User:Brian Waterbury/sandbox

Population (Peer reviewing Brian's rough draft)
Population Density:

Eastern Woodrats are typically solitary creatures, so they usually have a buffer between territories. The females have a smaller territory than males, averaging around 0.17ha. Males average around 0.26ha and the species-wide average territory area is 662 square meters. Being solitary, the rats tend not to stray much farther than 21m from their nests unless sexually active or for a preferred food. This species is found in 17 states of the South-Eastern and South-Central United States. With a wide range, but low population density this species is considered uncommon. No official count of the species has been done for the entirety of their range, but it is know that their total population well exceeds 10,000. The population overall has been decreasing since 1982. The primary cause for this decline has been habitat loss in the South-Eastern United States due to human development of the Coastal Plains.

Growth and Regulation:

Eastern Woodrats have been assigned the global rank of G-5, meaning the species is secure. They are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in 5 of the 17 states that they are found in. State status designations may not be accurate since there is little research done where woodrats are presumed to be common. All states with recorded population decline are on the edge of the species range. The only conservation action taken has been habitat protection in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, and Florida.

(I found your "population density" as well as "growth and regulation section pretty appropriate!!)

(Because you have added mortality rate later in this category, you might want to consider adding another subsection saying reproduction)

Life History:

The male to female ratio for newborns is 1:1; female young are given food over males when food is scarce. The young wean for 3-4 weeks and become independent after 70-90 days. Reproductive maturity occurs for females after 5-6 months and after a year for males. Juveniles have yet to molt, have soft gray fur, and typically weigh about 150g ("gm"). “Sub-adults” are darker in fur color than adults; males weigh less than 250g (do you mean grams over here, if so them abbreviation for gram is "gm") and females weigh less than 200g ("gm"). Adults are classified as such after they attain sexual maturity. The Eastern Woodrat is solitary and aggressive; they attack other woodrats and are very territorial. If a female is involved in a fight she is usually the aggressor.

Mortality Rate:

In captivity the Eastern Woodrat has been recorded to live for up to 8.6 years, however the average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. The majority of deaths occur within their first year of life. In a study done in 1956, 27 individuals were caught in Kansas. Of those individuals only 6 survived to adulthood and only 3 lived long enough to reproduce.

Population Genetics:

(Something to consider in the paragraph below is using "italics" feature for scientific names of the sub-species)

There are 8 species under the semispecies “Neotoma floridana”, these being Neotoma floridana illinoensis, Neotoma floridana floridana, Neotoma floridana smalli, Neotoma floridana baileyi, Neotoma floridana pennsylvanica, Neotoma floridana attwateri, Neotoma floridan osagensis, and Neotoma floridana rubida.

Neotoma floridana magister was once thought to be a subspecies to the Neotoma floridana species, but was later found to be a species of its’ own in 2001 due to a significant difference in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Populations of the various Eastern Woodrats from the southern and western United States also have relatively different DNA structure in the cytochrome b gene; a sequence divergence of 5.3% which implies a current divergence of the subspecies into new species.

Wikipedia Stub Expansion Bibliography
1) Guilliams, B. 2008. "Neotoma floridana" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 06, 2016 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Neotoma_floridana/

2) Monty, Anne-Marie and Feldhamer, George A. (2002) Conservation Assesment for The Eastern Woodrat, and Allegheny Woodrat, Accessed November 6, 2016 at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_054316.pdf

3) Pearson, P. (1952). Observations concerning the Life History and Ecology of the Woodrat, Neotoma floridana floridana (Ord). Journal of Mammalogy, 33(4), 459-463. doi:1. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1376018 doi:1

4) McClure, P. A. and Randolph, J. C. (1980), Relative Allocation of Energy to Growth and Development of Homeothermy in the Eastern Wood Rat (Neotoma floridana) and Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus). Ecological Monographs, 50: 199–219. doi: 10.2307/1942479

5) Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Jordan, R.A. & Hammerson, G.). 2008. Neotoma floridana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T42650A10740600. Downloaded on 26 October 2016.

