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West Virginia University

Food habits of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister )

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Regional declines in Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister ) populations suggest a better understanding of the ecology of this species is needed for proper management. I described seasonal food habits of the Allegheny woodrat in the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Plateau physiographic provinces of West Virginia and Virginia using microhistological techniques. In the Allegheny Plateau, the top 5 food items were fungi, blueberries ( Vaccinium spp.), acorns (Quercus spp.), ferns ( Dryopteris spp.), and lichens. In the Ridge and Valley woodrats ate primarily blackberry (Rubus spp.) leaves, fungi, greenbrier (Smilax spp.) leaves, acorns, and oak leaves. Additionally, we examined the effects of common timber management practices such as clearcuts and diameter-limit harvests, on Allegheny woodrat food habits in the Allegheny Plateau. We saw no significant differences in use between treatment types. Additionally, there were no differences in richness or diversity measures between harvest types, although all values were higher at undisturbed sites than either harvest treatment.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
Year dc:date.available
2000

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Castleberry, Nikole Lee
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Petra Bohall Wood.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2108

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Castleberry, Nikole Lee. Food habits of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister ). Thesis thesis, 2000. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.1105