Effects of forest fragmentation on the abundance, distribution, and population genetic structure of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)

by Anderson, Christine Schandorsky.

EFFECTS OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON THE ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, AND POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF WHITE-FOOTED MICE (PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS) by Christine S. Anderson Fragmentation of forests has led to the creation of forest patches that differ in size, proportion of edge habitat, and degree of isolation. Although densities of many mammalian species are positively related to patch area, there appears to be a general negative relationship between density of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and patch area. In Chapters 2 – 5, I investigated both resource-based (i.e., vegetation characteristics) and dispersal-based (i.e., inhibited dispersal and sink) hypotheses to explain the negative density – area relationship using live-trapping data and DNA-microsatellite analyses. As an extension of how forest fragmentation may affect movements by this habitat generalist into and out of habitats, in