Home Range and Microchabitat Utilization in the Formosan Wood Mouse, Apodemus semotus

Abstract

Home range and microhabitat utilization of Apodemus semotus were studied from August 1988 to July 1989 in a monocultural Cryptomeria forest. Mean observed range lengths of adult males were significantly longer than those of adult females only in March and October, and were linearly and negatively correlated with population densities. The average home range size was 2,282 +/- 1,328 m2 for 11 adult males, 2,547 +/- 1,591 m2 for 7 adult females. The mean range size was significantly greater in the spring-summer cohort than in the summer-autumn cohort or winter cohort for adult males. Most of the home ranges were rather stable regardless of seasons. Characteristics of microhabitat features used by adult males were associated with the number of understory species in home range areas. Adult females exhibited little microhabitat preferences, and juveniles restricted their activities to microhabitats protected by cover such as logs and stumps. Relatively homogeneous habitats may limit the ability of female A. semotus to choose microhabitats. In the small mammal community, A. semotus, a habitat generalist, was uniformly distributed throughout the various microhabitats. Soriculus fumidus was abundant because of a wider user of microhabitat conditions. Niviventer culturatus was more selective in microhabitat use, as compared with A. semotus and Eothenomys melanogaster. Anourosorex squamipes was captured at places with dense tress, twigs and looser soil conditions.