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Article
Home Ranges and Social Organization of Syntopic Peromyscus boylii and P. truei
Journal of Mammalogy
  • David O Ribble, Trinity University
  • S Stanley
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-1998
Disciplines
Abstract

Using radiotelemetry, we investigated sizes, spatial distributions, and overlap patterns of home ranges for two syntopic populations of Peromyscus boylii and P. truei. Home ranges were calculated from the minimum convex polygon (MCP) and the fixed-kernel-density estimator of radiolocations from 3 summers in northern New Mexico. During each summer, these Peromyscus exhibited a seasonal cycle in abundance, starting low in early summer and increasing through the summer months. Both estimates of home-range size were correlated significantly, although the fixed-kernel-density estimates were usually larger. Home ranges of male P. truei were larger than those of female P. truei and male and female P. boylii. The disproportionately larger size of ranges of male P. truei was likely due to distribution of female P. truei, which were more dispersed than female P. boylii. The MCP home ranges of male P. boylii also were larger than home ranges of female P. boylii. Both species’ home ranges were related inversely to conspecific density, but only home ranges of P. truei varied inversely with heterospecific density. Females of both species tended to overlap little intrasexually; males had home ranges that overlapped home ranges of multiple females and males. Patterns in home-range size and overlap were consistent with a promiscuous mating system for both species.

Comments
© 1998 The American Society of Mammalogists
Required Publisher Statement
© 1998 The American Society of Mammalogists
Editor
James R. Purdue
DOI
10.2307/1383101
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Citation Information
Ribble, D. O., & Stanley, S. (1998). Home ranges and social organization of syntopic Peromyscus boylii and P. truei. Journal of Mammalogy, 79(3), 932-941. https://doi.org/10.2307/1383101