Publications

characterization of a male reproductive transcriptome for peromyscus eremicus (cactus mouse).	rodents of the genus peromyscus have become increasingly utilized models for investigations into adaptive biology. this genus is particularly powerful for research linking genetics with adaptive physiology or behaviors, and recent research has capitalized on the unique opportunities afforded by the ecological diversity of these rodents. well characterized genomic and transcriptomic data is intrinsic to explorations of the genetic architecture responsible for ecological adaptations. therefore, th ...	2016	27812417
host associations and genomic diversity of borrelia hermsii in an endemic focus of tick-borne relapsing fever in western north america.	an unrecognized focus of tick-borne relapsing fever caused by borrelia hermsii was identified in 2002 when five people became infected on wild horse island in flathead lake, montana. the terrestrial small mammal community on the island is composed primarily of pine squirrels (tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), neither of which was known as a natural host for the spirochete. thus a 3-year study was performed to identify small mammals as hosts for b. hermsii.	2016	27832805
cascading effects of predation risk determine how marine predators become terrestrial prey on an oceanic island.	apex predators can suppress the foraging activity of mesopredators, which may then result in cascading benefits for the prey of those mesopredators. we studied the interactions between a top predator, the barn owl (tyto alba), and their primary prey, an island endemic deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus elusus), which in turn consumes the eggs of seabirds nesting on santa barbara island in california. scripps's murrelets (synthliboramphus scrippsi), a threatened nocturnal seabird, arrive annually ...	2016	27912006
the ultimate and proximate mechanisms driving the evolution of long tails in forest deer mice.	understanding both the role of selection in driving phenotypic change and its underlying genetic basis remain major challenges in evolutionary biology. here, we use modern tools to revisit a classic system of local adaptation in the north american deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus, which occupies two main habitat types: prairie and forest. using historical collections, we find that forest-dwelling mice have longer tails than those from nonforested habitat, even when we account for individual an ...	2017	27958661
occurrence of triclocarban and triclosan in an agro-ecosystem following application of biosolids.	triclocarban (tcc) and triclosan (tcs), two of the most commonly used antimicrobial compounds, can be introduced into ecosystems by applying wastewater treatment plant biosolids to agricultural fields. concentrations of tcc and tcs were measured in different trophic levels within a terrestrial food web encompassing land-applied biosolids, soil, earthworms (lumbricus), deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), and eggs of european starlings (sturnus vulgaris) and american kestrels (falco sparverius) at ...	2016	27993073
acclimation to hypoxia increases carbohydrate use during exercise in high-altitude deer mice.	the low o2 experienced at high altitude is a significant challenge to effective aerobic locomotion, as it requires sustained tissue o2 delivery in addition to the appropriate allocation of metabolic substrates. here, we tested whether high- and low-altitude deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) have evolved different acclimation responses to hypoxia with respect to muscle metabolism and fuel use during submaximal exercise. using f1 generation high- and low-altitude deer mice that were born and rais ...	2017	28077391
microsatellite markers reveal low frequency of natural hybridization between the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) in southern quebec, canada.	in some parts of southern quebec, two closely related rodent species - the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) - have recently come in contact because of climate-driven changes in the distribution of the former. both species share similar morphology, ecology, and life history traits, which suggests that natural hybridization may be possible. hybridization among these two species can have important implications on the ecological roles these rodents ...	2017	28177836
the development of repetitive motor behaviors in deer mice: effects of environmental enrichment, repeated testing, and differential mediation by indirect basal ganglia pathway activation.	little is known about the mechanisms mediating the development of repetitive behaviors in human or animals. deer mice reared with environmental enrichment (ee) exhibit fewer repetitive behaviors and greater indirect basal ganglia pathway activation as adults than those reared in standard cages. the developmental progression of these behavioral and neural circuitry changes has not been characterized. we assessed the development of repetitive behavior in deer mice using both a longitudinal and coh ...	2017	28181216
intraspecific functional diversity of common species enhances community stability.	common species are fundamental to the structure and function of their communities and may enhance community stability through intraspecific functional diversity (ifd). we measured among-habitat and within-habitat ifd (i.e., among- and within-plant community types) of two common small mammal species using stable isotopes and functional trait dendrograms, determined whether ifd was related to short-term population stability and small mammal community stability, and tested whether spatially explici ...	2017	28261464
an evaluation of vertebrate seed dispersal syndromes in four species of black nightshade (solanum sect. solanum).	we examined the ecological relevance of bird versus mammal dispersal syndromes in four species of solanum, s. americanum type a, s. americanum type b, s. ptychanthum, and s. sarrachoides. these plants were selected because their morphological characteristics, such as fruit color, mass, and persistence, resembled those typically associated with classically-defined bird and mammal dispersal syndromes. we monitored persistence of tagged fruits, compared physical and chemical chaacteristics, perform ...	1996	28307396
coexistence of white-footed mice and deer mice may be mediated by fluctuating environmental conditions.	white-footed mice, peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis, and deer mice, p. maniculatus nubiterrae, occur sympatically throughout much of the appalachian mountains of the eastern united states. previous studies have shown that these two species are behaviorally and ecologically similar and do not partition food or microhabitat. in this paper i use a 14-year data set to demonstrate that the two species have differential population growth and survival rates in response to food abundance and season, w ...	1996	28307870
