The ecology of the Western jumping mouse (Zapus Princeps)

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Title The ecology of the Western jumping mouse (Zapus Princeps)
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Science
Department Biological Sciences
Author Cranford, Jack Allen
Date 1977
Description The seasonal emergence, reproduction, diet, fat deposition and disappearance of six wild populations of the western jumping mouse, Zapus princeps, were studied by trap-recapture methods in the field at elevations of 1860-2900 in the Wasatch National Forest, Salt Lake County, Utah, as well as in the laboratory, from April, 1974 to November, 1976. Emergence timing varied widely between sites, an at a given site in different years. This variation was not related to Increasing elevation, but to the quality of the individual sites. Vegetation development was an excellent predictor of emergence timing at all sites. Emergence of males and females was synchronous except above 2200 in where males preceded females by three to mine days. The gestation period is 18 days. Parturition occurs 19-31 days after female emergence, with lactation continuing up to 35 days after birth of young. Total fat extraction of field-caught animals showed that 68% adult dry weight was fat immediately prior to hibernation. The relationship between fat deposition and juvenile vs. adult mortality is disucssed, and adult longevity is estimated. Analysis of diets of field animals shows that fat deposition is related to increased consumption of seeds, which occurs when seeds becoe available in the habitat. Weight increased prior to hibernation at an average rate of 0.65 g/day, with a maximum of 2.1 g/day. Animals hibernating in the labortory and in the field lost weight at an average rate of 0.07.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Zapus princeps
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philsophy
Language eng
Rights Management (c) Jack Allen Cranford
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s68q1q8w
Setname ir_etd
ID 1601923
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s68q1q8w
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