Richard Blalock	Caleb Mathis	Maninder Virk
	Stephen Compton	Steve Coe	Marshall Welch

RICHARD BLALOCK, CALEB MATHIS, MANINDER VIRK, STEPHEN COMPTON, STEVE COE, MARSHALL WELCH Department of Biology Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071. Mentor: Terry Derting Title of Presentation: Impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on the health of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Presented at: The Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting (Richard Blalock, 2nd Place Award in the Poster Competition; Caleb Mathis, 3rd Place Award in the Physiology and Biochemistry section) The National Council for Undergraduate Research Annual Meeting (Maninder Virk) Source of Funding: Howard Hughes Medical Institutue ABSTRACT Habitat loss of small mammals is becoming an increasing problem due to anthropogenic disturbances. When habitats become fragmented, population densities of small mammal species within fragments increases. With increased densities, the competition for mates and food increases as well. Increases in competition along with environmental pollutants can lead to elevated stress. To determine the physiological effects of habitat fragmentation on white-footed mice, traps were placed in 1-3 ha patches of forest that were surrounded by either agriculture fields or housing. Control groups were trapped in areas with minimal disturbance. Subjects were immunochallenged by injections of phytohemmaglutinen (PHA) and sheep red blood cells. The immune system was then assessed using white blood cell counts, hemagglutination assays, and the reaction to PHA. Our results indicated that mice from disturbed areas had a reduced humoral immune response and a lower hematocrit, but a stronger cell-mediated immune system than controls, at least during summer. Mice from residential areas had a smaller stomach and caecum mass than mice from control and agricultural habitats, perhaps due to a higher quality diet. The reproductive system and corticosterone level were not affected by anthropogenic disturbance. Collectively, our results indicated that habitat fragmentation was associated with specific, rather than general, impacts on the health of white-footed mice. | Click Here to Return to Main Page | Date Modified December, 2004