Habitat Relationships and Coexistence of Four Sympatric Species of Peromyscus in Northwestern New Mexico

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Abstract
The habitat relationships of four sympatric species of Peromyscus (P. maniculatus, P. boylii, P. truei, P. difficilis) in northwestern New Mexico were studied. Analyses of data obtained by snap-trapping, live-trapping on grids, and vegetational surveys delineated the microhabitat distributions and the response of species to vegetational structure. Subdivision of the habitat by vegetational type is an important mechanism of coexistence of these species. The three-dimensional structure of the habitat was not a major factor in individual species distributions, but measures of it were correlated with the total number of species which occurred in microsympatry. Mechanisms related to foraging activities which might enhance the microsympatric coexistence of these species are discussed. These include spatial and temporal differences in foraging and the selection of varying sizes and types of food items.

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