Habitat Utilization in Island and Mainland Populations of the Feral House Mouse, <I>Mus musculus molossinus</I>

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  • TAKADA Yasushi
    <I>Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University</I>

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  • 野生ハツカネズミの島と本土個体群における生息環境の利用性
  • ヤセイ ハツカネズミ ノ シマ ト ホンド コタイグン ニ オケル セイソク

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Description

The habitat occupancy and density (captures per 100 trapnights) of the feral house mice (Mus musculus molossinus) were compared between an island (Saku Island, Mikawa Bay, Aichi Prefecture) and mainland (Kasugai and Nagoya Cities, Aichi Prefecture) . As compared to the mainland, this island has fewer small mammal species ; included are Mus, Rattus norvegicus and Crocidura dsinezumi. The island mice occupied exclusively all the habitats examined : these were annual grassland, tobacco and mulberry fields, and reed swamp but not woodland. On the other hand, the mainland mice predominated only in annual grassland, coexisting with other rodent species, but occupied rarely or not at all the other habitats. However, the total murid density on the mainland was about equal to or higher than that in the comparable island habitats. In addition, differences among the habitats are suggested in density, reproduction, age structure and food habits of the mice on the island where no other dominant competitors were present. The analyses of the habitat widening and preference of the mice suggested the following factors important in determining their habitat occupancy: 1) The rodent community, particularly dominant competitors such as Apodemus speciosus and Micromys minutus. 2) Environments, especially human impact on vegetation.

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