DOCSLIB.ORG

Behavioral Aspects of Western Gray Squirrel Ecology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

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. The inclusion of this sheet bound into the library copy of the dissertation is evidence of satisfactory performance at the final examination. STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced' degree at, The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allow- able without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment, of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manu­ script in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of. the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X wish to thank' Dr. E. LendeiX Cockrum, for his advice and assistance throughout my graduate studies, Drs, Russell P, Davis, C. Roger Hungerford and Stephen . < M. Russell contributed helpful advice and read the manu­ script critically, for which I am most grateful. Drs, Franklin Sturges and Joseph Hall were very helpful during the initial stages of the project, Messrs, Terry Rahe, Charles Phillips, Richard Walker, and Dr. William B . Purdom, assisted me in various phases of field work and captive animal studies. Two of my sons, Stephen and Michael, accompanied me on several field trips and assisted in mapping vegeta­ tion, My wife, Betty, in addition to her much appreciated encouragement and understanding, helped with some field work and in the preparation of this manuscript. Most of the field work for this study was conducted while I was a member of the faculty of Southern Oregon . College, Ashland. I am indebted to several individuals at that institution allowing me to carry on the work and for providing equipment, facilities, and monetary assist- .ance. iii iv . Additional financial .support was provided by The. American Museum of Natural History ~ Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund, The Society of the Sigma Xif and Tektronix Foundation. Field work during the summer 1968 was partially supported through a NASA Predoctoral Traineeship. TABLE OF CONTENTS - _ ' - . Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS v. , „ , , , . , yxi LIST OF TABLES . „ » . , : . , , . • « „ . ix ABSTRACT 0 9 9 « .? « * * « « « » » ? « «. * % * • « » '■ 5C INTRODUCTION . , , . , * . , . , . .1 METHODS AND MATERIALS . , , . • , ... ' 6 Description of Study Areas . , . , . , . ... 6 . Trapping and Marking . ... .. ... « , . 15 Radio Tracking Techniques , ... ... 17 Home Range Plotting . .......... 21 Observation and Experimentation . .. 2 4 POPULATIONS AND INTERSPECIFIC RELATIONS . .. 29 Population Size and Characteristics ..... , . 29 Interspecific Relations . .. .. , , . , . 34 Parasites and Disease . , , ... 34 Predation . , . , , , . .. 36 Competitors . , . , « . 38 DAILY ACTIVITY PATTERNS . , , , . 42 Onset of Activity . .. , , .. .• . 42 Diurnal Activity . .. , . 47 Cessation of . Activity . ' . , . , ■ 53 EGOCENTRIC BEHAVIOR 56 ■ Maintenance Behavior . , . , . ... 56 Investigation, Alarm and Escape, and Play ..... 60 ■ Feeding.Habits 69 ■ Nesting Habits , , . , . « ... 79 Nest Description 79 Nest Utilization , . , , . » . , . 87 REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR . , . , , .' . , V , . 99 Female Cycle , . .. , .' . .- 99 .. Male Cycle . , . ... ... .. 101 v ■ Vi . TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) '' ' Page I Mating Behavior ., , . 102 MOVEMENTS . , , . , , .. , » „ . , , . , . , , . 108 Home Range , . , , , , , . , » v v , . 109 Population Aspects . , , » . ■ .......... Ill Individual Variations . , . 118 Non-routine Movements . , . , .. , . .. 125 Ma1 1 ng » « % * « ^ ^ * $ « « » * * * * « 12 6 Feeding ... 126 Avoidance . « « . « . « . 12J. Dispersion and Exploration , , , , » ... , 129 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR « , . , 131 Communication and Agonistic Behavior 131 Social Hierarchy . , . , ... » , . , » . , » , 13 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS . .......... 