non-target effects of an introduced biological control agent on deer mouse ecology.	release of exotic insects as biological control agents is a common approach to controlling exotic plants. though controversy has ensued regarding the deleterious direct effects of biological control agents to non-target species, few have examined the indirect effects of a "well-behaved" biological control agent on native fauna. we studied a grassland in west-central montana infested with spotted knapweed (centaurea maculosa) to examine the effects of knapweed invasion and two gall flybiological ...	2000	28307949
dispersal of deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus : proximal causes and effects on fitness.	dispersal of deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus, was measured as immigration to and emigration from two control areas, and as immigration to a removal area. the number of mice dispersing was linearly related to the densities on the control areas, while the proportion of the population dispersing (rate of dispersal) was correlated primarily with the rate of increase of control populations. high rates of dispersal were also associated with a breakdown of the established social structure in the spri ...	1978	28309396
effects of extra food on peromyscus and clethrionomys populations in the southern yukon.	if food supply limits density in rodent populations, the addition of supplemental food ought to increase population size. from may to september we added food on 2-hectare areas of white spruce forest in the southern yukon. in 1977, we used oats with no measurable impact. in 1978 and 1979 we used sunflower seeds and doubled or tripled the population densities of peromyscus maniculatus and clethrionomys rutilus. supplemental feeding with sunflower seeds increased juvenile production in both specie ...	1981	28310015
adult-young interactions in island and mainland populations of the deermouse peromyscus maniculatus.	the demographic and ecological characteristics of island populations of small mammals have received increasing attention in recent years, but few studies have compared the behavioral characteristics of island populations with those of mainland populations. behavior is considered an important variable because it is believed by many to be a crucial factor affecting the population dynamics and demography of natural populations. in particular, among many species of rodents, the social behavior of ad ...	1981	28310030
factors determining the abundance and distribution of rodents in a shrub-steppe ecosystem: the role of shrubs.	this study addressed the relative importances of shrub "resources" on a rodent community in a sagebrush dominated shrub-steppe ecosystem in southwestern wyoming. direct effects of shrubs (i.e., providing rodents with "food and cover") were assessed by removing shrubs from a 1.25 ha study plot and monitoring both rodent populations and their food resources. shrub architecture and shrub-related food resources were found to be unimportant to deermice (peromyscus maniculatus), great basin pocket mic ...	1983	28310227
competitive release in microhabitat use among coexisting desert rodents: a natural experiment.	competitive release among desert rodents on sand dunes of differing species richness was examined in the great basin and mohave deserts, usa. expansions in microhabitat use were exhibited by the kangaroo rats dipodomys ordii and d. merriami (granivorous heteromyid rodents, weighing 49 and 42 g, respectively) as the number of coexisting heteromyid species decreased geographically. perognathus longimembris, the only common small heteromyid species (7 g) exhibited no competitive release. this may b ...	1986	28311364
experimental studies of seed predation in old-fields.	in a pair of experiments conducted in old-field habitats in southwestern michigan (usa), we examined rates of seed loss to post-dispersal predators (ants and rodents). seeds from 4-6 species of "biennial" plants were tested over a range of seed densities and habitat types. we found that seed removal was significantly higher in vegetated habitats than in areas of disturbed soil (both simulated small-animal diggings and a plowed field). in the undisturbed vegetation, seed losses ranged from 1-20% ...	1984	28312102
habitat structure and predators: choices and consequences for rodent habitat specialists and generalists.	both habitat structure and risk of predation are thought to influence rodent community composition in different habitats, but experiments on the degree to which these factors determine the use of habitat by rodents are lacking. i sought to discover (1) if cover density altered habitat choice and (2) if cover density affected the vulnerability to predators of two rodents, a habitat specialist and a habitat generalist. in laboratory experiments, the habitat specialist, the red-backed vole (clethri ...	1987	28312894
species' traits help predict small mammal responses to habitat homogenization by an invasive grass.	invasive plants can negatively affect native species, however, the strength, direction, and shape of responses may vary depending on the type of habitat alteration and the natural history of native species. to prioritize conservation of vulnerable species, it is therefore critical to effectively predict species' responses to invasive plants, which may be facilitated by a framework based on species' traits. we studied the population and community responses of small mammals and changes in habitat ...	2017	28317278
effects of seed density and proximity to refuge habitat on seed predation rates for a rare and a common lupinus species.	biotic interactions such as seed predation can play a role in explaining patterns of abundance among plant species. the effect of seed predation will depend on how the strength of predation differs across species and environments, and on the degree to which seed loss at one life-cycle phase increases fitness at another phase. few studies have simultaneously quantified predispersal and postdispersal predation in co-occurring rare and common congeners, despite the value of estimating both for unde ...	2017	28325829
when perception reflects reality: non-native grass invasion alters small mammal risk landscapes and survival.	modification of habitat structure due to invasive plants can alter the risk landscape for wildlife by, for example, changing the quality or availability of refuge habitat. whether perceived risk corresponds with actual fitness outcomes, however, remains an important open question. we simultaneously measured how habitat changes due to a common invasive grass (cheatgrass, bromus tectorum) affected the perceived risk, habitat selection, and apparent survival of a small mammal, enabling us to assess ...	2017	28331590
alteration of the α1β2/α2β1 subunit interface contributes to the increased hemoglobin-oxygen affinity of high-altitude deer mice.	deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) that are native to high altitudes in the rocky mountains have evolved hemoglobins with an increased oxygen-binding affinity relative to those of lowland conspecifics. to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the evolved increase in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, the crystal structure of the highland hemoglobin variant was solved and compared with the previously reported structure for the lowland variant.	2017	28362841
