Food Habits of Introduced Rodents in High-Elevation Shrubland of Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawai'i

摘要

Mus musculus and Rattus rattus are ubiquitous consumers inthe high-elevation shrubland of Haleakala National Park. Food habits of thesetwo rodent species were determined from stomach samples obtained by snap-trappingalong transects located at four different elevations during November1984 and February, May, and August 1985. Mus musculus fed primarily onfruits, grass seeds, and arthropods. Rattus rattus ate various fruits, dicot leaves,and arthropods. Arthropods, many of which are endemic, were taken frequentlyby Mus musculus throughout the year at the highest elevation where plantfood resources were scarce. Araneida, Lepidoptera (primarily larvae), Coleoptera,and Homoptera were the main arthropod taxa taken. These rodents,particularly Mus musculus, exert strong predation pressure on populationsof arthropod species, including locally endemic species on upper HaleakalaVolcano.