Summary
Aggressive behavior of two morphologically and ecologically similar sympatric congeners, Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus nubiterrae, was studied in the field to determine whether coexistence between these two species could be mediated by interspecific territoriality.
In intra- and interspecific paired behavioral trials conducted in the home range of one of the animals, resident animals won between 53 and 93% of paried encounters against opponents of either species. Thus, dominance was site-specific and not species-specific.
Strong defense in centers of home ranges and lower levels of aggression on the periphery suggest that both species have defended core areas (territories) with peripheral areas of home range overlapping with neighbors of either species. Social organization of these two species is apparently based on mutual recognition of neighbors and intoleance and aggression toward strangers.
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Wolff, J.O., Freeberg, M.H. & Dueser, R.D. Interspecific territoriality in two sympatric species of Peromyscus (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 12, 237–242 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290776
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290776