145 LITERATURE C I T E D ......... .......................... .. 161 XjIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Figure . ,Page 1, Map of the vicinity of Ashland, Oregon showing areas mentioned in text 7 2, Temperature-moisture climogra'ph for Ashland, Oregon ........... .. , . 8 3, Map of the Baldy study area 10 4, Map of the Emigrant Lake study area , . » » . , 13 5, The Emigrant Lake study area (looking from east to west) » „ , 14 6 , Diagram of a typical radio unit used for tracking « , . 19 7, A feeder attached to a ponderosa pine 25 8, Western gray squirrel population trends for Jackson and Josephine counties, Oregon . , . , 32 9, Emergence times in relation to sunrise . « . , 43 10, Variation in activity after sunrise 48 11, Interactions at a feeder, as an index of activity ........... , . , 51 1 2 , Proportion.of squirrels in nests at time intervals before civil sunset , , . , . 54 13, Stretching posture of a squirrel descending a tree . , ...................................... 59 14, Typical posture assumed during loafing relaxation 61 15, Two variations in posture associated with alert relaxation . 62 16,' Attentive posture . 6 6 17, A tree-hole nest site 81 vii viii LIgT OF ILLUSTRATIONS (CONTINUED.) . Figure ; page 18, A stick nest .(top view) in a ponderosa pine , 8 6 19, Seasonal changfe in relative size of the ..birlbo-urethral gland in living squirrels . 103 2 0 , ■ :Home range determinations for eight Western gray squirrels at the Emigrant Lake study area during late winter- , early spring, 1967 . , . , , . , , , . , , 115 21, Home range plots for squirrels 8 and 23 during different time periods . .. , .. , . , 120 22, Home range plots for squirrel 14 during different time periods . , , , , . , , 1 2 1 23, Home range plots for squirrel 13 during different time periods ......... 1 2 2 24, Aggressive postures associated with agonistic behavior 133 25, Interactions between gray squirrels at the Emigrant Lake feeder 137 26, Interactions between gray squirrels art the Baldy feeder 13.8 LIST OF- TABLES ! Table Page 1* The number of gray squirrels inhabiting the permanent trap area of the Emigrant Lake study area at various trap periods during the study „ „ . , „ » . „ „ „ „ , , , , 31 2, Selected data concerning onset of activity of individual S'ciurus griseus at the Emi­ grant Lake study area , .. , . , . - 45 3„ Percent occurrence of foods utilized by j3. griseus in southern Oregon during the y ear « « « « « ■ « « * • • « « » « ? < « n « » '*7 0 4. Selected data concerning Western gray squirrel nest characteristics' . , , « , » , , 82 5. Nest utilization by some squirrels of the Emigrant Lake population , , . , , „ , , 90 6 . Nest utilization by three squirrels during nine days of a 15 day period ......... 95 7. Total recorded range for several individual squirrels in the Emigrant Lake population . 112 8 . Late: winter-spring home ranges of Western gray squirrels in the Emigrant Lake study area ........... .................... 114 9. Late summer, 1967, home ranges of Western gray squirrels from two study areas ........... 117 10. Late summer, 1966 and 1968, home ranges of Western gray squirrels in. the Emigrant Lake study area , . , , , , . , . , 119 11, Correlation of social rank and home range size of Western gray squirrels - 142 ix ABSTRACT The role of behavior of the Western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus Ord, in relation to the basic ecology of the species was investigated during a 36 month period? near Ashland, Oregon. Data were collected regarding popular tion characteristics, daily activity patternsr egocentric behavior, reproductive behavior, movements and social be­ havior. Two separate populations of squirrels were studied, one of which was estimated to be at least twice as dense as the other. The higher population density probably resulted from the presence of a thicker and more continuous
Recommended publications
  • Species Assessment for the Humboldt Marten (Martes Americana Humboldtensis)

