Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ecological Relevance of Daily Activity Patterns

  • Chapter
Activity Patterns in Small Mammals

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 141))

Abstract

The environment of any animal species is a complex set of both abiotic and biotic qualities. Dominant abiotic parameters are light conditions, ambient temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed. Biotic components may be classified by the trophic levels at which they occur. On the same trophic level we find conspecifics as mates, as members of a social group, and as competitors. On the same trophic level there are also competitors from other species. Biotic components from different trophic levels are represented by prey, predators, and parasites. The combination of all these factors determines how the world looks for an individual at a specific moment in time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ashby KR(1972) Patterns of daily activity in mammals. Mammal Rev 1:171–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartness TJ, Goldmann BD (1989) Mammalian pineal melatonin: a clock for all seasons. Experientia 45:939–945

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown LE (1956) Field experiments on the activity of the small mammals, Apodemus, Clethrionomys and Microtus. Proc Zool Soc Lond 126:549–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruseo JA, Barry RE (1995) Temporal activity of syntopic Peromyscus in the Central Appalachians. J Mammal 76:78–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun B (1975) Social modification of activity rhythms in rodents. Chronobiologica 2:11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke JA (1983) Moonlight’s influence on predator/prey interactions between short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) and deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 13:205–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connell JH(1980) Diversity and the coevolution of competitors, or the ghost of competition past. Oikos 35:131–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Daan S (1981) Adaptive daily strategies in behavior. In: Aschoff I (ed) Biological rhythms. Handbook of behavioural neurobiology, vol 4. Plenum Press, New York, pp 275–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Aschoff P (1975) Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in captive birds and mammals: their variations with season and latitude. Oecologia 18:269–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Aschoff J (1982) Circadian contributions to survival. In: Aschoff J, Daan S, Groos GA (eds) Vertebrate circadian systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York,pp 305–321

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Slopsema S (1978) Short-term rhythms in foraging behaviour of the common vole, Microtus arvalis. J Comp Physiol A 127:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daly M, Behrends PR, Wilson MI, Jacobs LF (1992) Behavioural modulation of predation risk: moonlight avoidance and crepuscular compensation in a nocturnal desert rodent, Dipodomys merriami.Anim Behav 44:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danielson BJ, Swihart RK (1987) Home range dynamics and activity patterns of Microtus ochrogaster and Synaptomys cooperi in syntopy. J Mammal 68:160–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeCoursey PJ (1989) Photoentrainment of circadian rhythms: an ecologist’s viewpoint. In: Hiroshiga T, Honma K (eds) Circadian clocks and ecology. Hokkaido University Press, Sapporo, pp 187–206

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCoursey PJ (1990) Circadian photoentrainment in nocturnal mammals: ecological overtones. Biol Behav 15:213–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Predavec M, Lynam AJ (1991) Differential predation of size and sex classes of mice by the barn owl, Tyto alba. Oikos 62:67–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enright JT (1970) Ecological aspects of endogenous rhythmicity. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 1:221–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdakov LN (1981) Adaptability of activity rhythms in a least weasel (Mustela, Mustelidae). Izvest sib otd Akad Nauk SSR, Ser Biol Nauk 3:140–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerkema MP, Verhulst S (1990) Warning against an unseen predator: a functional aspect of synchronous feeding in the common vole, Microtus arvalis. Anim Behav 40:1169–1178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glass GE, Slade NA (1980) The effect of Sigmodon hispidua on spatial and temporal activity of Microtus ochrogaster: evidence for competition. Ecology 61:358–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halle S (1988a) Avian predation upon a mixed community of common voles (Microtus arvalis) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvatcus). Oecologia 75:451–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halle S (1988b) Locomotory activity pattern of wood mice as measured in the field by automatic recording. Acta Theriol 33:305–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Halle S (1993) Diel pattern of prédation risk in microtine rodents. Oikos 68:510–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halle S (1995) Diel pattern of locomotor activity in populations of root voles, Microtus oeconomus. J Biol Rhythms 10:211–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes JJ, Ward D, Perrin MR (1994) Predation risk and competition affect habitat selection and activity of Namib Desert gerbils. Ecology 75:1397–1405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson GE (1957) Concluding remarks. Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 22:415–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenagy GJ (1976) The periodicity of daily activity and its seasonal changes in free-ranging and captive kangaroo rats. Oecologia 24:105–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb HH (1992) The effect of moonlight on activity in the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Zool Lond 228:661–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler BP, Brown JS, Mitchell WA (1993) Environmental factors affecting patch use in two species of gerbilline rodents. J Mammal 74:614–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler BP, Brown JS, Subach A (1993) Mechanisms of species coexistence of optimal foragers: temporal partitioning by two species of sand dune gerbils. Oikos 67:548–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs JR, Inman AJ (1994) Learning and foraging: individuals, groups, and populations. In: Real LA (ed) Behavioral mechanisms in evolutionary ecology. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 46–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann U, Sommersberg CW(1980) Activity patterns of the common vole, Microtus arvalis — automatic recording of behaviour in an enclosure. Oecologia 47:61–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima SL, Dill LM (1990) Behavioral decisions made under the risk of predation: a review and prospectus. Can J Zool 68:619–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meddis R (1975) On the function of sleep. Anim Behav 23:676–691

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkola H (1970) On the activity and food in the pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum during breeding. Omis Fennica 47:10–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller RS (1955) Activity rhythms in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus and the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus. Proc Zool Soc Lond 125:505–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell WA, Abramsky Z, Kotler BP, Brown JS, Pinshow BP (1990) The effect of competition on foraging effort: theory and a test with desert rodents. Ecology 71:844–854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park O (1940) Nocturnalism — the development of a problem. Ecol Monogr 10:485–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson AM (1962) Activity patterns, energy metabolism, and growth rate of the voles Clethrionomys rufocanus and C. glareolus in Finland. Ann Zool Soc Vanamo 24:1–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RM, Batzli GO (1975) Activity patterns in natural populations of the brown lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus). J Mammal 56:718–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raptor Group (1982) Timing of vole hunting in aerial predators. Mammal Rev 12:169–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remmert H (1976) Gibt es eine tageszeitliche ökologische Nische? Verh Dtsch Zool Ges 1976: 29–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijnsdorp A, Daan S, Dijkstra C (1981) Hunting in the kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, and the adaptive significance of daily habits. Oecologia 50:391–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoener TW (1974) Resource partitioning in ecological communities. Science 185:27–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shkolnik A (1971) Diurnal activity in a small desert rodent. Int I Biometerol 15:115–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Travers SE, Kaufman DW, Kaufman GA (1988) Differential use of experimental habitat patches by foraging Peromyscus maniculatus on dark and bright nights. J Mammal 69:869–872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez RA (1994) Assessment of predation risk via illumination level: facultative central place foraging in the cricetid rodent Phyllotis darwini. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 34:375–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wójcik JM, Wolk K (1985) The daily activity rhythm of two competitive rodents: Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis. Acta Theriol 30:241–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziv Y, Abramsky Z, Kotler BP, Subach A (1993) Interference competition and temporal and habitat partitioning in two gerbil species. Oikos 66:237–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Stefan Halle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Stefan Halle

  2. Department of Biology Division of Zoology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1050, Blindern, 03160 Oslo 3, Norway

    Nils Christian Stenseth

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halle, S. (2000). Ecological Relevance of Daily Activity Patterns. In: Halle, S., Stenseth, N.C. (eds) Activity Patterns in Small Mammals. Ecological Studies, vol 141. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18264-8_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18264-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62128-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18264-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation