Competition and Coexistence of Small Mammals in an East Tennessee Pine Plantation

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Abstract
Microhabitat use and niche characteristics of Peromyscus leucopus, Ochrotomys nuttalli and Blarina brevicauda were examined in a pine plantation on the Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park. Although general microhabitat use was the same, niche parameters (such as niche breadth) for each species varied between two study grids, apparently in response to differing understory density. Microhabitat specialization is thus proposed to be a function of local microhabitat structure. Removal of the generalist species, P. leucopus, from one grid while maintaining the other grid as a control elicited a significant microhabitat shift and increase in niche breadth by O. nuttalli. Blarina brevicauda displayed a slight microhabitat shift and increased niche breadth. These results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that generalist species are poor competitors. Microhabitat heterogeneity created by plant succession and extrinsic disturbances such as tree blow-down are suggested to allow coexistence of these species by altering competitive abilities or microhabitat selection.

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