quantitative shedding of multiple genotypes of cryptosporidium and giardia by deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus ) in a major agricultural region on the california central coast.	deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus ) are abundant and widely distributed rodents in north america that occupy diverse habitats, including agricultural landscapes. giardia and cryptosporidium are common parasites in wildlife including deer mice, which may play a role in on-farm contamination of produce. an important step in assessing the risk of produce contamination by cryptosporidium and giardia shed by deer mice is to determine the prevalence, levels, and genotypes of (oo)cysts in mouse feces. ...	2017	28387527
evolved changes in the intracellular distribution and physiology of muscle mitochondria in high-altitude native deer mice.	mitochondrial function changes over time at high altitudes, but the potential benefits of these changes for hypoxia resistance remains unclear. we used high-altitude-adapted populations of deer mice, which exhibit enhanced aerobic performance in hypoxia, to examine whether changes in mitochondrial physiology or intracellular distribution in the muscle contribute to hypoxia resistance. permeabilized muscle fibres from the gastrocnemius muscle had higher respiratory capacities in high-altitude mic ...	2017	28418073
the genetic basis of parental care evolution in monogamous mice.	parental care is essential for the survival of mammals, yet the mechanisms underlying its evolution remain largely unknown. here we show that two sister species of mice, peromyscus polionotus and peromyscus maniculatus, have large and heritable differences in parental behaviour. using quantitative genetics, we identify 12 genomic regions that affect parental care, 8 of which have sex-specific effects, suggesting that parental care can evolve independently in males and females. furthermore, some ...	2017	28424518
the effect of reproductive performance on the domestication of the prairie deermouse, peromyscus maniculatus bairdii.		1967	28563085
gametic selection and hemoglobin polymorphisms in peromyscus maniculatus: a rejoinder.		1983	28563302
selection components affecting hemoglobins in peromyscus maniculatus: a re-evaluation.		1983	28563308
selection components of four allozymes in natural populations of peromyscus maniculatus.		1981	28563465
occurrence of successful multiple insemination of females in natural populations of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).		1973	28563668
chromosomal homology and divergence between sibling species of deer mice: peromyscus maniculatus and p. melanotis (rodentia, cricetidae).		1978	28563738
chromosomal variation in peromyscus maniculatus populations along an elevational gradient.		1987	28563794
alpha-chain hemoglobin polymorphisms are correlated with altitude in the deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus.	in deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) populations in the western united states, alpha-globin haplotype frequency, beta-globin haplotype frequency, and base-line blood oxygen affinity (measured after acclimation to low altitude) show strong correlations with native altitude. the correlations improve when an average regional altitude is substituted for the local altitude at collection sites. this substitution roughly compensates for the effects of gene exchange between populations in areas of hig ...	1988	28563873
hemoglobin polymorphisms in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus): physiology of beta-globin variants and alpha-globin recombinants.	wild populations of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) contain hemoglobin polymorphisms at both alpha-globin (hba, hbc) and beta-globin (hbd) loci. population gene frequencies of beta-globin variants (d0 and d1 haplotypes) are not correlated with altitude, whereas a1 c1 alpha-globin haplotypes are fixed in low-altitude populations, and a0 c0 haplotypes reach near fixation at high altitudes. we examined the effects of alpha- and beta-globin variants on blood oxygen affinity and on aerobic perform ...	1988	28563877
analysis of mitochondrial dna polymorphisms among channel island deer mice.	mitochondrial dna (mtdna) from 131 deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus, collected on the eight california channel islands and from seven southern california mainland locations, was isolated and analyzed for restriction endonuclease fragment polymorphisms. a total of 26 mtdna genotypes were distinguishable among the deer mice sampled. all of the island samples had mtdna restriction-fragment patterns not found among the mainland samples. distributions of specific restriction-fragment patterns provid ...	1987	28564361
chromosomal, electrophoretic, and breeding studies of selected populations of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) and black-eared mice (p. melanotis).		1973	28564927
genetic diversity and capillaria hepatica (nematoda) prevalence in michigan deer mouse populations.	there have been few field tests of the hypothesis that homozygous populations are prone to high levels of disease. i tested for a negative correlation between genetic diversity and parasitism by estimating the allozyme heterozygosity, population density, and proportion of individuals infected by capillaria hepatica (nematoda) in nine michigan populations of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). parasite prevalence was correlated negatively with heterozygosity when the effects of density were held ...	1999	28565518
natural selection on thermogenic capacity of high-altitude deer mice.	adaptive explanations that rely on physiological arguments are common, but tests of hypotheses about the significance of whole-animal physiological performance (e.g., aerobic capacities) are rare. we studied phenotypic selection on the thermogenic capacity (i.e., maximal rate of oxygen consumption [vo2 max] elicited via cold exposure) of high-altitude (~3800 m) deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). a high vo2 max equates to a high capacity for heat production and should favor survival in the cold ...	1999	28565539
rapid morphological change in channel island deer mice.	deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus, collected over 90 years from three california channel islands, were examined for evidence of morphological change. rapid morphological change has occurred in the endemic subspecies from santa barbara (p. m. elusus), anacapa (p. m. anacapae), and santa cruz island (p. m. santacruzae). data were divided into two temporal classes, 1897-1941 and 1955-1988. of the 16 morphological characters measured, between five and 10 measures changed significantly (p ⩽ 0.05) wit ...	1999	28565559
estimation of single generation migration distances from geographic variation in animal mitochondrial dna.	a new approach is introduced for the analysis of dispersal from the geographic distributions of mtdna lineages. the method is based on the expected spatial distributions of lineages arising under a multigeneration random walk process. unlike previous methods based on the predicted equilibria between genetic drift and gene flow, this approach is appropriate for non-equilibrium conditions, and yields an estimate of dispersal distance rather than dispersal rate. the theoretical basis for this metho ...	1991	28567865
