Factors influencing local distribution and species diversity of forest small mammals in New England

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Abstract
Napeozapus insignis and Blarina brevicauda were more abundant in sites with greater vegetation cover, especially herbaceous vegetation; Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus were more abundant in sites with lesser herbaceous cover. Napeozapus insignis and Clethrionomys gapperi were more abundant in moist sites; B. brevicauda was only slightly more abundant in moist situations. Differences in water availability in their food appeared to be the primary reason for differences in local distributional patterns of the latter two species, both of which have high water requirements. The food of B. brevicauda (invertebrates) has a high water content even in dry sites, while water content of the food of C. gapperi (seeds, plant material, and fungi) reflects more directly soil moisture conditions. Napeozapus insignis, Microtus pinetorum, and Sorex cinereus had the narrowest habitat breadths; habitat breadths of P. leucopus, P. maniculatus, C. gapperi, and B. brevicauda were widest. Only the total number of species of trees and shrubs in a site displayed a correlation (positive) with species diversity of small mammals. Diversity of available food is presumed to be the proximate factor influencing diversity of forest small mammals in New England.