Behavioural adaptations of ground living bushcrickets to the properties of sound propagation in low grassland

Summary The acoustic behaviour of the closely related tetigoniid species Psorodonotus illyricus and Decticus verrucivorus have been invectigated by bioacoustical and behavioural methods. Both species show adaptations concerning the acoustic behaviour with respect to the biotope and the properties of sound propagation. These insects inhabit low grassland with an average vegetation height of about 20 cm which is also the general height for the song perches. Difficulties arise for efficient acoustic communication in such habitats. Sound propagation is influenced and limited by the strong ground attenuation and the excess damping by grass vegetation. Other limiting factors are the microclimatic conditions in the biotope. The two species counteract these difficulties by moving around in the biotope during stridulation. Both species mainly stridulate in the morning, avoiding problems of reduced sound transmission which often appear in the afternoon due to negative temperature gradients and resulting shadow zones. From the high mobility of these insects, it follows that individuals have no fixed territory and consequently no rivalry against conspecifics, which is very common among Orthopterans with a high degree of territoriality. It can be concluded that the preferred biotope influences and creates behavioural patterns in Orthopterans, especially here in the two investigated species of bushcrickets Psorodonotus illyricus and Decticus verrucivorus.     

贺兰山马麝(Moschus chrysogaster)生境适宜性评价

马麝(Moschus chrysogaster)是我国特有种,在贺兰山分布数量不足百头,对贺兰山马麝进行生境适宜性评价是保护和恢复贺兰山马麝种群的前提和依据。2014—2016年通过样线法对贺兰山马麝的野外分布情况进行调查,确定了750个马麝出现位点,结合13个环境因子变量,利用最大熵(MAXENT)模型,并根据最大约登指数划分贺兰山马麝适宜生境及不适宜生境的分布区,对贺兰山地区马麝的生境适宜性进行评价。研究结果表明：在众多影响贺兰山马麝分布的环境因子中,针叶林、距水源距离、距护林点距离、海拔高度、距矿区距离和距道路距离六种环境因子影响较大;贺兰山地区适宜马麝分布的生境面积极小,仅占贺兰山地区总面积的3.27%,面积为120.24 km²,而不适宜生境面积为3 555.72 km²。利用受试者工作特征性曲线对模型进行检测,结果表明预测水平达到优秀,可以为马麝保护工作提供参考。为保护和恢复马麝种群,建议管理部门加强管理力度,严格控制人为干扰,识别和建立马麝各适宜生境之间的生态廊道,加强对零散分布的潜在适宜生境区域的利用。     

Conservation management of coastal dunes for Orthoptera has to consider oviposition and nymphal preferences

Dune and heathland ecosystems can harbour a multitude of specialized insect species. To assess the habitat quality of these ecosystems, the presence of specialized insect species may act as a useful indicator. The Orthoptera species Myrmeleotettix maculatus, Decticus verrucivorus, and Platycleis albopunctata present such umbrella species. Because knowledge of oviposition and nymphal habitats of these species is insufficient, we conducted a combined study consisting of an outdoor oviposition experiment and a field survey analyzing nymphal habitat preferences during summer 2009 on the Baltic island of Hiddensee, Germany. The oviposition experiment showed, that all three species mostly avoid oviposition under lichens (= mature grey dunes). M. maculatus preferred bare ground for oviposition, D. verrucivorus favoured both bare ground and mosses, and P. albopunctata laid most eggs into mosses. Young nymphs of both M. maculatus and P. albopunctata preferred initial grey dunes with a high proportion of bare ground and moss-rich grey dunes. Old nymphs were related to moss-rich and lichen-rich grey dunes with more dense vegetation. Based on our results, early seral stages of dune succession with bare ground and mosses as keystone structures are crucial for the conservation of the three studied umbrella species. Because old nymphs and adults additionally require more dense grey dune vegetation or adjacent heath stands, practical dune and heathland management measures should aim to maintain a mosaic-like pattern of different grey dune and dwarf-shrub vegetation stands.     

