The influence of adult female absence on the spacing behaviour of juvenile corn mce, Calomys musculinus: a removal experiment

STEINMANN A, PRIOTTO J, SOMMARO L, POLOP J

Ann. Zool. Fennici

Año: 2006 vol. 43 p. 366 - 372

0003-455X

We tested the hypothesis that the absence of adult females promotes a restriction inspacing behaviour in juvenile male Calomys musculinus at the beginning of the breedingperiod. Our study was carried out in four 0.25 ha enclosures (two control and twoexperimental enclosures), between December 2004 and February 2005. Mothers wereremoved from the experimental enclosures. Home range size depended on the sex ofjuveniles and the treatment. Female home range sizes were always smaller than thoseof males. Male home ranges were larger in control enclosures than in experimentalenclosures. Treatment and overlap type (intra- and inter-sexual) were not independent.The overlap proportions of male home ranges were lower in experimental enclosuresthan in control enclosures, in both overlap type (male/male, male/female). The intraandinter-sexual overlap proportions of female home ranges were independent of treatment.The results are discussed in the light of spacing behaviour and competition forresources.