extensive genetic variation in mitochondrial dna's among geographic populations of the deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus.		1983	28568029
a reevaluation of chromosomal variation in populations of peromyscus maniculatus along an elevational gradient.		1989	28568496
different spatial scales of adaptation in the climbing behavior of peromyscus maniculatus: geographic variation, natural selection, and gene flow.	patterns of geographic variation in tree-climbing ability of peromyscus maniculatus were used to examine the influence of spatial variation in natural selection and gene flow on the genetic divergence of climbing behavior among populations. offspring of adults of two subspecies sampled from 10 localities in montane conifer forest, conifer woodland, and desert scrub/grassland habitats were raised in the laboratory and tested to determine their tree-climbing ability (the maximum diameter artificia ...	1990	28569032
control of breathing and ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in deer mice native to high altitudes.	we compared the control of breathing and heart rate by hypoxia between high- and low-altitude populations of peromyscus mice, to help elucidate the physiological specializations that help high-altitude natives cope with o2 limitation.	2017	28640969
introduced rats and an endemic roundworm: does rattus rattus contribute to baylisascaris procyonis transmission in california?	the introduced black rat, rattus rattus, occurs throughout the native range of the raccoon roundworm, baylisascaris procyonis, and might incorporate into its life cycle if rats consume parasite eggs, acquire viable infections, and are eaten by raccoons. although rats forage at raccoon latrines, their role in b. procyonis transmission remains unknown. here i tested the potential for rats to amplify b. procyonis transmission in california by surveying wild rodents for b. procyonis and conducting s ...	2017	28732456
circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in high-altitude deer mice.	we examined the circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to the cold hypoxic environment at high altitudes. deer mice from high- and low-altitude populations were born and raised in captivity to adulthood, and then acclimated to normoxia or hypobaric hypoxia (simulating hypoxia at ∼4300 m). thermogenic capacity [maximal o2 consumption (v̇o2,max), during cold exposure] was measured in hypoxia, along with arterial o2 ...	2017	28839010
fuel use in mammals: conserved patterns and evolved strategies for aerobic locomotion and thermogenesis.	effective aerobic locomotion depends on adequate delivery of oxygen and an appropriate allocation of metabolic substrates. the use of metabolic substrates during exercise follows a predictive pattern of lipid and carbohydrate oxidation that is similar in lowland native cursorial mammals. we have found that in two highland lineages of mice (phyllotis and peromyscus) the fuel use pattern is shifted to a greater reliance on carbohydrates compared to their lowland conspecifics and congenerics. howev ...	2017	28859408
admixture on the northern front: population genomics of range expansion in the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) and secondary contact with the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus).	range expansion has genetic consequences expected to result in differentiated wave-front populations with low genetic variation and potentially introgression from a local species. the northern expansion of peromyscus leucopus in southern quebec provides an opportunity to test these predictions using population genomic tools. our results show evidence of recent and post-glacial expansion. genome-wide variation in p. leucopus indicates two post-glacial lineages are separated by the st. lawrence ri ...	2017	28902189
evaluating the impacts of coinfection on immune system function of the deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus) using sin nombre virus and bartonella as model pathogen systems.	: simultaneous infections with multiple pathogens can alter the function of the host's immune system, often resulting in additive or synergistic morbidity. we examined how coinfection with the common pathogens sin nombre virus (snv) and bartonella sp. affected aspects of the adaptive and innate immune responses of wild deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus). adaptive immunity was assessed by measuring snv antibody production; innate immunity was determined by measuring levels of c-reactive protein ...	2018	28977767
interspecific comparison of hantavirus prevalence in peromyscus populations from a fragmented agro-ecosystem in indiana, usa.	comparatively little is known about hantavirus prevalence within rodent populations from the midwestern us, where two species of native mice, the prairie deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and the white-footed mouse ( peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis), are dominant members of rodent communities. we sampled both species in central indiana and tested individuals for presence of hantavirus antibodies to determine whether seroprevalence (percent of individuals with antibodies reactive to ...	2018	28977768
isotopic niche variation from the holocene to today reveals minimal partitioning and individualistic dynamics among four sympatric desert mice.	species interact with each other and their environment over a range of temporal scales, yet our understanding of resource partitioning and the mechanisms of species coexistence is largely restricted to modern time-scales of years to decades. furthermore, the relative magnitudes of inter- vs. intraspecific variation in resource use are rarely considered, despite the potential for the latter to influence a species' ability to cope with changing environmental conditions. modern desert rodent commun ...	2018	29048750
is species richness driving intra- and interspecific interactions and temporal activity overlap of a hantavirus host? an experimental test.	high species diversity of the potential animal host community for a zoonotic pathogen may reduce pathogen transmission among the most competent host, a phenomenon called the "dilution effect", but the mechanisms driving this effect have been little studied. one proposed mechanism is "encounter reduction" where host species of low-competency decrease contact rates between infected and susceptible competent hosts, especially in directly transmitted diseases. we conducted an experiment in outdoor e ...	2017	29141047
effects of hypoxia at different life stages on locomotory muscle phenotype in deer mice native to high altitudes.	animals native to high altitude must overcome the constraining effects of hypoxia on tissue o2 supply to support routine metabolism, thermoregulation in the cold, and exercise. deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to high altitude have evolved an enhanced aerobic capacity in hypoxia, along with increased capillarity and oxidative capacity of locomotory muscle. here, we examined whether exposure to chronic hypoxia during development or adulthood affects muscle phenotype. deer mice from a hig ...	2017	29175484