    Species Assessment for the Humboldt Marten (Martes Americana Humboldtensis)

    Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office Species Assessment for the Humboldt Marten (Martes americana humboldtensis) R. Hamlin, L. Roberts, G. Schmidt, K. Brubaker and R. Bosch Photo credit: Six Rivers National Forest Endangered Species Program U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office 1655 Heindon Road Arcata, California 95521 (707) 822-7201 www.fws.gov/arcata September 2010 i The suggested citation for this report is: Hamlin, R., L. Roberts, G. Schmidt, K. Brubaker and R. Bosch 2010. Species assessment for the Humboldt marten (Martes americana humboldtensis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, California. 34 + iv pp. ii Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................... 1 Species Description ................................................................................................... 1 Taxonomy.................................................................................................................. 1 Life History ............................................................................................................... 4 Reproduction .................................................................................................. 5 Diet ................................................................................................................ 5 Home Range
  • Tree Squirrels

    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.
  • Characteristics of American Marten Den Sites in Wyoming

    Characteristics of American Marten Den Sites in Wyoming

    This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. CHARACTERISTICS OF AMERICAN MARTEN DEN SITES IN WYOMING LEONARD F. RUGGIERO,' U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 800 East Beckwith, Missoula, MT 59807, USA DEAN E. PEARSON, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 800 East Beckwith, Missoula, MT 59807, USA STEPHEN E. HENRY, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 222 South 22nd Street, Laramie, WY 82070, USA Abstract: We examined characteristics of den structures and den sites used by female American marten (Martes americana) for natal and maternal dens in the Sierra Madre Range, Wyoming. During 1988--95, we located 18 natal dens (parturition sites) and 97 maternal dens (sites where kits were present exclusive of parturition) used by 10 female marten. Important den structures included rock crevices (28%), snags (25%), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) middens (19%), and logs (16%). Resource selection function (RSF) analysis showed that an individual selection model provided a significantly better fit than a null model or pooled selection model, indicating that the sample of marten selected maternal den sites that differed from random sites, and that individual animals did not select maternal den sites in the same manner. Six marten individually exhibited significant selection for maternal den sites within home ranges. Overall selection coefficients for maternal dens indicated the number of squirrel middens was the most important variable, followed by number of snags 20-40 em diameter at breast height (dbh), number of snags 2:41 em dbh, and number of hard logs 2:41 em in diameter.
  • Relational Database Systems 1

    Relational Database Systems 1

    Relational Database Systems 1 Wolf-Tilo Balke Jan-Christoph Kalo Institut für Informationssysteme Technische Universität Braunschweig www.ifis.cs.tu-bs.de Summary last week • Data models define the structural constrains and possible manipulations of data – Examples of Data Models: • Relational Model, Network Model, Object Model, etc. – Instances of data models are called schemas • Careful: Often, sloppy language is used where people call a schema also a model • We have three types of schemas: – Conceptual Schemas – Logical Schemas – Physical Schemas • We can use ER modeling for conceptual and logical schemas Relational Database Systems 1 – Wolf-Tilo Balke – Institut für Informationssysteme – TU Braunschweig 2 Summary last week • Entity Type Name • Weak Entity Type Name • Attribute name • Key Attribute name • name Multi-valued Attribute name name • Composite Attribute name • Derived Attribute name • Relationship Type name • Identifying Relationship Type name EN 3.5 Relational Database Systems 1 – Wolf-Tilo Balke – Institut für Informationssysteme – TU Braunschweig 3 Summary last week • Total participation of E2 in R E1 r E2 • Cardinality – an instance of E1 may relate to multiple instances of E2 (0,*) (1,1) E1 r E2 • Specific cardinality with min and max – an instance of E1 may relate to multiple instances of E2 (0,*) (0,1) E1 r E2 EN 3.5 Relational Database Systems 1 – Wolf-Tilo Balke – Institut für Informationssysteme – TU Braunschweig 4 3 Extended Data Modeling • Alternative ER Notations • Extended ER – Inheritance – Complex Relationships
  • Thurston County Species List

    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

    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.
  • Order Rodentia, Family Sciuridae—Squirrels

