Periodic Status Review for the Western Gray Squirrel
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Squirrels and Allies (Sciuridae Spp.)
Squirrels and Allies (Sciuridae Spp.) There are about 275 species of tree, ground, and flying squirrels throughout the world, ranging from the five-inch pygmy squirrel (Myosciurus pumilio) of Africa to the nearly three-foot giant squirrel (Ratufa indica) of Asia. Currently, there are five species of squirrel found in Rhode Island: The Eastern gray squirrel, the Southern flying squirrel, the red squirrel, the chipmunk, and the woodchuck. Tree squirrels are those species that nest in trees, while ground squirrels nest in underground burrows. This publication is intended to provide information on the above species found in Rhode Island. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Gray squirrels are the most common species of squirrel in Rhode Island. They are a tree squirrel, however they spend much of their time on the ground, and have adapted well to human-altered environments. They are commonly found in urban and suburban habitats. Gray squirrels can be grayish-brown, gray or black, with a white or light brown underside. Adults range in size from 15 to 20 inches, and between 1 to 1 ½ pounds. Their bushy tail accounts for almost half of their length. Gray squirrels may live between four and eight years in the wild, but they have been known to live up to ten years in captivity. They are active mainly during the day and do not hibernate. In the winter they spend days at a time in their nests, leaving only to gather food. Their habitat is mainly any wooded area with mast producing trees, where they live in tree cavities or leaf nests. -
Behavioral Aspects of Western Gray Squirrel Ecology
Behavioral aspects of western gray squirrel ecology Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Cross, Stephen P. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 11/10/2021 06:42:38 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/565181 BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF WESTERN GRAY SQUIRREL ECOLOGY by Stephen Paul Cross A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of. the DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY WITH A MAJOR IN ZOOLOGY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 6 9 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE I hereby recommend that this dissertation prepared under my direction by St e p h e n Paul Cross_______________________________ entitled B E H A V I O R A L A S P E C T S OF W E S T E R N G RAY__________ S Q U I R R E L E C O LOGY___________________________________ be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement of the degree of D O C T O R OF P H I L O S O P H Y_____________________________ Dissertation Director Date After inspection of the final copy of the dissertation, the following members of the Final Examination Committee concur in its approval and recommend its acceptance:* This approval and acceptance is contingent on the candidate's adequate performance and defense of this dissertation at the final oral examination. -
Symposium on the Gray Squirrel
SYMPOSIUM ON THE GRAY SQUIRREL INTRODUCTION This symposium is an innovation in the regional meetings of professional game and fish personnel. When I was asked to serve as chairman of the Technical Game Sessions of the 13th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners this seemed to be an excellent opportunity to collect most of the people who have done some research on the gray squirrel to exchange information and ideas and to summarize some of this work for the benefit of game managers and other biologists. Many of these people were not from the southeast and surprisingly not one of the panel mem bers is presenting a general resume of one aspect of squirrel biology with which he is most familiar. The gray squirrel is also important in Great Britain but because it causes extensive damage to forests. Much work has been done over there by Monica Shorten (Mrs. Vizoso) and a symposium on the gray squirrel would not be complete without her presence. A grant from the National Science Foundation through the American Institute of Biological Sciences made it possible to bring Mrs. Vizoso here. It is hoped that this symposium will set a precedent for other symposia at future wildlife conferences. VAGN FLYGER. THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GRAY SQUIRREL, SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS, TO ITS NEAREST RELATIVES By DR. ]. C. MOORE INTRODUCTION It seems at least slightly more probable at this point in our knowledge of the living Sciuridae, that the northeastern American gray squirrel's oldest known ancestors came from the Old \Vorld rather than evolved in the New. -
Genista Monspessulana – Montpellier Broom, Cape Broom, Canary Broom
