The Effects of body size, season, and food type on food selection of eastern woodrats.

Abstract

Experimental evidence shows that food selection of eastern woodrats might be affected by food type, season, and body size. Most studies of the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) have involved translocating animals to more unnatural conditions. The purpose of my study was to find if body size, season, and food type affected food selection of eastern woodrats under more natural conditions. To accomplish this, I conducted two experiments concurrently, one using novel foods and the other using natural foods. The study was conducted from 10 November 1997 to 12 March 1998. In the first experiment, I tested the hypothesis that novel food selection among eastern woodrats would differ relative to body size, season, and food type (i.e., energy content and perishability). In the second experiment, I tested the hypothesis that natural food selection among eastern woodrats would differ relative to body size, season, and food type (i.e., perishability). I used a general linear model repeated measures procedure to test the effect of body size, season, and food type on food selection of eastern woodrats. There was a significant difference (P = 0.008) for food type and a significant interaction (P < 0.0005) between body size and food type in the novel food experiment. A significant difference (P = 0.024) for food type and a significant interaction (P = 0.009) among body size, season, and food type was found in the natural food experiment. Detectable trends support the results and predictions of other food studies on the eastern woodrat. Because of the similar results for food type and interactions between and among factors for both experiments, I suggest my results support the hypothesis of an effect of body size, season, and food type on food selection of eastern woodrats under more natural conditions, but these effects and interactions cannot be separated by the methods I used.