An ecological study of the Southern Plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus) on the Bar SR Bar Ranch in Alpine, Texas

Four hundred forty-three dens of the Southern Plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus) were trapped containing sixty-six individuals. Several parameters were examined, including: demographics, den spacing patterns, home range, and den-associated vegetation. Thirty-five females and thirty-one males were captured indicating an equal sex ratio. Analysis revealed a significant difference between the number of adult and juvenile individuals. Females and males did not differ significantly in morphometrics. Dens occurred in a clumped distribution, whereas those occupied by adults, juveniles, females, or males all occurred in a random distribution. Based on different techniques, home ranges could only be calculated for three males based on different techniques. Analysis revealed that the vegetation in which occupied dens were located differed. Multiple regression analyses revealed that there is not a correlation between the number of dens in a plot and the percentage of vegetation cover and bare ground in the plot.