A 3-year live-trapping study of deer mice was carried out on separate 1-hectarc (ha) grids located in a mature forest, a recently logged area, and a young plantation. Despite apparent gross differences in the habitats, populations on the recently logged area were similar in numbers, survival, and recruitment to those in the mature forest. There were greater differences in population parameters between years than between these two areas. Populations of deer mice in the young plantation were lower in numbers and eventually went to extinction in the summer of 1970. This appeared to be due rather to the presence of numerous Microtus oregoni in this area than to the habitat being less suitable for deer mice.On the basis of this and previous studies it is proposed that the numbers of deer mice in a population are regulated as follows. During breeding seasons the numbers of males and juveniles are regulated by agonistic male behavior while the numbers of females may be a function of the length of the breeding season. During non-breeding seasons the changes in numbers of all deer mice are regulated by the length of such seasons.
Monthly live trapping of three 1-hectare grids in differing forest habitats was carried out over an 8-month period. Immediately after 2 nights of trapping on each grid a central index line was trapped for a further 2 nights. The total capture numbers., numbers of males, and numbers of females of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on the index line correlated significantly with the same parameters on the grid. In addition, survival rates and body weights were almost identical and similar representation of other small mammal species was determined by both arrangements of traps. It is suggested that the index line may be a more efficient method of sampling small mammal populations.
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