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Archive
"SHREW TALK" - Vol. 1, No. 03 - 17 June 1997
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SHREW TALK - 17 June 1997 - Vol. 1, No. 3
Number of Recipients: xxx
Contents of this Issue
o Editorial
o Research
1. Looking for shrew drawings
2. Small mammals habitat selection
3. Re: Small mammals habitat selection
o Shrew-mateur
1. Shrews vs. Moles
2. Re: Shrews vs. Moles
o Shrew Bibliography: New Papers
o Whats New on the Shrew (ist's) Site?
o Shrew Talk Instructions
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o EDITORIAL
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Dear Shrew-Fessionals and Shrew-Mateurs,
Quite a large number of newcomers and only one person leaving the list since Vol. 1, No. 2. encourage me. Thank you all for the response. The only comment I have, is that I would like to see "Shrew Talk" to become more a "talk" than merely a "questionnaire". I hope that we can achieve that status within the next issues...
Your's shrewly, Werner
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o RESEARCH
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1)
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 07:07:35 +0200
From: Laurent GRANJON <granjon@cimrs1.mnhn.fr>
Subject: looking for shrew drawings
While preparing the next issue of the African Small Mammal Newsletter I am in charge with since last year and until 1999, I am looking for drawings of shrews (Crocidura for instance) to illustrate the front page cover. Would you have any address on the WWW where I can find and use such drawings? They do not need to be elaborate, any simple drawing of a shrew that may be an African species would be OK. Thank you very much in advance, and congratulations for your site! Yours sincerely Laurent GRANJON
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Laboratoire de Zoologie, Mammiferes et Oiseaux Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle 55, rue Buffon 75005 Paris France tel: (33)-(1)-40-79-30-69 fax: (33)-(1)-40-79-30-63 E-mail: granjon@mnhn.fr ----------------------------------------------
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2)
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 09:53:23 +0100
From: Joseantonio Gonzalez Oreja <ggbgoorj@LG.EHU.ES>
Subject: Small mammals habitat selection
Dear all:
This is to ask you about (macro)habitat selection in small mammals (i.e. shrews and rodents). I am currently working in a study linking the structure of the (macro)habitat and the trophic ecology of a predator. The (macro)habitat is defined by 8 different variables (altitude, slope, vegetation cover, human presence and the like), and the predator is the barn owl (Tyto alba). I have conducted a multivariate analysis (PCA) in order to extract the principal axis discribing the structure of the landscape. And, also, a classification of the sites by means of a dendrogram after the Pianka index of similitude among percent composition of the diet in 12 different localities. I am trying to find some similar results from the two approaches, but they seem not to exist.
I think this could be due to: (i) the (macro)habitat available to the predator is not influencing its trophic ecology, but I suspect this is a bit unbelievable, since small mammals communities, the principal preys of the barn owl, DO seem to be influenced by the landscape. (ii) the barn owl is actively selecting the hunting habitat, or the prey species, or both.
If some of you could send me some references on habitat selection by small mammals, i.e, a study where is concluded that 'this' or 'that' species (a shrew, a rodent, a whole community) is actively selecting pine forests or country landscapes, for example, and is more abundant, and therefore (I hope) more available there than at any other habitat type, I would be very acknowledged!
Giving thanks in advance:
Jose Antonio Gonzalez Oreja Dept. Zoology & DCA University of the Basque Country P.O.Box 644 E-48080-Bilbao (Spain)
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3)
From: Werner Haberl
Subject: Re: Small mammals habitat selection
There is a large bulk of literature on small mammal habitat selection. You will see that you can hardly manage to get through the jungle of references a BIOSIS or ZOOL. RECORDS search would reveal.
I have conducted a quick search through "The Shrew Bibliography" and extracted just a few references that might be of help to you. (References can be read at: http://members.vienna.at/shrew/bibselections2.html).