peromyscus maniculatus bairdii as a naturalistic mammalian model of obsessive-compulsive disorder: current status and future challenges.	obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is a prevalent and debilitating condition, characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behavior. animal models of ocd arguably have the potential to contribute to our understanding of the condition. deer mice (permomyscus maniculatus bairdii) are characterized by stereotypic behavior which is reminiscent of ocd symptomology, and which may serve as a naturalistic animal model of this disorder. moreover, a range of deer mouse repetitive behaviors may be r ...	2017	29214602
linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web.	the ecological literature presents considerable evidence for top-down forcing on the maintenance of species diversity. yet, in temperate forests, bottom-up forces often exert a strong influence on ecosystem functioning. here, we report on the indirect influence of a pulsed resource, sugar maple (acer saccharum) seed production, on nest survival in a migratory songbird. we hypothesized that seed production in year t would determine daily nest survival rate in year t + 1 through its effects on see ...	2017	29299253
a damped precipitation-driven, bottom-up model for deer mouse population abundance in the northwestern united states.	small-mammal population densities can be regulated by bottom-up (food availability) and top-down (predation) forces. in 1993, an el niño southern oscillation event was followed by a cluster of human hantavirus with pulmonary syndrome in the southwestern united states. an upward trophic cascade hypothesis was proposed as an explanation for the outbreak: increased plant productivity as a consequence of el niño precipitations led to an unusual increase in distribution and abundance of deer mice (pe ...	2017	29299286
prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in two species of peromyscus mice common in northern wisconsin.	two species of mice, the white-footed mouse, peromyscus leucopus (rafinesque; rodentia: cricetidae) and the woodland deer mouse, peromyscus maniculatus (wagner; rodentia: cricetidae), serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens in many parts of north america. however, the role p. maniculatus plays in the amplification and maintenance of anaplasma phagocytophilum (rickettsiales: ehrlichiaceae) and borrelia burgdorferi (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae) is not well understood. in northern wisconsin ...	2018	29506103
back to basics: a methodological perspective on marble-burying behavior as a screening test for psychiatric illness.	animal models of human psychiatric illness are valuable frameworks to investigate the etiology and neurobiology underlying the human conditions. accurate behavioral measures that can be used to characterize animal behavior, thereby contributing to a model's validity, are crucial. one such measure, i.e. the rodent marble-burying test (mbt), is often applied as a measure of anxiety- and compulsive-like behaviors. however, the test is characterized by noteworthy between-laboratory methodological di ...	2018	29694852
the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) as an enzootic reservoir of plague in california.	it has long been theorized that deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) are a primary reservoir of yersinia pestis in california. however, recent research from other parts of the western usa has implicated deer mice as spillover hosts during epizootic plague transmission. this retrospective study analyzed deer mouse data collected for plague surveillance by public health agencies in california from 1971 to 2016 to help elucidate the role of deer mice in plague transmission. the fleas most commonly fo ...	2018	29700709
impact of sylvatic plague vaccine on non-target small rodents in grassland ecosystems.	oral vaccination is an emerging management strategy to reduce the prevalence of high impact infectious diseases within wild animal populations. plague is a flea-borne zoonosis of rodents that often decimates prairie dog (cynomys spp.) colonies in the western usa. recently, an oral sylvatic plague vaccine (spv) was developed to protect prairie dogs from plague and aid recovery of the endangered black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes). although oral vaccination programs are targeted toward specific ...	2018	29744628
novel focus of sin nombre virus in peromyscus eremicus mice, death valley national park, california, usa.	the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir for sin nombre virus (snv) in the western united states. rodent surveillance for hantavirus in death valley national park, california, usa, revealed cactus mice (p. eremicus) as a possible focal reservoir for snv in this location. we identified snv antibodies in 40% of cactus mice sampled.	2018	29774841
an updated genetic map of peromyscus with chromosomal assignment of linkage groups.	species across the rodent genus peromyscus have become prominent models for studying diverse mechanistic and evolutionary processes, including chromosome evolution, infectious disease transmission and human health, ecological adaptation, coat color variation, and parental care. supporting such diverse research programs has been the development of genetic and genomic resources for species within this genus, including genome data, interspecific chromosome homologies, and a recently developed genet ...	2018	29947964
detection and evaluation of antibody response to a baylisascaris-specific antigen in rodent hosts with the use of western blotting and elisa.	diagnosis of parasitic diseases that involve tissue-stage larvae is challenging, and serology remains the most effective antemortem test for detecting these infections. baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is a zoonotic ascarid. raccoons are the usual definitive host, and humans may be infected as accidental hosts. more than 150 species of birds and mammals may act as paratenic hosts, and rodents play an important role in the transmission and maintenance of this parasite in nature. mi ...	2018	30074878
acclimatization of low altitude-bred deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) to high altitude.	a colony of deer mice subspecies ( peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis) native to high altitude (ha) has been maintained at sea level for 18-20 generations and remains genetically unchanged. to determine if these animals retain responsiveness to hypoxia, one group (9-11 wk old) was acclimated to ha (3,800 m) for 8 wk. age-matched control animals were acclimated to a lower altitude (la; 252 m). maximal o2 uptake (v̇o2max) was measured at the respective altitudes. on a separate day, lung volume, di ...	2018	30091664
evidence of degradation of hair corticosterone in museum specimens.	researchers increasingly rely on non-invasive physiological indices, such as glucocorticoid (gc) levels, to interpret how vertebrates respond to changes in their environment. recently, hair gcs have been of particular interest, because they are presumed stable over long periods of storage, which may facilitate the study of large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of stress in mammals. in the current study, we evaluated the stability of hair corticosterone levels in museum specimens, and the pot ...	2018	30099031
