An Ecological Study of the Golden Mouse, Ochrotomys nuttalli, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ochrotomys nuttalli nuttalli is generally restricted to areas below 2700 ft elevation that are in relatively early stages of succession. The dominant understory vegetation in these areas was either greenbrier or honeysuckle. The dominant tree species were pine, maple, yellow-poplar and sumac. The breeding season extended from approximately mid-March through early October. The population on the main study area fluctuated from a maximum density of 3.6 resident individuals per acre in September, 1964, to a low of 0.24 residents per acre in September, 1965. Two mice were recorded on the study area for 365 and 366 days. Ten individuals were present for eight months or longer, and 19 for periods of five months or more. Average calculated summer home range size for 39 golden mice captured between three and 40 times showed a general increase with an increasing number of captures. Males captured nine or more times had an average home range of 0.64 acre, whereas the female home range averaaed 0.59 acre. The largest home ranges calculated were 1.55 acres for a male and 0.96 acre for a female. The average distance between successive captures for male golden mice was 103 ft in 1964 and 194.5 ft in 1965; that for females was 104 ft in 1964 and 89 ft in 1965. Forty-four arboreal nests were weighed, measured and dissected. Leaves of pine, maple, greenbrier and honeysuckle were used most frequently in nest construction. Seeds were found in 73 % of the nests examined, and varied from less than 1% to 26.8% of the total weight of the nest. Cherry and dogwood seeds were found most frequently. An analysis was made of the food contents of the stomachs and intestinal tracts of 54 golden mice. Greenbrier seeds, blackberry and insects appeared to be the dominant food items. Field observations revealed mice feeding upon cherry and greenbrier seeds, blackberries and the fruit of the sassafras tree. As a result of this study, fifteen previously unreported host-parasite relationships were established. New endoparasites included bacteria, nematodes and a cestode, while the ectoparasites included several genera of mites, fleas and lice.