6) McCleery, R.A., Lopez, R.R., Silvy, N.J.Frank, P.A. and S.B. Klett. 2006. Population status and habitat selection of the endangered Key Largo woodrat. Amer. Midl. Nat. 155(1):197-209.

7)Molecular Phylogenetics of the Neotoma Floridana Species Group, Cody W. Edwards, Robert D. Bradley, Journal of Mammalogy Aug 2001, 82 (3) 791-798; DOI: 10.1644/1545-1542(2001)082<0791:MPOTNF>2.0.CO;2

Wikipedia Stub Expansion Bibliography
1) Guilliams, B. 2008. "Neotoma floridana" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 06, 2016 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Neotoma_floridana/

2) Monty, Anne-Marie and Feldhamer, George A. (2002) Conservation Assesment for The Eastern Woodrat, and Allegheny Woodrat, Accessed November 6, 2016 at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_054316.pdf

3) Pearson, P. (1952). Observations concerning the Life History and Ecology of the Woodrat, Neotoma floridana floridana (Ord). Journal of Mammalogy, 33(4), 459-463. doi:1. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1376018 doi:1

4) McClure, P. A. and Randolph, J. C. (1980), Relative Allocation of Energy to Growth and Development of Homeothermy in the Eastern Wood Rat (Neotoma floridana) and Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus). Ecological Monographs, 50: 199–219. doi: 10.2307/1942479 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/1942479/abstract

5) Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Jordan, R.A. & Hammerson, G.). 2008. Neotoma floridana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T42650A10740600. Downloaded on 26 October 2016. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/42650/0

6) McCleery, R.A., Lopez, R.R., Silvy, N.J.Frank, P.A. and S.B. Klett. 2006. Population status and habitat selection of the endangered Key Largo woodrat. Amer. Midl. Nat. 155(1):197-209. https://irnr.tamu.edu/media/256903/population_status_and_habitat_selection_of_the_endangered_key_largo_woodrat.pdf

7)Molecular Phylogenetics of the Neotoma Floridana Species Group, Cody W. Edwards, Robert D. Bradley, Journal of Mammalogy Aug 2001, 82 (3) 791-798; DOI: 10.1644/1545-1542(2001)082<0791:MPOTNF>2.0.CO;2 http://jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/content/82/3/791.full

Wikipedia Stub Expansion: Population Biology Outline

 * Population Genetics
 * Demography & Life History Evolution

- growth rate
 * Interactions Among the Species

-age structure

-sex ratio

-mortality rate

Wikipedia Stub Expansion: Population Biology Rough Draft
Population Density:

Eastern Woodrats are typically solitary creatures, so they usually have a buffer between territories. The females have a smaller territory than males, averaging around 0.17ha. Males average around 0.26ha and the species-wide average territory area is 662 square meters. Being solitary, the rats tend not to stray much farther than 21m from their nests unless sexually active or for a preferred food. This species is found in 17 states of the South-Eastern and South-Central United States. With a wide range, but low population density this species is considered uncommon. No official count of the species has been done for the entirety of their range, but it is know that their total population well exceeds 10,000. The population overall has been decreasing since 1982. The primary cause for this decline has been habitat loss in the South-Eastern United States due to human development of the Coastal Plains.

Growth and Regulation:

Eastern Woodrats have been assigned the global rank of G-5, meaning the species is secure. They are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in 5 of the 17 states that they are found in. State status designations may not be accurate since there is little research done where woodrats are presumed to be common. All states with recorded population decline are on the edge of the species range. The only conservation action taken has been habitat protection in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, and Florida.