Population Survey and Demographic Features of a Coastal Island Population of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta clamitans</Emphasis> in Atlantic Forest,Southeastern Brazil

Brown howlers (Alouatta clamitans) are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Because only 7.5% of this fragmented forest remains in Brazil, there is an urgent need for studies of its ecology. Understanding island populations, still poorly researched in the relatively well-studied Alouatta, can provide important information for understanding habitat fragmentation and conservation. We studied brown howlers on the northern portion of the coastal and protected island, Ilha do Cardoso State Park. We used distance sampling methods on 5 transects to estimate population density of the howlers. Estimated howler density on the island is 10.6 individuals/km², with a total of 36 (21–62) individuals in a 3.4 km² area. The density is low, but similar to that of other large and preserved areas. By triangulating on vocalization and following groups, we estimate that there are 10 groups with an average of 4.5 individuals per group. Groups comprise 42% adult females, 27% adult males, 20% juveniles, 7% infants, and the remaining 4% subadult males. Howlers apparently use all appropriate habitats, including Atlantic Forest of plains and slopes. We believe that the howler population is maintaining a typical replacement on the island, with low birth rates and high survival rates, but long-term studies are required to test this. Small group size and associated social structure may be due to the particular environmental conditions on Ilha do Cardoso State Park.     

Variation in Survival and Harvest Rates in Florida Mottled Duck

The Florida mottled duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) inhabits a relatively small range of approximately 90,000 km² within peninsular Florida, USA, and is threatened by habitat loss and genetic introgression with feral mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Moreover, the Florida mottled duck population status has not been assessed for more than a decade. We used band-recovery and recapture data from 2000–2013 to examine geographic and demographic factors that influence the survival of Florida mottled ducks and to determine whether survival and harvest probabilities have changed over time. Mean survival probabilities were higher for birds banded in the southern portion of their Florida range than for those banded in the northern portion and higher for adult males than for adult females in both areas. Harvest probabilities increased in the northern extent of its range in Florida for adults and juveniles and remained relatively constant in the southern portion of its range during the study period. Mean harvest probabilities for adult males in both areas were higher than for adult females. Mean harvest probability for juvenile females was higher than that for juvenile males in the north but was similar between the sexes in the south. Our results suggest that mortality rates are generally greater in the northern portion of the Florida mottled duck range because of regional differences in habitat distribution and permanence and in how mottled ducks and humans use wetlands in these areas. We suggest increasing conservation efforts in the north portion of the Florida mottled duck range and improving inferences from leg banding by incorporating live recapture data. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Neurophysiology of the vibration sense in locusts and bushcrickets: Response characteristics of single receptor units

The response characteristics of the vibration receptors in the legs of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, and the tettigoniid Decticus verrucivorus were investigated electro-physiologically by single cell recordings. The legs were stimulated by sinusoidal vibrations. There are four types of vibration receptor in each leg of Locusta and Decticus, which can be classified physiologically. One type—most probably campaniform sensilla—shows a phase-locked response to vibrations from 30 to 200 Hz, its threshold reflecting the displacement. A second type shows similar responses in the same frequency range, but its reactions depend on the stimulus acceleration. The receptor cells of the subgenual organ are very sensitive to vibration from 30 to at least 5000 Hz, and their responses depend on acceleration. There are two types of subgenual receptors, one of which shows a clear maximum of sensitivity between 200 and 1000 Hz, with a threshold below 0.01 m/sec^?2 acceleration. Subgenual receptors with different thresholds and different characteristic frequencies occur in each leg. The receptors of each leg pair have quite similar mean sensitivities and characteristic frequencies. However, in the front legs of tettigoniids the more sensitive subgenual receptors and an additional receptor type also respond to low-frequency airborne sound up to 10 kHz.     

陕西米仓山国家级自然保护区猕猴的分布及种群数量调查

2013年8至12月,对陕西省米仓山国家级自然保护区境内野生猕猴的种群数量及其社会结构进行调查,并估测该物种栖息环境的偏好性。通过在预先选取的样区域内采用"V"型路线调查法调查,发现该区域生活12群,共有460—500只野生猕猴。结合对其中5个猴群长时间的持续跟踪观察,统计得出成年个体占45.93%,未成年个体占34.45%,幼仔占19.61%,成年与未成年比例为1.33,成年雄雌的比例为0.36。并证实猕猴倾向于选择海拔700—1600m裸露的悬崖峭壁、平缓山坡农田带上缘、灌丛-森林带和半山中部及以上区域的阔叶林带下缘活动。     

