Effect of abiotic factors on the burrow density of some sympatric field murids.

ABSTRACT

The burrow density of sympatric murids in relation to various abiotic factors viz· maximum and minimum atmospheric temperatures, relative humidity, soil temperature and soil moisture was studied in the agro-ecosystem of village Kakrod-Jind (Haryana) Analysis of monthly recorded data on burrow density revealed a biomodal pattern i. e. a peak each during the months of September and March· Of these abiotic factors, soil moisture revealed significant positive correlation with the burrow density whereas relative humidity exhibited invariably the least interaction· However, path co-efficient analysis depicted the direct effects of soil temperature and soil moisture and indirect effect of maximum and minimum atmospheric temperature through soil temperature on the burrow density· The use of path co-efficient analysis in such studies has been suggested·