Biology ETDs

L. Gwen Britt

Publication Date

4-10-1972

Abstract

A total of 3331 animals was trapped from August 1966 to September 1969. Three hundred and eighty-five marked P. flavus were captured 2058 times and 173 marked Dipodomys were captured 950 times. The mean population estimate for a year of study was 5.6 Dipodomys (two species) and 13.4 P. flavus per acre. There was an estimated biomass per acre of 97.8g for P. flavus and 262g for Dipodomys. Perognathu and Dipodomys hewed similar persistence curves with about half of the animals persisting for only 2 months. About 75% of the animals were gone after 6 months with a few persisting for 20 months. Mean persistence time was 3.3 months for P. flavus and 3.6 months for Dipodomys. Two different methods were used to estimate home range size. Perognathus flavus females had mean home range lengths of 209 feet (0.78 acre home range) and 182 feet (0.60 acre home range). Males had mean range lengths of 228 feet (0.94 acre home range) and 295 feet (1.57 acres home range). Dipodomys ordi females had mean range lengths of 224 feet (0.90 acre home range) and 218 feet (0.86 acre home range). Males had mean range lengths of 247 feet (1.09 acres home range) and 271 feet (1.32 acres home range). Dipodomys merriami females had mean range lengths of 212 feet (0.81 acre home range) and 215 feet (0.83 acre home range). Males had mean range lengths of 298 feet (1.60 acres home range) and 275 feet (1.36 acres home range). Centers of activity data for P. flavus indicate that the males and females were segregated spatially with the males being found on the higher ridges and the females being found in the flatter areas. Dipodomys showed spatial segregation of individual centers of activity. In P. flavus the annual curve for testis length paralleled the annual curve for body weight. Perognathus flavus and D. ordi females were sexually active 9 months of the year. The sex ratio was 1:1 for both P. flavus and D. ordi.

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

James Smith Findley

Second Committee Member

Marvin LeRoy Riedesel

Third Committee Member

Clifford Smeed Crawford

Fourth Committee Member

Loren David Potter

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