The effect of weather on Sorex cinereus activity

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of weather on the daily activity of Sorex cinereus has been observed during eight consecutive summers. Sorex cinereus activity greatly increases when rain falls at night. Maximum activity occurs when about 1 cm of rain falls. Afternoon rainfall may also result in increased activity if S. cinereus have been relatively inactive on previous nights and the night remains cloudy. When rain does not fall, activity increases moderately with temperature, but this response is not evident when rain falls in the afternoon or evening. Weather explains at least 27% of the variation in S. cinereus activity.Total summer activity is greatly influenced by temperature and rainfall in April (warm and wet preferred). The effect of weather on S. cinereus activity is discussed in terms of the biology of the species and theories of population estimation.