Application for WoNS candidacy Genista monspessulana – Montpellier Broom, Cape Broom, Canary Broom Contact: Ashley Millar - (08) 9334 0312; Department of Environment and Conservation (WA) October 2010 Introduction Genista monspessulana (L.) L.A.S.Johnson (Fabaceae), also known more commonly as Montpellier Broom, Cape Broom and Canary Broom, is a woody legume weed with significant current and potential impacts on forestry production, biodiversity of natural ecosystems, grazing systems, access to amenity areas and fire risk. Infestations occur in all temperate states of Australia, with particularly severe infestations in the Adelaide Hills, southern Tasmania, central and southern Great Dividing Range of NSW, central Victoria and south west WA. G. monspessulana was ranked 37th in the initial evaluation of weeds nominated for Weeds of Natural Significance (WONS) (Thorp and Lynch 2000), with a particularly high impact score due to its formation of dense, impenetrable thickets arising from a long-lived soil seed bank (source: Henry et al . 2010). Species description: G. monspessulana is an erect, perennial slender shrub which grows up to 5-6m. It has trifoliolate petiolate leaves which are more or less glabrous. This species has yellow flowers which are produced from August to January. G. monspessulana occurs in loamy soil through to lateritic and peaty sand and is commonly found along rivers and roadsides (Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001; FLORABASE DEC 2010). G. monspessulana is native to the Mediterranean region that has become established, and is considered a persistent and deleterious plant, in several other regions of the world, including the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. It is considered deleterious because of its ability to form dense almost mono-cultural stands, which replace and suppress native flora and economically valuable timber plants (Lloyd 2000). -
Tree Squirrels
Tree Squirrels When the public is polled regarding suburban and urban wildlife, tree squirrels generally rank first as problem makers. Residents complain about them nesting in homes and exploiting bird feeders. Interestingly, squirrels almost always rank first among preferred urban/suburban wildlife species. Such is the Figure 1. The Eastern gray squirrel is from the deciduous paradox they present: We want them and we don’t and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests of eastern North want them, depending on what they are doing at any America, and was introduced into city parks, campuses, given moment. and estates in Washington in the early 1900s. (Drawing by Elva Paulson) Although tree squirrels spend a considerable amount of time on the ground, unlike the related ground squirrels, they are more at home in trees. Washington is home to four species of native tree squirrels and two species of introduced tree squirrels. Native Washington Tree Squirrels The Douglas squirrel, or chickaree (Tamiasciurus douglasii) measures 10 to 14 inches in length, including its tail. Its upper parts are reddish-or brownish-gray, and its underparts are orange to yellowish. The Douglas squirrel is found in stands of fir, pine, cedar, and other conifers in the Cascade Mountains and western parts of Washington. The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Fig. 4) is about the same size as the Douglas squirrel and lives in coniferous forests and semi-open woods in northeast Washington. It is rusty-red on the upper part and white or grayish white on its underside. The Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus, Fig. 2) is the largest tree squirrel in Washington, ranging from 18 to 24 inches in length. -
(GISD) 2021. Species Profile Cytisus Scoparius. Available F
FULL ACCOUNT FOR: Cytisus scoparius Cytisus scoparius System: Terrestrial Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Plantae Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida Fabales Fabaceae Common name giesta (Portuguese), Scotch broom (English), common broom (English), Irish broom (English), broomtops (English), European broom (English), Besenginster (German), genêt à balais (French) Synonym Sarothamnus scoparius , (L.) Wimmer ex Koch Spartium scoparium , (Linn.). Genista scoparius , (Lam.). Similar species Summary The densely growing Cytisus scoparius is a shrub indigenous to Europe and northern Asia that favours temperate climates and is found in abundance on sandy pastures and heaths. It is sparingly naturalized in sandy soil in North America. It grows best in dry, sandy soils in full sunlight and can also do well on soils high in boron. Where introduced, it colonizes pastures and cultivated fields, dry scrubland and \"wasteland\", and native grasslands. Most rapid spread of the plant has occurred along waterways where the seed is distributed by water. It is also spread rapidly along roads, where the seed is distributed by passing vehicles. Wind, birds, and other animals may also transport seeds. Seed re-introduction may occur from the sheep droppings during grazing. view this species on IUCN Red List Species Description Hoshovsky (1986) reports that is a perennial shrub of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. The shrubs are 1-2 metres high and deciduous. The green branches are strongly angled and appear naked or almost so. The leaves are trifoliolate with petioles 2-10mm long. The leaflets are obovate to oblanceolate, entire, strigose, and 6-12mm long. Unlike Cytisus monspessulanus (French broom) and Spartium junceum (Spanish broom), the yellow flowers of C. -
Species: Cytisus Scoparius, C. Striatus
