Biology_of_Mustelids_Vol_1.pdf

124·
It is interesting to compare these results with the figures
obtained by Russian investigators.
In 1934-45, I.V. Zharkov calculated
the areas of the territories of stoats as follows lea) those of females
varied from 0.2-42.3 ha (average 7.1 ha : n = 28), while those of males
were larger and varied from 4.2-49 ha (average 20.5 ha : n = 11).
The
difference was actually much greater than these figures suggest, for only
one female's area exceeded 7.8 ha, and that was 42.3 hal
possibly she
changed her territory that day.
The size of the stoat's territory can be estimated by two methods.
One is to use parallel census lines, separated by the minimum width of the
territory of a female :
in this study this minimum width was 111 m,
so
100 m would be appropriate.
Measurements are made (see p.132) from every
print encountered along each line.
Another way to calculate distance
between census lines is to add the average lengths of the territories of
each sex, and divide by 2.(b)
This method gives a greater distance
between the lines which are therefore not only paralla. but also crosswise,
or chequered.
For example,
to calibrate the chequer method from figures
obtained in this investigation:
the average width of the territory of a
female stoat was 380 m, and of a male 900 m; the total is 1280 m, of
which half - i.e., the distance between census lines - is 640 m.
CalcuIa-
tions by the chequer method can be carried out qUickly by 2 persons and the
result is very satisfactory.
The shape of the stoats' territories varies noticeably as well
as their aspect.
Some territories are oblong, some a narrow strip (e.g.
those along streams), and others were more or less circular (Figs.1 and 6).
(a) the original inserts an- obscure phrase here, variously translated, which
probably means "by the chequer method" (see below) - Ed.
(b) i.e. the mean of the 2 means - Ed.