Description
Taxonomy
Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Animalia | Chordata | Mammalia | Rodentia | Muridae | Mus |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1881 | Established | Stable | Introduced | Boundary Resident | Europe | Eurasia | Shipping(unspecified),Agriculture(Agricultural Weed) |
History of Spread
Mus musculus (House Mouse) is probably native to central Asia, and possibly the Mediterranean. It was introduced to Britain in Roman times (Lever 1985). The actual dates of introduction of M. musculus to North America and Chesapeake Bay are unknown, but it is assumed to have become established soon after European settlement. One book gives the date as 'probably during the years of the American revolution' (Webster et al. 1985), while another indicates that they were introduced to Canada around 1820 (Lever 1985). Mus musculus are widespread indoors in North America, and throughout the world, but are also found in the wild, especially on islands where other rodent competitors may be scarce (Berry 1991). Feral M. musculus have been collected throughout MD and VA (Bailey 1946; Paradiso 1969).
The date of Mus musculus' appearance in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is unknown. William H. Fisher, writing in 1895, mentioned a black specimen caught in Baltimore in 1881 (Lee 1988). Mus musculus populations probably occur on shorelines and marshes throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, but have been best studied on the Atlantic barrier islands (Assateague-Hog Islands, MD-Va), where they occurred in all habitats, including dunes and salt marshes (Paradiso and Handley 1965; Paradiso 1969; Dueser et al. 1986; Cranford and Maly 1990; Kirkland and Fleming 1990; Scott and Davidson 1992). Paradiso (1969) records several collections from MD Chesapeake Bay shore locations in Calvert County (Drum Point, Scientists Cliffs, Solomons Island, Plum Point), Charles County (Nanjemoy Creek), and Queen Annes County (Parson Island).
History References- Cranford and Maly 1990; Dueser et al. 1986; Kirkland and Fleming 1990; Lee 1988; Lever 1985; Paradiso and Handley 1965; Paradiso 1969; Scott and Davidson 1992; Webster et al. 1985
Invasion Comments
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
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Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
Temperature (ºC) | ||||
Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
Oxygen | ||||
pH | ||||
Salinity Range | fresh-eu |
Age and Growth
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
Minimum Adult Size (mm) | ||
Typical Adult Size (mm) | ||
Maximum Adult Size (mm) | ||
Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
Start | Peak | End | |
---|---|---|---|
Reproductive Season | |||
Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
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Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
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Fertilization Type(s) | |||
More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
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Reproductive Startegy | |||
Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
While Mus musculus (House Mice) are an important domestic and agricultural pest in our region, populations in marshes, dunes, and other littoral habitats do not appear to be of economic importance.
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
While Mus musculus (House Mice) are an important domestic and agricultural pest worldwide, populations in marshes, dunes, and other littoral habitats do not appear to be of economic importance.
References- Berry 1991
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Mus musculus (House Mice) have established feral populations in a wide range of habitats around the Chesapeake Bay region, including Atlantic barrier islands (Scott and Dueser 1986).
Competition- Experimental removal of Mus musculus (House Mice) from trap sites on Assateague Island had no detectable effect on abundance or habitat use by native Peromyscus leucopus (White-Footed Mice). Conversely, P. leucopus removal had no detectable effect on M. musculus populations (Scott and Dueser 1986).
References- Scott and Dueser 1986.
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Mus musculus (House Mice) have established feral populations in a wide range of habitats around the Chesapeake Bay region, including Atlantic barrier islands. However, interactions with other native biota have not been reported.
References
Bailey, John (1946) The Mammals of Virginia, In: (Eds.) . , Richmond, VA. Pp.Berry, R. J. (1991) House mouse Mus domesticus, In: Corbet, Gordon B.//Harris, Stephen(Eds.) The Handbook of British Mammals. , London. Pp. 239-247
Cranford, Jack A.; Maly, Mark S. (1990) Small mammal population densities and habitat associations on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, Virginia, Virginia Journal of Science 41: 321-329
Dueser, Raymond D; Brown, William C.; Hogue, Gregory S.; McCaffrey, Cheryl; McCuskey, Sue; Hennesey, Gerald J. (1979) Mammals on the Virginia Barrier Islands, Journal of Mammalogy 60: 425-429
Dueser, Raymond D.; Porter, John H. (1986) Habitat use by insular small mammals: Relative effects of competition and habitat structure, Ecology 81: 195-201
Hall, E. Raymond; Kelson, Keith R. (1959) The Mammals of North America, , New York. Pp.
Kirkland, Gordon L.; Fleming, Thomas V. G. (1990) Ecology of feral house mice (Mus musculus) on Wallops Island, Virginia, Virginia Journal of Science 41: 330-339
Lee, David S. (1988) Wm. H. Fisher's 'Mammals of Maryland': a previously unknown compilation of the state's fauna, Maryland Naturalist 32: 9-37
Lever, Christopher (1985) Naturalized mammals of the world., In: (Eds.) . , London. Pp.
Mills, Edward L.; Leach, Joseph H.; Carlton, James T.; Secor, Carol L. (1993) Exotic species in the Great Lakes: a history of biotic crises and anthropogenic introductions., Journal of Great Lakes Research 19: 1-54
Mills, Edward L.; Scheuerell, Mark D.; Carlton, James T.; Strayer, David (1997) Biological invasions in the Hudson River: an inventory and historical analysis., New York State Museum Circular 57: 1-51
Paradiso, John L. (1969) Mammals of Maryland, , Washington, D.C.. Pp.
Paradiso, John L.; Handley, Charles O. (1965) Checklist of mammals of Assateague Island, Chesapeake Science 6: 167-171
Scott, David E.; Dueser, Raymond D. (1992) Habitat use by insular populations of Mus and Peromyscus: What is the role of competition?, Ecology 61: 329-338
Walker, Ernest P. (1968) Mammals of the World, , Baltimore, MD. Pp.
Webster, William D.; Parnell, James F.; Biggs, Walter C. (1985) Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland., , Chapel Hill. Pp.