Species: Cytisus scoparius, C. striatus http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/cytspp/all.html SPECIES: Cytisus scoparius, C. striatus Table of Contents Introductory Distribution and occurrence Botanical and ecological characteristics Fire ecology Fire effects Management considerations References INTRODUCTORY AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION FEIS ABBREVIATION SYNONYMS NRCS PLANT CODE COMMON NAMES TAXONOMY LIFE FORM FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS OTHER STATUS Scotch broom Portuguese broom © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's © 2005 Michael L. Charters, Sierra Madre, College CA. AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION: Zouhar, Kris. 2005. Cytisus scoparius, C. striatus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2007, September 24]. FEIS ABBREVIATION: CYTSCO CYTSTR CYTSPP 1 of 54 9/24/2007 4:15 PM Species: Cytisus scoparius, C. striatus http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/cytspp/all.html SYNONYMS: None NRCS PLANT CODE [141]: CYSC4 CYST7 COMMON NAMES: Scotch broom Portuguese broom English broom scotchbroom striated broom TAXONOMY: The scientific name for Scotch broom is Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link [48,55,57,63,105,112,126,132,147,154,160] and for Portuguese broom is C. striatus (Hill) Rothm. [55,63,132]. Both are in the pea family (Fabaceae). In North America, there are 2 varieties of Scotch broom, distinguished by their flower color: C. scoparius var. scoparius and C. scoparius var. andreanus (Puiss.) Dipp. The former is the more widely distributed variety, and the latter occurs only in California [63]. This review does not distinguish between these varieties. -
Thurston County Species List
Washington Gap Analysis Project 202 Species Predicted or Breeding in: Thurston County CODE COMMON NAME Amphibians RACAT Bullfrog RHCAS Cascade torrent salamander ENES Ensatina AMMA Long-toed salamander AMGR Northwestern salamander RAPR Oregon spotted frog DITE Pacific giant salamander PSRE Pacific treefrog (Chorus frog) RAAU Red-legged frog TAGR Roughskin newt ASTR Tailed frog PLVA Van Dyke's salamander PLVE Western redback salamander BUBO Western toad Birds BOLE American bittern FUAM American coot COBR American crow CIME American dipper CATR American goldfinch FASP American kestrel TUMI American robin HALE Bald eagle COFA Band-tailed pigeon HIRU Barn swallow STVA Barred owl CEAL Belted kingfisher THBE Bewick's wren PAAT Black-capped chickadee PHME Black-headed grosbeak ELLE Black-shouldered kite (White-tailed kite DENI Black-throated gray warbler DEOB Blue grouse ANDI Blue-winged teal EUCY Brewer's blackbird CEAM Brown creeper MOAT Brown-headed cowbird PSMI Bushtit CACAL California quail BRCA Canada goose VISO Cassin's vireo (Solitary vireo) BOCE Cedar waxwing PARU Chestnut-backed chickadee SPPA Chipping sparrow NatureMapping 2007 Washington Gap Analysis Project ANCY Cinnamon teal HIPY Cliff swallow TYAL Common barn-owl MERME Common merganser CHMI Common nighthawk COCOR Common raven GAGA Common snipe GETR Common yellowthroat ACCO Cooper's hawk JUHY Dark-eyed (Oregon) junco PIPU Downy woodpecker STVU European starling COVE Evening grosbeak PAIL Fox sparrow ANST Gadwall AQCH Golden eagle RESA Golden-crowned kinglet PECA Gray jay ARHE Great -
Acoustic Comunication of Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus): Field Observations and Plaiback Experiments
ACOUSTIC COMUNICATION OF RED SQUIRRELS (TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS): FIELD OBSERVATIONS AND PLAIBACK EXPERIMENTS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Stephen George Frost IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF EASTER OF SCIENCE IDEGREE GRANTED June 1978 i; TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Site Sound Level Measurements Playback Methods Laboratory Work RESULTS Vocalizations 11 Peep 11 Groan 13 Chuck 14 Trill 15 Scream 18 Chatter (air) 19 Whine 22 Multiple-Chuck 23 Growl 25 Chuckle 27 Buzz 28 Squeak 30 Non-vocal Acoustic Sounds 30 Drumming 30 Substrate Scratching and Rapid Ascent 31 Teeth Chattering 32 Tail Movements Accompanying Acoustical Communication 32 Vocal Behavior upon Release from Captivity 32 Sound Levels of Red Squirrel Sounds 33 Graded Nature of Red Squirrel Vocalizations 34 Playback Experiments 35 DISCUSSION 4o SUMMARY 57 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 58 LITERATURE CITED 59 APPENDIX A: FIGURES 61 APPENDIX B: TABLES 90 ii LIST OF FIGURES Page Fig. 1. Grid map of Itasca Biology Station study area. • • . 63 Fig. 2. Dye-marking number locations. • . • . • • • .. 65 Fig. 3. Sonograms of red squirrel vocalizations. .. 67 Fig. 4. Sonograms of red squirrel vocalizations. • . • • . 69 Fig. 5. Gradations of some red squirrel vocalizations. .. 71 Fig. 6. Gradations of some red squirrel vocalizations. .. 73 Fig. 7. Histograms of behavioral responses of the red squirrel to playbacks of a one minute alarm sequence of 127 Peep, twelve Chuck, and three Groan vocalizations. .. • • • • • • ... 75 Fig. 8. Histograms of behavioral responses of the red squirrel to playbacks of a Trill vocalization (preceded by five Peeps) three times during one minute. -
Habitat Fragmentation Provides a Competitive Advantage to an Invasive Tree Squirrel, Sciurus Carolinensis
