Distribution of the woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis, and the meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius, over five ecosystems on UMBS property.

Abstract

This study examined the distribution of the woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis, and the meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius, in five different ecosystems: river, lake shore, swamp, outwash plain, and moraine on the property of the University of Michigan Biological Station. These similar species are reported to inhabit different areas and the purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis, and in doing so, create a map of the distribution of these animals on University of Michigan Biological Station property. The data show a tendency for both species to be found in similar proportions in the river and moraine ecosystems. The small mammal population declined drastically for the summer of 1992, and resulted in an insufficient number of captures to statistically analyze the incidence of jumping mice in each habitat. However, data showed a trend for N. insignis and Z. hudsonius to be evenly distributed in the river and moraine ecosystems.