甘肃兴隆山保护区野生马麝分布、数量特征及影响因素

综合采用样线法、粪堆计数法及重复调查法对甘肃省兴隆山国家级自然保护区的野生马麝（Moschus chrysogaster）进行了种群调查,结合生境分析,确定了其种群分布、数量特征及影响因素。结果表明,兴隆山保护区分布有野生马麝（1159±275）头,平均种群密度为（3.51±0.83）头/km²;各植被类型生境中的野生麝种群数量及密度存在差异,灌丛生境分布有70%的野生马麝种群,达（807±170）头,种群密度为（6.49±1.63）头/km²;针叶林种群密度最大,达（8.85±83.25）头/km²,分布有野生麝（123±45）头;针阔混交林分布最少,仅（41±15）头,种群密度为（5.00±1.84）头/km²;人工林生境无野生马麝分布。保护区各植被类型生境中的野生马麝种群分布差异反映了马麝对适宜生境功能的需求,食物、保温和隐蔽性是制约野生马麝冬季分布和种群数量的关键因素。此外,因生境及人为干扰强度的不同,保护区各区域的野生马麝种群分布存在差异。建议通过减少人为干扰、地表植被管理及人工林管理优化等措施增加生境适宜性,促进兴隆山自然保护区野生马麝种群的快速恢复和增长。     

黑龙江省老爷岭南部穆棱林区马鹿种群分布数量及生境适宜性评价

开展野生动物种群分布数量和生境适宜性评价研究是制定物种科学保护决策的基础和关键。以东北马鹿(Cervus canadensis xanthopygus)为研究对象,于2015—2020年在黑龙江省老爷岭南部穆棱林区,采用大样方调查方法收集马鹿在雪地留下的足迹信息分析马鹿种群数量;通过相机监测、足迹链跟踪和大样方调查3种方法综合收集马鹿活动点信息,利用最大熵(MaxEnt)建模分析马鹿生境适宜性。马鹿种群分布数量研究结果表明,穆棱林区马鹿种群密度为(0.0645±0.009)只/km~2,种群数量为47—61只,主要分布在研究地区南部的和平、龙爪沟和共和林场。生境分析结果表明：人为干扰因子中,居民区对MaxEnt模型的贡献率为44%,马鹿主要在距居民区距离约5 km和10—15 km的区域活动,在偏僻的林间小道和乡村道路马鹿生境适宜性较高,其对模型贡献率分别为16.8%和10.2%;植被因子中,在距常绿针叶林和针阔混交林距离4 km范围内,随距离增加马鹿生境适宜性逐渐降低。生境适宜性分析结果表明,研究地区马鹿适宜生境和次适宜生境面积为87.09 km~2,仅占研究区域的10.39%,主要...     

Contest versus scramble competition for mates: The composition and spatial structure of a population of gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in North-west Madagascar

The modes of intrasexual competition interacting in many dispersed societies of nocturnal solitary foragers are still poorly understood. In this study we investigate the spatial structure within a free-living population of gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in order to test for the first time the predictions from two contrasting models of male intrasexual competition on the population level. The contest competition model predicts an uneven distribution of the sexes in a population nucleus with a female biased sex ratio in the center and a male biased sex ratio in the periphery. In contrast the scramble competition model predicts males and females being distributed evenly throughout their habitat with a constant sex ratio. Nine capture/recapture periods within three consecutive mating seasons revealed a continuous male biased sex ratio in the adult population with even trapping rates for the sexes. The male biased sex ratio could either be explained with postnatal female biased mortality or with a male biased natal sex ratio. This male biased sex ratio was apparent in all parts of the study site, indicating that the population was not subdivided into a female biased core and a male biased periphery. Furthermore, the majority of adult males have been captured at the same site as or in vicinity to females. Consequently, a large proportion of males had spatial access to females during the mating season. No signs of monopolization of females by certain dominant males could be detected. These data support the predictions from the scramble competition model and the concept of a promiscuous mating system for this species.     

The cost of habitat selection in prairie voles: an empirical assessment using isodar analysis

The ideal free distribution assumes that habitat selection is without cost and predicts that fitness should be equal in different habitats. If habitat selection has a cost, then individuals should only move to another habitat when potential fitness in the new habitat exceeds that in the source habitat by an amount greater than the cost of habitat selection. We used isodar techniques to assess the cost of habitat selection. In an experimental landscape, we monitored density, movement, and reproductive success of adult female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, in adjacent paired habitats with low and high cover. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) adult female prairie voles exhibited density-dependent habitat selection; (2) the cost of habitat selection was density-independent. Habitat quality based on population density and fitness of adult females was higher in high cover habitats. Net movement was from low cover to high cover habitats. The results indicated that adult female prairie voles exhibited density-dependent habitat selection. Furthermore, there was a significant cost of habitat selection, and the cost was density-independent.     