Biol Invasions DOI 10.1007/s10530-017-1560-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Habitat fragmentation provides a competitive advantage to an invasive tree squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis Tyler Jessen . Yiwei Wang . Christopher C. Wilmers Received: 13 April 2017 / Accepted: 2 September 2017 Ó Springer International Publishing AG 2017 Abstract Changes in the composition of biological (Sciurus griseus) by non-native eastern gray tree communities can be elicited by competitive exclusion, squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). We tested this wherein a species is excluded from viable habitat by a hypothesis along a continuum of invasion across three superior competitor. Yet less is known about the role study sites in central California. We found that within of environmental change in facilitating or mitigating the developed areas of the University of California at exclusion in the context of invasive species. In these Santa Cruz campus and city of Santa Cruz, S. situations, decline in a native species can be due to the carolinensis excluded S. griseus from viable habitat. effects of habitat change, or due to direct effects from The competitive advantage of S. carolinensis may be invasive species themselves. This is summarized by due to morphological and/or behavioral adaptation to the ‘‘driver-passenger’’ concept of native species loss. terrestrial life in fragmented hardwood forests. We We present a multi-year study of tree squirrels that classify S. carolinensis as a ‘‘driver’’ of the decline of tested the hypothesis that tree canopy fragmentation, native S. griseus in areas with high tree canopy often a result of human development, influenced the fragmentation. Future habitat fragmentation in west- replacement of native western gray tree squirrels ern North America may result in similar invasion dynamics between these species. -
Patterns of Pollination and Seed Predation Limit Scotch Broom (Cytisus Scoparius L.) Robert Bode, Phd Saint Martin’S University Our Well-Known Nemesis
Patterns of Pollination and Seed Predation Limit Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) Robert Bode, PhD Saint Martin’s University Our Well-Known Nemesis • Cytisus scoparius L. • Noxious, invasive, toxic, etc. • Self-incompatible • Biocontrols introduced Self-Incompatibility • Unusual in an invasive • Goldenrod in Britain and Japan • Kudzu may evolve selfing (Steven et al 2013) • Invader in need of a pollinator Pollinator limitation • Scotch broom is pollinator limited (Parker 1997) • But it seems to be doing just fine… • Do urban structures limit pollination in broom? Pollinator selection on Floral Traits in Scotch broom • If pollinators are limiting broom, their choice should exert selective pressure • We may see pollinator choice • Footprint of evolution past Selection along a gradient • Urban patches may be distinct samples • Gradient along Martin Way • Will bees prefer certain plants? • Will flowers be different sizes? Flower size varies, but without a pattern Malo and Baonza 2002 • If selection is present, it has not led to local adaptations • Gene flow may homogenize the population 26 25 24 23 22 • Variation is higher within sites 21 20 than in Malo and Baonza’s entire 19 18 Banner Width (mm) Width Banner study! 17 16 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Site number Selection on flowers differs between urban and rural populations Slope of the line as a selection gradient: pollination as a proxy for fitness Urban Rural Site 31 Site 1 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.5 y = -0.0537x + 1.294 y = 0.0613x - 0.734 0.3 0.4 Pollinated (Fitness) Pollinated Pollinated -
Scotch Broom
C Fabaceae—Pea family Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link Scotch broom Susan E. Meyer Dr. Meyer is a research ecologist at the USDA Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah Growth habit, occurrence, and uses. The genus indigenous species. The result is that seed production may Cytisus comprises about 80 species native to Eurasia and be severely pollinator-limited (Parker 1997). In spite of this, North Africa. Many are cultivated as ornamentals, and sever- the plants may produce a prodigious number of seeds; the al of these have become more or less naturalized in the estimated mean annual production per plant was about United States, especially in California (Munz and Keck 10,000 seeds in 2 California populations (Bossard and 1959). Scotch broom—C. scoparius (L.) Link—was planted Rejmanek 1994). Host-specific pre-dispersal seed predators extensively for erosion control during the first half of the from Europe (a seed weevil and a bruchid beetle) have been century (Gill and Pogge 1974) but is now considered a seri- introduced for biocontrol of Scotch broom in the Northwest, ous invasive weed throughout the range of its introduction in but so far these introductions have been largely ineffective, North America, Australia, and New Zealand (Bossard 1991). possibly because of asynchrony in the phenology of host It has become the dominant species on several hundred and seed predator (Bravo 1980). thousand hectares of coastal and cis-montane vegetation, Plants reach reproductive maturity at about 4 years of from Santa Barbara, California, north to British Columbia. It age (Gill and Pogge 1974).