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A Modified Track Tube for Detecting Beach Mice |
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| Authors: | RONALD E. LOGGINS JEFFERY A. GORE LAURINDA L. BROWN LAURA A. SLABY ERIN H. LEONE |
| Affiliation: | 1. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Panama City, FL 32409, USA;2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL 32399, USA;3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Panama City, FL 32409, USA Biology Department, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX 76308, USA;4. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Standard track tube designs are ineffective for long-term monitoring of beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) largely because of blowing sand and rain in the coastal dune habitat. We developed a novel track tube design with the tube elevated, capped on one end, and covered on the other end with a short 90° elbow tube. We tested this tube design against 2 other designs (elevated and ground). Our elevated 90° elbow track tubes detected beach mouse tracks more often and they were disturbed less frequently than elevated or ground tubes. Elevated 90° elbow track tubes are a practical means for managers to conduct long-term monitoring of beach mouse populations. |
| Keywords: | beach mice Peromyscus polionotus small mammal monitoring track tube |