Dispersion Patterns in a Peromyscus Population

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Abstract
Monthly live-trap censuses on a 2.8 ha grid provided population data for a western Montana river bottom population of Peromyscus maniculatus. Most of the adults were captured each census and numbers captured ranged from 7 to 73. Adults (=all postjuveniles) were categorized as New (not captured previously), Old-1 (captured the previous census only), or Old-2 (captured at least once prior to the preceding census). Numbers of Old-2 residents remained quite stable and numerical variation was attributed to New animals. Old-2 residents bred from May to September although the percent of females breeding declined in mid-summer. New adults seldom bred except (among males) when few Old-2 residents were present. Activity and home range size showed similar spring increases and fall decreases. During the breeding season, Old-2 animals were most active and, among males, they had the largest home ranges. All sex and residence groups aggregated strongly in winter. Males and females tended to occur together in all seasons. During the breeding season, same-sex Old-2 residents were evenly dispersed. New residents aggregated among themselves and tended to occupy the same area as same-sex Old residents. These New residents appeared to be relatively inactive, non-breeding subordinates. The patterns observed in this population are compatible with most earlier reports and may apply to many small, cryptic rodents. Variations in the fate of potential recruits and different dispersion patterns within various sex and residence groups can account for the variable results from earlier dispersion analyses.

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