Territories of male and female terrestrial salamanders: costs,benefits, and intersexual spatial associations

Summary I used a mark-recapture study to estimate home areas for 107 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) in a natural forest habitat. Both males and females of this species defend feeding territories, but I presume that some individuals in this relatively highdensity population (approximately 2.8 salamanders per m²) are nonterritorial floaters. Although territorial salamanders exhibited greater numbers of tail autotomies, they had significantly longer relative tail lengths. This difference suggests that territorial individuals gain benefits from territorial ownership. From the observation that home area size was inversely correlated with body size, I infer that larger animals gained higher quality foraging areas. Home areas of adults were significantly more segregated intrasexually and more aggregated intersexually than would be expected from a random distribution. Furthermore, intersexual overlap of home areas was significantly greater than intrasexual home area overlap. Territorial defense of feeding areas by male and female red-backed salamanders therefore also may play a role in mating behavior.     

基于GIS和Maxent模型的赤水河地区濒危植物桫椤生境适宜性评价

桫椤有"蕨类植物之王"赞誉，有"活化石"之称，曾是地球上最繁盛的植物，与恐龙同期。由于地质变迁和气候变化，目前只能在极少数的"避难所"才能寻其踪迹，而赤水河地区是当下桫椤种群较为集中分布的区域。所以，了解桫椤在赤水河地区的适生区分布，对于桫椤种质资源保护、桫椤种群的恢复重建具有重要意义。基于桫椤在赤水河流域的80个桫椤分布点位、20个样地信息和22个环境因子变量，借助ArcGIS运用Maxent模型软件预测了桫椤的潜在地理分布，综合环境因子变量贡献率、刀切法检验和土地利用现状变化对赤水河地区桫椤的生境适宜性进行评价分析，确定桫椤的生境适宜潜在地理分布区域和面积。研究表明：（1）Maxent模型的预测准确度极高，模型的预测结果为"极好"；（2）最暖季的降水（39.65%）、温度日平均范围（18.21%）、温度季节性变化标准差（12.69%）和降水量季节性变异性系数（6.87%）是影响桫椤生长和分布的主导环境因子，累积贡献率达77.42%，可见桫椤在生长过程中对降水、温度的变化较为敏感；（3）模型预测高适生区主要集中在四川（泸州、宜宾、自贡）、重庆、贵州（遵义），在空间上存在明显连续性，从高适生区到不适生区呈辐射状由中心向外围逐渐递减；虽桫椤高适生区面积高达49842 km²，但现状生境破碎化，人为干扰，人工植被较多等的影响会对桫椤种群造成不利影响。综上，赤水河地区桫椤适生生境面积大、连通性好，为本地区的桫椤提供了优质的生存环境，森林的人工抚育可促进桫椤种群的延续。     

兴隆山自然保护区驯养马麝的麝香分泌及与其种群动态和年龄结构的关系

马麝(Moschus sifanicus)分布于我国青藏高原及周边区域,雄麝可分泌麝香。因历史上的过度利用及生境丧失等原因,马麝已极度濒危。马麝驯养是保育野生马麝资源及可持续生产麝香的有效方式。我国于1990年在甘肃兴隆山保护区开始马麝驯养,并于1996年实现了可持续的活体取香。分析了兴隆山麝场1996—2006年间的麝香生产及与泌香雄麝种群增长和种群结构的关系,结果表明:兴隆山麝场11a间共取香430头次,麝香总产量达3846.6 g,年均麝香产量为(349.69±84.69)g(n=11)。泌香雄麝的种群数与麝香年产量存在极显著的相关(R=0.638,P0.01),增长模型y=e(6.4285-3.6578/t)(R2=0.735,df=9,F=24.94,P=0.0010.01)和y=e(4.2049-3.4523/t)(R2=0.700,df=9,F=21.02,P=0.0010.01)可分别模拟该麝场的麝香年产量及泌香雄麝种群的增长。泌香雄麝的平均泌香量为(8.93±0.56)g/头(n=68),各年度的雄麝平均泌香量与麝香年产量相关极显著(R=0.442,P0.01),其增长模式呈指数式增长(y=7.5126e0.0244t)(R2=0.373,df=9,F=5.36,P=0.0460.05)。各年龄组雄麝间的平均泌香量差异显著(ANOVA,F7,59=2.522,P=0.0240.05),1.5岁马麝的泌香(2.00±1.82)g,(n=10)显著高于其他各年龄组马麝(P0.05),其余年龄组间的平均泌香量无显著差异(P0.05)。雄麝的年龄组与麝香年产量呈极显著的负相关(R=-0.936,P=0.0010.01),1.5—6.5岁雄麝占种群比例91.16%,生产麝香(3560.1g)占总产量的92.55%。以麝香生产为主的麝场,其驯养雄麝种群配置应以6.5岁龄以下雄麝为主。     

Social interactions among adult male langurs (Presbytis entellus) at Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary

A population of langurs (Presbytis entellus)at the Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary in northern India was investigated for 1820 hr throughout a 10-month period in 1978. Data were collected from four bisexual troops and the adult males that ranged outside of bisexual troops. Most (60%) of the observation hours occurred with a main study troop from which social and ecological data were collected. The langur population at Rajaji shows pronounced birth and mating seasons. The population density is high (ca. 80/km ²), with about 75% of the adult males living outside of bisexual troops, which typically are large and multimale. Males outside of bisexual troops occur in small all-male bands or as isolates. Relations between bisexual troops and all-male bands are characterized by relatively low levels of aggression, and members of all-male bands are able to associate with bisexual troops for prolonged periods during the mating season. As a result of these associations, nontroop males are about as successful as troop males in achieving reproductive access to troop females. These associations between bisexual troops and all-male bands occurred with a minimal amount of agonistic behavior and without mortality or injury to troop females or immatures.     

Forest fragmentation and plant reproductive success: a case study in four perennial herbs

We assessed the effects of habitat fragmentation on reproductive success in natural populations of four forest herbs with differing life-history traits and whose distribution patterns appeared to be negatively affected by decreased habitat size and/or increased isolation: Carex sylvatica, Galium odoratum, Sanicula europaea and Veronica montana. Our aims were to test (1) whether habitat size and isolation are positively correlated with population size and isolation, respectively, (2) whether plant reproductive success, a major component of plant fitness, is reduced in small and/or isolated populations when also accounting for differences in habitat quality (edaphic conditions, light intensity) and the effects of plant size, and (3) whether species with different life histories are affected differently. There were significant positive relationships between habitat and population size and between habitat and population isolation in some, but not all of the species. We mostly found no negative effects of small population size or isolation on reproduction. However, reproductive success was reduced in small populations of Sanicula, and this effect was independent of differences in plant size and environmental conditions. The reduced fecundity in small populations may be a consequence of the Allee-effect, a possible mechanism being pollen limitation. Furthermore, the proportion of flowering ramets was reduced in small and isolated populations of Galium, which may have been caused by changes in population structure. Lastly, we found some evidence for largely outcrossing, non-clonal species to be more sensitive to reductions in population size, at least in terms of their reproductive success.     

闽楠(Phoebe bournei, Lauraceae)地理分布及随气候变化的分布格局模拟

掌握气候变化对珍稀濒危物种的分布和适应性变化趋势的影响，是开展保护生物学研究的基础。闽楠（Phoebe bournei）是我国东部亚热带森林的优势树种，也是金丝楠木的主要来源树种。它具有重要的经济、园林与生态价值，目前已被列为国家II级保护植物。预测不同气候背景下该物种的地理分布格局可为这一珍贵树种的资源保护、合理利用与开发提供指导依据，同时也为闽楠的起源与地理分化研究奠定基础。本研究基于闽楠的123个分布点信息与19个气候因子，采用最大熵模型（MaxEnt）与ArcGIS空间分析，构建闽楠于末次冰期（距今22000年）、当前（1950-2000年）以及未来（2050年与2070年）相应地潜在分布区格局，并确定未来受威胁的适生区、面积与影响分布的气候因子。结果表明：闽楠的适生区覆盖浙江、福建、江西、广东、广西、湖南、湖北、贵州及重庆，制约闽楠地理分布的气候因子主要是温度季节性变化标准差（Bio4）、最暖月最高温（Bio5）与最干季降水量（Bio17）；在末次盛冰期闽楠退缩到我国东部的许多山区，诸如武夷山、浙闽丘陵、武陵山、雪峰山、湘黔桂毗邻的山区；随着全球气候变暖，到2050年与2070年闽楠的适生区有着破碎化甚至丧失的风险。     

Importance of Shallow Water Habitats for Demersal Fishes and Decapod Crustaceans in Penobscot Bay, Maine

We characterized demersal fish and decapod crustacean habitats in 14 shallow (< 12m) areas in Penobscot Bay, Maine, by mapping the distribution of subtidal substrata with an acoustic sea bottom profiler. We identified the aquatic vegetation and the fishes and decapods associated with these habitats. Samples of fishes and decapods in each habitat were collected with a small beam trawl. The seabed at most of the stations sampled was composed of a mosaic of substrata. More species of fishes tow^-1 and higher abundances of fishes and decapods were found in stations with vegetation present, particularly eelgrass, Zostera marina. Decapod species richness tow^-1 was similar between vegetated and unvegetated habitats. Shallow habitats in Penobscot Bay were dominated by juvenile fishes and function as nursery areas. The greater species diversity and higher abundances of epibenthic fishes and decapod crustaceans observed in vegetated habitats, particularly beds of Zostera marina, compared with unvegetated areas in Penobscot Bay conform to the hypothesis that increased habitat complexity results in increased species richness and abundance.The first author is also senior author     

Distribution,Population Structure and Habitat Use of Microcebus berthae Compared to Those of Other Sympatric Cheirogalids

We aimed to identify the geographical and biotic limitations of Microcebus berthae, the smallest extant primate. Furthermore we analyzed the mating system of two local populations and their habitat use in relation to microhabitat structures and to those of Microcebus murinus and Cheirogaleus medius, two potentially competing lemur species. The range of Microcebus berthae is restricted to 220 km² in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar. A very optimistic estimate of the total population size is ca. 7900 individuals. During a 13-mo mark-recapture study individuals were trapped from May 1995 to May 1996 at permanent trap locations 50 m apart over 2 study areas of ca. 25 ha each. The spacing of trap locations where individuals have been retrapped indicate that males have larger home ranges than those of females, which in concert with multiple intra- and intersexual range overlap indicates a promiscuous mating system. In contrast to the other 2 species, Microcebus berthae maintained specific habitat utilization patterns at 2 sites with different vegetation structures. Their habitat use in relation to vegetation characteristics differed from that of Cheirogaleus medius but not from that of Microcebus murinus. Co-occurrence patterns of Microcebus berthae and M. murinus deviated significantly from random and resembled a checkerboard distribution possibly generated by competitive exclusion. Thus, according to the niche concept, Microcebus berthae seem to be separated from Cheirogaleus medius by differences in food composition and habitat requirements, while they avoid direct competition with M. murinus by spatial separation.     

Territorial behavior of the plethodontid salamander Plethodon kentucki: influence of habitat structure and population density

To investigate the possible influence of variation in ecological and demographic factors on the spatial organization of the terrestrial plethodontid salamander Plethodon kentucki, I conducted a 3-year capture-recapture study and determined home-range characteristics and spatial relationships of individuals at two field sites that differed in predominant cover type and population density. Home ranges of adults were fixed and the home ranges of same-sex adult neighbors were mostly exclusive. The spatial arrangement of adult home ranges exhibited overall regularity or regularity within aggregations, whereas the distribution of juvenile home ranges was usually random. Analysis of nearest-neighbor sex indicated a positive intersexual association of adult home ranges. Removal studies provided evidence for defense of adult home ranges only at the high-density site. The distribution of home ranges was influenced by the presence of cover objects, but there was no significant relationship between adult body size and percent of home-range area with cover. Males overlapped the home ranges of gravid females significantly more often than those of non-gravid females, indicating that the distribution of gravid females had a strong influence on the distribution of male home ranges. In laboratory tests, increased male-male aggression during the breeding season suggests that males may compete for access to mates. At the high-density site, larger males may have benefited by having greater reproductive success than smaller males because they were more dominant and their home ranges overlapped a greater number of gravid-female home ranges. My results indicate that habitat structure and population density may influence the spatial organization and mating system of P. kentucki. Received: 26 May 1997 / Accepted: 9 October 1997