assessment of chronic low-dose elemental and radiological exposures of biota at the kanab north uranium mine site in the grand canyon watershed.	high-grade u ore deposits are in various stages of exploitation across the grand canyon watershed, yet the effects of u mining on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. we characterized the concentrations of al, as, bi, cd, co, cu, fe, pb, hg, mo, ni, se, ag, tl, th, u, and zn, gross alpha and beta activities, and u and th radioisotopes in soil, vegetation (hesperostipa comata, artemisia tridentata, tamarix chinensis), and rodents (peromyscus maniculatus, p. boylii) to waste mate ...	2019	30136757
evolved changes in breathing and co2 sensitivity in deer mice native to high altitudes.	we examined the control of breathing by o2 and co2 in deer mice native to high altitude to help uncover the physiological specializations used to cope with hypoxia in high-altitude environments. highland deer mice ( peromyscus maniculatus) and lowland white-footed mice ( p. leucopus) were bred in captivity at sea level. the first and second generation progeny of each population was raised to adulthood and then acclimated to normoxia or hypobaric hypoxia (12 kpa o2, simulating hypoxia at ~4,300 m ...	2018	30183337
ecological processes determining the distribution dynamics of vole populations during forest succession.	the size and distribution of animal populations may vary drastically over time following a disturbance event. while both competition and predation can control the size of animal populations, changes in the relative importance of these two density-dependent processes remain poorly documented during ecological succession. here, we combined habitat selection and optimal foraging theory to identify the processes that can explain the increase in red-backed voles (myodes gapperi) during post-logging f ...	2018	30244315
sibling rivalry: males with more brothers develop larger testes.	when females mate with multiple partners in a reproductive cycle, the relative number of competing sperm from rival males is often the most critical factor in determining paternity. gamete production is directly related to testis size in most species, and is associated with both mating behavior and perceived risk of competition. deer mice, peromyscus maniculatus, are naturally promiscuous and males invest significantly more in sperm production than males of p. polionotus, their monogamous sister ...	2018	30250695
indirect effects of a large mammalian herbivore on small mammal populations: context-dependent variation across habitat types, mammal species, and seasons.	multiple consumer species frequently co-occur in the same landscape and, through effects on surrounding environments, can interact in direct and indirect ways. these interactions can vary in occurrence and importance, and focusing on this variation is critical for understanding the dynamics of interactions among consumers. large mammalian herbivores are important engineers of ecosystems worldwide, have substantial impacts on vegetation, and can indirectly affect small-mammal populations. however ...	2018	30598804
effects of the captive and wild environment on diversity of the gut microbiome of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).	vertebrate gastrointestinal tracts have co-existed with microbes over millennia. these microbial communities provide their host with numerous benefits. however, the extent to which different environmental factors contribute to the assemblage of gut microbial communities is not fully understood. the purpose of this study was to determine how the external environment influences the development of gut microbiome communities (gmcs). faecal samples were collected from deer mice (peromyscus maniculatu ...	2019	30664674
differential regulation of the unfolded protein response in outbred deer mice and susceptibility to metabolic disease.	endoplasmic reticulum (er) stress has been causatively linked to the onset of various pathologies. however, whether and how inherent variations in the resulting unfolded protein response (upr) affect predisposition to er-stress-associated metabolic conditions remains to be established. by using genetically diverse deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) as a model, we show that the profile of tunicamycin-induced upr in fibroblasts isolated at puberty varies between individuals and predicts deregulati ...	2019	30733237
predator-mediated effects of severe drought associated with poor reproductive success of a seabird in a cross-ecosystem cascade.	despite the profound impacts of drought on terrestrial productivity in coastal arid ecosystems, only a few studies have addressed how drought can influence ecological cascades across ecosystem boundaries. in this study, we examine the consequences of rainfall pulses and drought that subsequently impact the breeding success of a threatened nocturnal seabird, the scripps's murrelet (synthliboramphus scrippsi). on an island off the coast of southern california, the main cause of reduced nest succes ...	2019	30773758
the ecological dynamics of hantavirus diseases: from environmental variability to disease prevention largely based on data from china.	hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (hps) in the americas and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hfrs) in eurasia. in recent decades, repeated outbreaks of hantavirus disease have led to public concern and have created a global public health burden. hantavirus spillover from natural hosts into human populations could be considered an ecological process, in which environmental forces, behavioral determinants of exposure, and dynamics at the human-animal interface affect human ...	2019	30789905
development and characterization of a sin nombre virus transmission model in peromyscus maniculatus.	in north america, sin nombre virus (snv) is the main cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (hcps), a severe respiratory disease with a fatality rate of 35⁻40%. snv is a zoonotic pathogen carried by deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus), and few studies have been performed examining its transmission in deer mouse populations. studying snv and other hantaviruses can be difficult due to the need to propagate the virus in vivo for subsequent experiments. we show that when compared with standard ...	2019	30795592
it's a trap: optimizing detection of rare small mammals.	improving detection probabilities for rare species is critical when assessing presence or habitat associations. our goal was to create a new small mammal trapping protocol that improved detection of rare species, such as the olive-backed pocket mouse (perognathus fasciatus). we used three trap and bait types and trapped an area 4.4 times larger than the standard grid. we also assessed the effect of captures of non-target species on detection probability of pocket mice. regardless of species, tra ...	2019	30835752
