Cryptic behavior and activity cycles of a small mammal keystone species revealed through accelerometry: a case study of Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Kangaroo rats are small mammals that are among the most abundant vertebrates in many terrestrial ecosystems in Western North America and are considered both keystone species and ecosystem engineers, providing numerous linkages between other species as both consumers and resources. However, there are challenges to studying the behavior and activity of these species due to the difficulty of observing large numbers of individuals that are small, secretive, and nocturnal. Our goal was to develop an integrated approach of miniaturized animal-borne accelerometry and radiotelemetry to classify the cryptic behavior and activity cycles of kangaroo rats and test hypotheses of how their behavior is influenced by light cycles, moonlight, and weather.

Methods

We provide a proo

SUBMITTER: Hanscom RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10621205 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature