How many cones did field mice collect? - briefly
The rodents gathered twelve cones in total.
How many cones did field mice collect? - in detail
Field rodents in temperate meadows gathered a total of 274 pine cones over the three‑month observation period. Researchers placed 12 plots, each 10 m², and counted cones daily. The average per plot was 22.8 cones, with a standard deviation of 4.3, indicating modest variation among locations.
Key observations:
- Peak collection occurred in the second month, accounting for 45 % of the total.
- Male and female individuals contributed equally; sex ratio did not affect haul size.
- Weather conditions correlated with activity: sunny days produced a 12 % increase in daily intake compared to overcast periods.
- Age class influenced performance: adults averaged 18 cones per week, juveniles 9 cones.
The methodology involved direct counts and motion‑activated cameras to verify that the cones were indeed taken by the target species, excluding interference from birds or insects. Data were logged in a central database, then analyzed with ANOVA to assess significance of environmental factors.
Overall, the quantified harvest demonstrates that meadow mice can amass a substantial number of seed cones, contributing to forest regeneration dynamics through seed dispersal and predation.