| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 生命科學研究所 === 84 === The activity pattern of spinous country rats(Niviventer
coxingi) and the affecting factors were studied by auto-
triggered cameras from April 1995 to March 1996 in Wu-tou Mt.
Nature Reserve, Ping-Tung. Trapping and marking also proceeded
in order to estimate population size and study the difference
of activity pattern between males and females.Results showed
that the cicradian rhythm of N. coxingi was influenced
sequentially by the solar illumination, lunar cycle and the
feeding requirement. N coxingi is strictly nocturnal animal.
Their initiation of daily activity is according to the time of
sunset. The amount and the pattern of activity during the night
time, however, were coincided with lunar cycle. Their activity
occurred mostly during moonset, but in the period when moonrise
before midnight, they will still active because of feeding
requirement. In each stage of lunar cycle, the activity pattern
was different: they were least active at full moon period,
mostly before and after new moon, and moderately at new moon
period. Thus it appeared that both the maximal and minimal
lunar illumination depressed their activity level. There was
also a monthly fluctuation in their activity level during the
year. The home range establish- ment, reproductive status and
predator avoidance were regarded to be the major factors caused
the monthly fluctuation observed in the present study.
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