Annual energy budgets for three common rodent species in the northern Great Basin

Journal Article · Sat Jun 30 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Great Basin Nat.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5800114

Schreiber, R K

Annual energy budgets were calculated for three species of small mammals (Peromyscys maniculatus, Onychomys leucogaster, Reithrodontomys megalotis) from the northern Great Basin, Benton County, Washington. Individual ingestion rates were based on species activity, microclimate regime, coefficient of digestibility, caloric diet, and the cost for reproduction. For males and females, the estimated energy expenditures were: P. maniculatus, 6080, 5891; O. leucogaster, 5714, 6587; and R. megalotis, 4057, 3791 kcal/y. By comparison, each species on an individual basis processes more energy annually than the more abundant species in the community, Perognathus parvus, but their total contribution to community energy flow is apparently minor. Integration of these results with other ecological parameters is necessary to develop new hypotheses on the role of small mammal consumers in cold desert ecosystems.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Idaho, Moscow
• OSTI ID: 5800114
• Journal Information: Great Basin Nat.; (United States), Journal Name: Great Basin Nat.; (United States) Vol. 39:2; ISSN GRBNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
ARID LANDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DESERTS
DIET
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY BUDGETS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GROWTH
INFORMATION
INGESTION
INTAKE
ISOLATED VALUES
MAMMALS
MICE
NUMERICAL DATA
RODENTS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VERTEBRATES