubes are composed of baited polyvinyl chloride pipe with inked pads inside to record tracks of small mammals (Glennon et al 2002; Mabee 1998; Wiewel et al 2007). FIG. 1.—Map of the study site on Santa Rosa Island, Florida, indicating grid locations used to study the Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus) from 2007 to 2008
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