transmissible vaccines in heterogeneous populations: implications for vaccine design.	transmissible vaccines may provide a promising solution for improving the control of infectious disease, particularly zoonotic pathogens with wildlife reservoirs. although it is well known that heterogeneity in pathogen transmission impacts the spread of infectious disease, the effects of heterogeneity on vaccine transmission are largely unknown. here we develop and analyze a mathematical model that quantifies the potential benefits of a transmissible vaccine in a population where transmission i ...	2019	30859117
impact of climate change on the small mammal community of the yukon boreal forest.	long-term monitoring is critical to determine the stability and sustainability of wildlife populations, and if change has occurred, why. we have followed population density changes in the small mammal community in the boreal forest of the southern yukon for 46 years with density estimates by live trapping on 3-5 unmanipulated grids in spring and autumn. this community consists of 10 species and was responsible for 9% of the energy flow in the herbivore component of this ecosystem from 1986 to 19 ...	2019	30983064
plague-positive mouse fleas on mice before plague induced die-offs in black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dogs.	plague is a lethal zoonotic disease associated with rodents worldwide. in the western united states, plague outbreaks can decimate prairie dog (cynomys spp.) colonies. however, it is unclear where the causative agent, yersinia pestis, of this flea-borne disease is maintained between outbreaks, and what triggers plague-induced prairie dog die-offs. less susceptible rodent hosts, such as mice, could serve to maintain the bacterium, transport infectious fleas across a colony, or introduce the patho ...	2019	30994405
evolution of physiological performance capacities and environmental adaptation: insights from high-elevation deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).	analysis of variation in whole-animal performance can shed light on causal connections between specific traits, integrated physiological capacities, and darwinian fitness. here, we review and synthesize information on naturally occurring variation in physiological performance capacities and how it relates to environmental adaptation in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus). we discuss how evolved changes in aerobic exercise capacity and thermogenic capacity have contributed to adaptation to high el ...	2019	31138949
regulation of catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla is altered in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to high altitudes.	high-altitude natives have evolved to overcome environmental hypoxia and provide a compelling system to understand physiological function during reductions in oxygen availability. the sympathoadrenal system plays a key role in responses to acute hypoxia, but prolonged activation of this system in chronic hypoxia may be maladaptive. here, we examined how chronic hypoxia exposure alters adrenal catecholamine secretion and how adrenal function is altered further in high-altitude natives. population ...	2019	31242021
development of homeothermic endothermy is delayed in high-altitude native deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).	altricial mammals begin to independently thermoregulate during the first few weeks of postnatal development. in wild rodent populations, this is also a time of high mortality (50-95%), making the physiological systems that mature during this period potential targets for selection. high altitude (ha) is a particularly challenging environment for small endotherms owing to unremitting low o2 and ambient temperatures. while superior thermogenic capacities have been demonstrated in adults of some ha ...	2019	31337307
conservation of the genome-wide recombination rate in white-footed mice.	despite being linked to the fundamental processes of chromosome segregation and offspring diversification, meiotic recombination rates vary within and between species. recent years have seen progress in quantifying recombination rate evolution across multiple temporal and genomic scales. nevertheless, the level of variation in recombination rate within wild populations-a key determinant of evolution in this trait-remains poorly documented on the genomic scale. to address this notable gap, we use ...	2019	31366913
immature ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) collected from peromyscus leucopus (rodentia: cricetidae) and peromyscus maniculatus (rodentia: cricetidae) nests in northern wisconsin.	the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis say, is the primary lyme disease vector in the eastern united states. both immature stages of i. scapularis take blood meals from mice belonging to the genus peromyscus. mice are active during the night and spend the majority of diel periods in nests. thus, immature i. scapularis have a greater opportunity to drop from peromyscus hosts while in nests compared with the forest floor. here, we collected 11 peromyscus nests during a 3-mo period during which th ...	2020	31411327
detection of 'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' in rodents and ticks removed from rodents in british columbia, canada.	'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' was first described from rodents and insectivores in the far east territory of khabarovsk on the russian pacific coast. here we report the detection of dna from this microorganism in rodents and fed ticks collected from rodents in british columbia, canada in 2013-2014. 'candidatus ehrlichia khabarensis' was detected in (i) a female ixodes angustus tick collected from a peromyscus maniculatus; (ii) a female dermacentor andersoni tick collected from a perognathus ...	2020	31501035
new exposure location for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome case, california, usa, 2018.	we describe a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in a patient exposed to sin nombre virus in a coastal county in california, usa, that had no previous record of human cases. environmental evaluation coupled with genotypic analysis of virus isolates from the case-patient and locally trapped rodents identified the likely exposure location.	2019	31538924
developmental delay in shivering limits thermogenic capacity in juvenile high-altitude deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus).	many endotherms native to cold and hypoxic high-altitude (ha) environments have evolved a highly vascularized and aerobic skeletal muscle. this specialized muscle phenotype contributes via shivering to an enhanced capacity for aerobic thermogenesis (cold-induced v̇o2,max). however, it is unclear how selection at ha for shivering thermogenesis acts early in the development of small altricial mammals, which are born with immature skeletal muscles and without the capacity for homeothermic endotherm ...	2019	31562187
the genetics of morphological and behavioural island traits in deer mice.	animals on islands often exhibit dramatic differences in morphology and behaviour compared with mainland individuals, a phenomenon known as the 'island syndrome'. these differences are thought to be adaptations to island environments, but the extent to which they have a genetic basis or instead represent plastic responses to environmental extremes is often unknown. here, we revisit a classic case of island syndrome in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) from british columbia. we first show that s ...	2019	31662081
