Muskrat2

1. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREE-RANGING SPACE USE PATTERNS AND CAPTIVE OPEN ARENA BEHAVIORAL TESTS IN MUSKRAT (ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS) Jeffrey S. Hatzel (Leann Kanda) Departments of Biology / Environmental Studies & Sciences, Ithaca College Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to biodiversity, making it essential to gain an understanding of the movements and resource needs of animals in fragmented landscapes. Most research focuses on discovering generalities (be it for a population or entire species) however there is increasing evidence that individuals will show consistent and cross-context differences (Sih 2004). These temperaments in animals coupled with the influence of habitat fragmentation will have ecological and evolutionary consequences. Although captive exploratory tests have been performed on several mammal species to assess behavior and personality, these results are typically not compared to the animal’s behavior in the wild. This study attempts to quantify any correlation between captive behavioral tests and free-ranging home-range and dispersal patterns in a Lansing, New York muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) population. Trapped muskrats were observed in an open arena behavioral test and juveniles were subsequently monitored with radio telemetry for home range space use and dispersal patterns. Captive tests did not significantly correlate with home range size (p=0.93), distance traveled from original burrow (p=0.34), or number of burrow shifts (p=0.59). There was evidence to suggest a correlation between home range size and habitat type (either man-made pond or natural marsh), which could provide future direction for the study.