Effects of supplemental food on movements of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in northeastern Kansas

Abstract

We provided supplemental food to hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in northeastern Kansas to test for restriction of movements in the presence of additional resources. We estimated movements as the mean squared distance from the centroid of locations for each individual and tested for changes in movements on 2 time scales using mark-recapture data. Movements within a 3-day interval varied with sex, season, and reproductive condition, but we found no significant changes in response to supplemental food. Movements over an individual's entire 1-6-month tenure on our area decreased with added food. Hence, adding food at regularly spaced, point sources did not seem to influence daily movements but reduced the tendency of individuals to shift centers of activity over longer time intervals.