Best wishes, Werner _______________________________________________________________________
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o SHREW-MATEUR
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1)
From: audiojon@bellatlantic.net
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 20:36:03 -0700
Subject: shrews vs. moles
hi, first let me say "thank you". I was trying to find what a shrew looks like due to a discussion with my mother. From what I've seen of moles, it appears as tho' the shrew & mole have very similar physical characteristics, is this so? You see, my yard has so many "mole-holes" & while I was working in the yard one day, this little (what I thought at that time) mole was foraging around on top of the ground, not under ground in its tunnels. I found this rather strange & asked my mother if moles looked for food above ground & that's when she advised me that the shrew & mole may differ by the length (size)of their snout. If you have a few moments, I would apreciate it if you would e-mail me your findings on the difference between the two. thank you, audiojon@bellatlantic.net
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2)
From: Werner Haberl
Subject: Re: shrews vs. moles
'There is an amazing confusion about moles (Talpidae) and certain rodents and shrews. Pocket gophers, and in some places even field mice, are often referred to as moles. Not everything that works underground is a mole! Moles have soft fur, a compact body with a rather naked snout, minute eyes, and spadelike front feet, altogether well adapted to their subterranean life. Earth mounds reveal their presence. Moles usually stay underground (Genera: Scapanus, Scalopus and Parascalops). the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata, of the northeastern part of the U.S. and adjacent parts of Canada, differs somewhat in habits, and may come out of subterranean runways and continue them in the grass. The little shrew-mole, Neurotrichus gibbsi, 4,5 inches long, of the Pacific Coast from southwestern British Columbia to Monterey County of California, is even less orthodox. Not only is it a good swimmer but it may climb into bushes. Lloyd Ingles speaks of it thus: "...If the shade is not too thick, one may possibly catch a glimpse of a tiny mammal, resembling a large shrew, tapping the ground with its long snout, as it walks slowly along in search of food. This is the shrew-mole, which...resembles both a shrew and a mole, and is about intermediate between them in size..."
Shrews (Soricidae) are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "moles". They predominantly forage above ground in the vegetation and find shelter under bark, logs, and the forest litter. They do not burrow in hard soil, but have runways in moss or other vegetation and use the burrows and runways of other small mammals.'
(This information was excerpted from: Murie, O.J. 1954. A Field Guide to Animal Tracks. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.)
You can find further info and pictures in any book on mammal biology or field guide that you can get in your public library. The main features of the mole though, are its obvious spade-like forefeet with long claws.
Best wishes, Werner
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o SHREW BIBLIOGRAPHY: New Papers ***********************************************************************
ÒThe Shrew BibliographyÓ is a collection of more than 6000 references to research on the biology of the Soricidae (Insectivora, Mammalia) and small mammal ecology. More info: http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewbib.html
To announce your new research papers/books, please follow the instructions (separate fields with the character "#"):
Author(s)#Year#Title#Journal&Page No.#Abstract#Keywords#Address
*I* would appreciate receiving a reprint of your paper and/or a list of your publications to add to the bibliography.
NEW PAPERS/BOOKS:
Bedford, J.M., O.B. Mock, D.M. Phillips (1997). Unusual ampullary sperm crypts, and behavior and role of the cumulus oophorus, in the oviduct of the least shrew, Cryptotis parva. Biology of Reproduction 56: 1255-1267.
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o WHAT'S NEW ON THE SHREW (ist's) SITE? *********************************************************************** http://members.vienna.at/shrew
o Last Update: 17 June 1997
o Number of Visitors (Date: 17 June 1997): 3159
o Number of "Shrewists on E-mail": > 173 _______________________________________________________________________
o New Pages:
Archives of SHREW TALK: http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewtalk.html
Shrew Bibliography Selections: http://members.vienna.at/shrew/bibselections.html _______________________________________________________________________
o New Photos: none (but many to come!) _______________________________________________________________________
o General Modifications:
The "Inquiry Bulletin Board" has been augmented by the SHREW TALK newsletter. The inquiry section will remain to contain "long-term" inquiries.
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o SHREW TALK INSTRUCTIONS ***********************************************************************
TO POST TO THE GROUP
All replies to the Shrew Talk inquiries should be posted to the group. However, if you prefer to reply to someone personally, *I* would appreciate receiving a copy of the mail (Cc or Bcc) and/or a summary of the "outcome".
Reply to shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at - include the words "Shrew Talk" in the subject line.
For the present, this is also my personal e-mail. If you would like mail to go to Werner Haberl rather than to the group, DO NOT include the words "Shrew Talk" in the subject line and/or please indicate in the body of the letter that it's personal.
To be removed from the list, write to the same address and ask to be removed. ***********************************************************************
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Dr. Werner Haberl Editor, SHREW TALK (http://members.vienna.at/shrew/shrewtalk.html) Hamburgerstr. 11, A-1050 Vienna, Austria
Email: shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at URL: http://members.vienna.at/shrew (The Shrew (ist's) Site)
The Shrew Bibliography (> 6000 references) (available on CD ROM) ==================================================================
This web site was created by
Dr. Werner Haberl. Address: Hamburgerstrasse 11, A-1050 Vienna, Austria.
E-mail: shrewbib@sorex.vienna.at
URL: http://members.vienna.at/shrew