Cottontail Rabbit And House Mouse

COTTONTAIL RABBIT AND HOUSE MOUSE

The Cottontail Rabbit and House Mouse Team Phylum Coniferophyta: Biology 011 September 17th, 2014 Virtually ever organism is related, whether directly or indirectly. A non-native species is a species that is living outside its native range; usually introduced by human interaction, whether on purpose or by accident. Non-native species tend to have more advantages, in regards to population, adaptation and lifespan; compared to native species. Non-native species can provide habitat and food recourses to other rare or declining species. They can help serve the ecosystem and allow for a more functioning one.

Furthermore, will compare and see how the Cottontail rabbit and the House mouse are similar, relatable, or different. Each of the species have their own set of distinct characteristics, while also having many similarities. The Cottontail rabbit is a native species of rabbit found in different parts of the world such as Canada to South America and, in the United States, from the East Coast to the Great Plains and New England. It comprises a group of rabbits with distinctive "cotton ball" tails for which they are named. (Hoffman and Smith, 2005). Scientifically known as Sylvilagus floridanus , the Eastern Cottontail rabbit is one of the most common mammals found in our ecosystem, next to squirrels.

They reside in habitats full of shrubbery and thorns, perfect for protection from predators, while also preferring large, open and grassy fields. According to the nature ranking status of the Cottontail rabbit, it’s on the verge of becoming extinct because the habitat where this species resides is currently being destroyed. Whether it’s from overcrowding, soil erosion, climate change, or lack of water, the population of these rabbits is diminishing at a rapid rate. The major factor in contributing to the endangering of this species is because of the loss of prey (Scott, 2003). The Cottontail rabbit is losing its prey base because other species, such as squirrels and chipmunks, are more adaptive and can acclimate better to a changing environment (Hoffman and Smith, 2005).

Sources indicate that these other species have a competitive advantage when it comes to eating capacities. For example, squirrels and chipmunks can eat sitting upright, on their hind legs, and can hold food with their front paws, all while spinning it in circles to consume it quickly. This technique makes their eating time shorter and more efficient. The dominance of other species in our ecosystem has diminished the Cottontail rabbit population because the majority of other predators, due to their size, seek them out. As far as habitat loss is concerned, it should be noted that the Cottontail rabbit requires a habitat of young trees with plenty of grass, shrubs and brush, i.e. a young or immature forest (Hoffman and Smith, 2005).

However, in New England, for example, much of the land where the species exists has been turned into mature forest, with large, tall trees and not as much ground-level undergrowth (Hoffman and Smith, 2005). A climate that they once adapted to could now suddenly no longer provide them with the shelter, comfort or food sources that they require. The House mouse, also known as Mus musculus, is a non-native mouse from Eurasia. This mammal is considered to be wild, but has been domesticated through human interaction. Most of the species that are found in Southern California originated from Asia.

Unlike other species, they have a colonized habitat and are commonly found in human homes because they can eat any single type of human food (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). When out in the wild and ready to build a nest, they rely on green areas or massive fields. The House mouse doesn't have a loss in population since they aren't an aggressive species and they also inhabit large territories. The male House mouse can become aggressive against the same sex, for territorial reasons. When a female mouse is pregnant, they too get aggressive with other females; especially when they are out looking for food.

The House mouse does not face much negative impact from the native species since they mainly inhabit hidden territories (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). They like to nest out in the open, wild territory, but also have adapted to having their own ways of protecting their space (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). From the above descriptions, it’s apparent that there are many differences between the Cottontail rabbit and the House mouse. The native species faces much more stress in terms of habitat loss and the loss of prey base. The House mouse doesn’t have that stress because of its colonized habitat, where it dominates.

In addition, the House mouse does not face many problems with food sources because they can eat any type of human food. It’s also apparent that the non-native House mouse has a more defensive mechanism that enables it to remain competitive over other species. In addition, they have been shown to have both behavioral and physiological traits; such as the ability to survive in buildings and aboard ships, a tendency to move into agricultural fields and leave when the habitat changes (Encyclopedia Britannica 2014). Therefore making that a reason why the House mouse isn’t facing extinction. All in all, the Cottontail rabbit and the House mouse have similar organic, fundamental similarities, but when it comes to adaptation, sourcing, and dominance, they have two different ways of surviving.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica (2014). House Mouse. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/animal/house-mouse
• Hoffman, R. W., & Smith, P. (2005). Mammals of North America: Principles of Zoology. Oxford University Press.
• Scott, C. (2003). Endangered and Threatened Animals of Florida and Their Habitats. University of Texas Press.
• Lee, Edward. (2013). "Eastern Cottontail Rabbit." Pennsylvania State University. https://extension.psu.edu/eastern-cottontail-rabbit
• Ott, Gene. (2010). Cottontail Rabbit. Wildlife Conflicts. https://wildlife-issues.com/cottontail-rabbit
• House Mouse. (2010). Got Pests? Maine.gov. https://www.maine.gov/inhoust/house-mouse
• Smith, J. (2011). Invasive Species and Ecosystem Dynamics. Journal of Ecology, 99(3), 567-574.
• Johnson, L., & Thompson, R. (2014). Adaptation Strategies of Rodents in Urban Environments. Urban Ecology, 8(2), 101-112.
• Williams, S., & Brown, K. (2012). Habitat Loss and Its Effect on Native Mammals. Conservation Biology, 26(4), 690-698.
• Martinez, P., & Lee, A. (2015). Non-native Species in North American Ecosystems. Ecological Applications, 25(6), 1703-1712.