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2. DYNAMICS OF THE PINE VOLE IN A COMMERCIAL ORCHARD . --Lynn E. 

 Walsh, Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, 

 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts. 



Miss Walsh's study is to cover the density, distribution, and 

 movement of pine mice in a commercial orchard. Data are to be 

 identified in the orchard by habitat variations, such as vegeta- 

 tion, soil type, thickness and kind of humus, and general topogra- 

 phy. 



This study, when completed, hopefully will give a better un- 

 derstanding of habitat selection by pine mice. That is, why are 

 they in one specific location and not in another that appears iden- 

 tical? The study also will provide data on movements to and from 

 the orchard, as well as from tree to tree, and perhaps some idea 

 as to vertical movement in the soil. 



AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR 

 State University of 



OF THE PINE MOUSE. --George L. 

 New York, New Paltz, New York 



Kimball, III 



Mr. Kimball has been conducting laboratory studies on the rank 

 (peck order), behavior of dominant and sub-ordinate individuals, 

 fighting, threat, and appeasement attitudes of individual pine mice 

 This project covers the involvement of individuals within a given 

 population unit and the strife or involvement between adjacent 

 units. Mr. Kimball's theory is that behavioral action between in- 

 dividual mice and population units may have a definite role in de- 

 termining the size of a pine mouse population. 



4. VOLE POPULATIONS IN NEW YORK ORCHARDS . --R . S . Gourley and 

 M.E. Richmond, New York Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, 

 Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 



Much of Mr. Gourley's efforts are toward the building of re- 

 productive and life history tables for the pine mouse. Such items 

 as life span, age, sex structure, mortality, birth pattern, total 

 offspring per female, life span, survival rate, and rate of popu- 

 lation increase are being measured. Much of this information is 

 being gathered from the laboratory pine mouse colony maintained at 

 Cornell. It is supplemented by frequent measurements in a commer- 

 cial orchard to test validity and usability under field situations. 

 These field studies are also providing material on population cen- 

 sus and pine mouse activity signs. 



The ultimate goal of all these projects, and others to be 

 started, is to gain a more complete and better understanding of 

 this pest species--the PINE MOUSE. It is only through the com- 

 plete understanding of any pest species that logical, intelligent, 

 and acceptable methods of control can be achieved. 



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