Microhabitat Utilization and Species Distribution of Sympatric Small Mammals in Southwestern Ontario

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Abstract
To examine predictable patterns of small mammal species distribution several habitat measures were taken, and small mammal species recorded, in 6 major habitat types in southwestern Ontario [Canada]. Peromyscus leucopus, P. maniculatus, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Tamias striatus, Zapus hudsonius and Blarina brevicauda were captured in large enough numbers for multivariate analysis. All species pairs except Blarina-Zapus were significantly different in habitat utilization due to a combination of tree basal area, amount of vegetation between 0.25 m and 1 m, number of trees, depth of dead grasses, leaves and other debris on the soil surface, and proportion of trees with first branches between 2 m and 3 m. Individual species predictably selected significantly different microhabitats. Species density of small mammals in southwestern Ontario was significantly correlated with the depth of dead grasses, leaves and other debris on the soil surface, a probable indicator of runway suitability and available productivity. Mean foliage height diversity was correlated with species density, while most measures of horizontal habitat heterogeneity were not good predictors of species number.