A Multiscale Approach to Capture Patterns and 

 Habitat Correlations of Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia, Muridae) 



Troy A. Ladine 1 and Angela Ladine 1 

 The University of Memphis, Edward J. Meeman Biological Station and Ecology 

 and Organismal Biology, Campus Box 526080, Memphis, Tennessee 38152-6080 



ABSTRACT— Capture patterns (presence/absence) of Peromyscus leu- 

 copus were examined in relation to 1 2 selected habitat variables at three 

 spatial scales. Trapping was conducted on a 14 X 14 trapping grid 

 established at the Edward J. Meeman Biological Station in southwest- 

 ern Tennessee. Density of the population was estimated at 18.5 mice 

 per hectare. Twelve habitat variables were collected in three circular 

 plots (1 m 2 , 5 m 2 , 10 m 2 ) centered on 60 trap sites (30 trap sites where 

 captures of P. leucopus occurred, 30 randomly selected sites where no 

 captures occurred). There was a significant difference among spatial 

 scales for six habitat variables. We observed no discernable patterns 

 through principal components analysis for any scale. However, the cen- 

 troid of the cluster of traps in principal component space shifted from 

 negative to positive as scale increased. Sites where captures occurred 

 and those where no captures occurred were not significantly different at 

 the 1-m 2 scale for any habitat variables. Capture occasions differed sig- 

 nificantly for stems 10-15-cm diameter and logs 10-15 cm at the 5-m 2 

 and 10-m 2 spatial scales, respectively. Our study emphasizes the need 

 for including multiscale assessments of habitat use. Scales might best 

 be selected by assessing the habitat of the study site and the behavior of 

 the species being studied. 



The concept of scale, while not a new concept in other disciplines, has 

 only recently been investigated in ecology (Wiens 1989). Levin (1991) stated 

 that because there is an absence of any correct scale at which to investigate a 

 population, a multiscale approach should be taken. Thus, investigations of 

 species relating habitat use to capture success could be affected by the selected 

 scale. Studies relating habitat use to capture success have generally selected a 

 single scale in which to measure the habitat. This scale of habitat assessment is 

 usually based on amount of time spent for amount of data return. Thus, the scale 



Present Address: Division of Mathematics and Science, Bethel College, McKenzie, Tennessee 38201 . 



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