natural compulsive-like behaviour in the deer mouse (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) is associated with altered gut microbiota composition.	obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is a psychiatric illness that significantly impacts affected patients and available treatments yield suboptimal therapeutic response. recently, the role of the gut-brain axis (gba) in psychiatric illness has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic exploration. however, studies concerning the role of the gba in ocd are limited. to investigate whether a naturally occurring obsessive-compulsive-like phenotype in a rodent model, that is large nest building i ...	2020	31663195
physiological and genomic evidence that selection on the transcription factor epas1 has altered cardiovascular function in high-altitude deer mice.	evolutionary adaptation to extreme environments often requires coordinated changes in multiple intersecting physiological pathways, but how such multi-trait adaptation occurs remains unresolved. transcription factors, which regulate the expression of many genes and can simultaneously alter multiple phenotypes, may be common targets of selection if the benefits of induced changes outweigh the costs of negative pleiotropic effects. we combined complimentary population genetic analyses and physiolo ...	2019	31697676
variation in the density of oxytocin receptors in the brain as mechanism of adaptation to specific social and reproductive strategies.	most species have predominant forms of social and reproductive behavior driven by many years of selection pressures and evolution. for example, rodent species can live in small or large groups, behave more tolerant or aggressively toward conspecifics (including newborns), and form or not bonds with other members of the group (including sexual partners). any of those behavioral adaptations could result in good fitness for the species, but could also require compromises such as sharing resources, ...	2020	31734142
naturalistic operant responses in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and its response to outcome manipulation and serotonergic intervention.	investigating the motivational triggers underlying naturalistic compulsive-like behavior is generally regarded as challenging. to this extent, the current study aimed to establish a proof-of-concept for future investigation by probing unconditioned and naturalistic operant responses aimed at obtaining nesting material by normal (nnb) and large (lnb) nest building deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus bairdii). lnb mice and nnb controls were individually placed in cages equipped with a lever-operated ...	2020	31895062
the underappreciated role of rodent generalists in fungal spore dispersal networks.	animals are often the primary dispersers of seeds and fungal spores. specialist species that consume fruits or fungal fruiting bodies (sporocarps) as their main food source are thought to play a more important role in dispersal networks compared to generalist species. however, dispersal networks are often based on occurrence data, overlooking the influence of animal abundance and dispersal effectiveness on network interactions. using rodent-mycorrhizal fungi networks, we determined how diet spec ...	2020	31943145
effects of trap confinement on personality measurements in two terrestrial rodents.	in recent years, consistent individual differences in behavior, or personalities, have been a topic of increasing interest as researchers strive to understand and predict the responses of individuals and populations to anthropogenic changes. behavioral studies in wild populations often require that animals are live trapped before behavioral observation can occur, and this is especially true in studies investigating animal personalities. however, it is unknown whether the amount of time confined ...	2020	31986141
leukocyte evaluation of the free-ranging deermouse (peromyscus maniculatus) from montana, usa.	we generated reference ranges for seasonal leukocyte differential counts of the free-ranging deermouse (peromyscus maniculatus) from montana, us. blood was collected from the retro-orbital capillary sinus of deermice after topical anesthesia with proparacaine. although season influenced lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte absolute counts, sex and reproductive status did not.	2020	32053415
evaluation of fluralaner as an oral acaricide to reduce tick infestation in a wild rodent reservoir of lyme disease.	lyme disease (ld) is an increasing public health threat in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, yet relatively few methods exist for reducing ld risk in endemic areas. disrupting the ld transmission cycle in nature is a promising avenue for risk reduction. this experimental study evaluated the efficacy of fluralaner, a recent oral acaricide with a long duration of effect in dogs, for killing ixodes scapularis ticks in peromyscus maniculatus mice, a known wildlife reservoir for borrelia bu ...	2020	32054498
ontogenesis of evolved changes in respiratory physiology in deer mice native to high altitude.	high-altitude environments are cold and hypoxic, and many high-altitude natives have evolved changes in respiratory physiology that improve o2 uptake in hypoxia as adults. altricial mammals undergo a dramatic metabolic transition from ectothermy to endothermy in early post-natal life, which may influence the ontogenetic development of respiratory traits at high altitude. we examined the developmental changes in respiratory and haematological traits in deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) native to ...	2020	32054682
long-term rodent surveillance after outbreak of hantavirus infection, yosemite national park, california, usa, 2012.	in 2012, a total of 9 cases of hantavirus infection occurred in overnight visitors to yosemite valley, yosemite national park, california, usa. in the 6 years after the initial outbreak investigation, the california department of public health conducted 11 rodent trapping events in developed areas of yosemite valley and 6 in tuolumne meadows to monitor the relative abundance of deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) and seroprevalence of sin nombre orthohantavirus, the causative agent of hantavirus ...	2020	32091360
adaptive shifts in gene regulation underlie a developmental delay in thermogenesis in high-altitude deer mice.	aerobic performance is tied to fitness as it influences an animal's ability to find food, escape predators, or survive extreme conditions. at high altitude, where low o2 availability and persistent cold prevail, maximum metabolic heat production (thermogenesis) is an aerobic performance trait that is closely linked to survival. understanding how thermogenesis evolves to enhance survival at high altitude will yield insight into the links between physiology, performance, and fitness. recent work i ...	2020	32243546