Publication Date
5-1-2020
Document Type
Article
First Advisor
Guiden, Peter W.
Degree Name
B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
Legacy Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Small mammals play an important role in prairies by eating and dispersing seeds of native plants. Most small mammals are nocturnal, and moonlight can suppress small-mammal activity by increasing predation risk, but this has not previously been investigated in prairies. We hypothesized that moonlight suppresses nocturnal activity of three common small-mammal species (Peromyscus maniculatus, Peromyscus leucopus, and Microtus ochrogaster). We tested this hypothesis using small-mammal trapping data from Nachusa Grasslands, a restored tallgrass prairie in Franklin Grove, IL, from 2013 – 2019 and determined the moon phase during each night of trapping. Moonlight impact on nighttime activity varied by species. P. maniculatus, the most common species, was less active on nights with bright moonlight, while P. leucopus was more active during bright moons. This suggests that moonlight might affect competition between small mammal species for resources such as seeds.
Recommended Citation
Schofield, Nora L., "Small-Mammal Response to Moonlight in Restored Tallgrass Prairie" (2020). Student Engagement Projects. 70.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/studentengagement-projects/70
Schofield, Nora 2020.pdf (356.4Kb)
Final Narrative.docx (437 kB)
Final Narrative.docx (437.3Kb)
Program Program
Student Engagement Fund
Extent
3 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