Life History:

The male to female ratio for newborns is 1:1; female young are given food over males when food is scarce. The young wean for 3-4 weeks and become independent after 70-90 days. Reproductive maturity occurs for females after 5-6 months and after a year for males. Juveniles have yet to molt, have soft gray fur, and typically weigh about 150 g. “Sub-adults” are darker in fur color than adults; males weigh less than 250 g and females weigh less than 200 g. Adults are classified as such after they attain sexual maturity. The Eastern Woodrat is solitary and aggressive; they attack other woodrats and are very territorial. If a female is involved in a fight she is usually the aggressor.

Mortality Rate:

In captivity the Eastern Woodrat has been recorded to live for up to 8.6 years, however the average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. The majority of deaths occur within their first year of life. In a study done in 1956, 27 individuals were caught in Kansas. Of those individuals only 6 survived to adulthood and only 3 lived long enough to reproduce.

Population Genetics:

There are 8 species under the semispecies “Neotoma floridana”, these being Neotoma floridana illinoensis, Neotoma floridana floridana, Neotoma floridana smalli, Neotoma floridana baileyi, Neotoma floridana pennsylvanica, Neotoma floridana attwateri, Neotoma floridan osagensis, and Neotoma floridana rubida.

Neotoma floridana magister was once thought to be a subspecies to the Neotoma floridana species, but was later found to be a species of its’ own in 2001 due to a significant difference in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Populations of the various Eastern Woodrats from the southern and western United States also have relatively different DNA structure in the cytochrome b gene; a sequence divergence of 5.3% which implies a current divergence of the subspecies into new species.

Population Biology: Final Draft
Population Density:

Eastern Woodrats are typically solitary creatures, so they usually have a buffer between territories. The females have a smaller territory than males, averaging around 0.17 ha. Males average around 0.26 ha and the species-wide average territory area is 662 square meters. Being solitary, the rats tend not to stray much farther than 21 m from their nests unless sexually active or for a preferred food. This species is found in 17 states of the South-Eastern and South-Central United States. With a wide range, but low population density this species is considered uncommon. No official count of the species has been done for the entirety of their range, but it is know that their total population well exceeds 10,000. The population overall has been decreasing since 1982. The primary cause for this decline has been habitat loss in the South-Eastern United States due to human development of the Coastal Plains.

Growth and Regulation:

Eastern Woodrats have been assigned the global rank of G-5, meaning the species is secure. They are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in 5 of the 17 states that they are found in. State status designations may not be accurate since there is little research done where woodrats are presumed to be common. All states with recorded population decline are on the edge of the species range. The only conservation action taken has been habitat protection in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, and Florida.

Mortality Rate:

In captivity the Eastern Woodrat has been recorded to live for up to 8.6 years, however the average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. The majority of deaths occur within their first year of life. In a study done in 1956, 27 individuals were caught in Kansas. Of those individuals only 6 survived to adulthood and only 3 lived long enough to reproduce.

Life History:

The male to female ratio for newborns is 1:1; female young are given food over males when food is scarce. The young wean for 3-4 weeks and become independent after 70-90 days. Reproductive maturity occurs for females after 5-6 months and after a year for males. Juveniles have yet to molt, have soft gray fur, and typically weigh about 150 g. “Sub-adults” are darker in fur color than adults; males weigh less than 250 g and females weigh less than 200 g. Adults are classified as such after they attain sexual maturity. The Eastern Woodrat is solitary and aggressive; they attack other woodrats and are very territorial. If a female is involved in a fight she is usually the aggressor.

Population Genetics:

There are 8 species under the semispecies “Neotoma floridana”, these being Neotoma floridana illinoensis, Neotoma floridana floridana, Neotoma floridana smalli, Neotoma floridana baileyi, Neotoma floridana pennsylvanica, Neotoma floridana attwateri, Neotoma floridan osagensis, and Neotoma floridana rubida.

Neotoma floridana magister was once thought to be a subspecies to the Neotoma floridana species, but was later found to be a species of its’ own in 2001 due to a significant difference in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Populations of the various Eastern Woodrats from the southern and western United States also have relatively different DNA structure in the cytochrome b gene; a sequence divergence of 5.3% which implies a current divergence of the subspecies into new species.