    Order Rodentia, Family Sciuridae—Squirrels

    What we’ve covered so far: Didelphimorphia Didelphidae – opossums (1 B.C. species) Soricomorpha Soricidae – shrews (9 B.C. species) Talpidae – moles (3 B.C. species) What’s next: Rodentia Sciuridae – squirrels (16) Muridae – mice, rats, lemmings, voles (16) Aplodontidae – mountain beaver (1) Castoridae – beaver (1) Dipodidae – jumping mice (2) Erethizontidae – N. American porcupines (1) Geomyidae – pocket gophers (1) Heteromyidae – kangaroo rats, pocket mice (1) Rodent diversity Order Rodentia • Dentition highly specialized for gnawing • Incisors: o single pair of upper, single pair of lower o grow continuously (rootless) o enamel on anterior surface, not posterior surface Order Rodentia • Dentition highly specialized for gnawing • Incisors • Diastema • No canines Family Sciuridae Family Sciuridae • Postorbital process well-developed • Rostrum short, arched • Infraorbital canal reduced relative to many other rodents • 1/1 0/0 1-2/1 3/3, anterior premolar sometimes small and peg-like Glaucomys sabrinus—northern flying squirrel • Can glide 5-25 meters • Strictly nocturnal • Share nests, reduce activity in winter because of cold Glaucomys sabrinus—northern flying squirrel • Conspicuous notch anterior to postorbital process • 5 upper cheekteeth Marmota spp. – marmots and woodchuck Marmota spp. – marmots and woodchuck • Rows of cheek teeth parallel, or nearly so • Postorbital processes protrude at 90° Marmota spp. – marmots and woodchuck • M. monax • M. caligata • M. vancouverensis • M. flaviventris Marmota monax - woodchuck • Posterior border
  • Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery Plan

    Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery Plan

    MOUNT GRAHAM RED SQUIRREL Tamiasciurus hudsonicus arahamensie RECOVERY PLAN Prepared by Lesley A. Fitzpatrick, Member, Recovery Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Phoenix, Arizona Genice F. Froehlich, Consultant, Recovery Team U.S.D.A. Forest Service Coronado National Forest Safford, Arizona Terry B. Johnson, Member, Recovery Team Arizona Game and Fish Department Phoenix, Arizona Randall A. Smith, Leader, Mt. Graham Red Squirrel Recovery Team U.S.D.A. Forest Service Coronado National Forest Tucson, Arizona R. Barry Spicer Arizona Game and Fish Department Phoenix, Arizona for Region 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico Date: Disclaimer Page Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions which are believed to be required to recover and/or protect the species. Plans are prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Objectives will only be attained and funds expended contingent upon appropriations, priorities, and other budgetary constraints. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions or approvals of any individuals or agencies, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, involved in the plan formulation. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & after they have been signed by the Regional Director as aDproved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery tasks. Literature citations should read as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Studies of Ecological Factors That Affect the Population and Distribution of the Western Gray Squirrel in Northcentral Oregon

    Studies of Ecological Factors That Affect the Population and Distribution of the Western Gray Squirrel in Northcentral Oregon

    Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 1992 Studies of ecological factors that affect the population and distribution of the western gray squirrel in northcentral Oregon Susan Ann Foster Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, and the Environmental Monitoring Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Foster, Susan Ann, "Studies of ecological factors that affect the population and distribution of the western gray squirrel in northcentral Oregon" (1992). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2383. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.2380 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. STUDIES OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE POPULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WESTERN GRAY SQUIRREL IN NORTHCENTRAL OREGON by SUSAN ANN FOSTER A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND RESOURCES: BIOLOGY Portland State University ©1992 TO THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES: The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Susan Ann Foster presented January 10, 1992. Richard B. Forbes, Chair Robert O. Tinnin Richard R. Petersen Daniel M. Johnson David W. McClure Thomas Palm / APPROVED: Robert O. Tinnin, Chair, Department of Biology C. William Savery, Interim Vice Provost foi$2radraduate Studies and Research ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank the many people who have encouraged me in the process of this dissertation, especially Professors Richard Forbes, Robert Tinnin, and Richard Petersen.
  • Managing Forests for Fish and Wildlife

    Managing Forests for Fish and Wildlife

    Wildlife Habitat Management Institute Managing Forests for Fish and Wildlife December 2002 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 18 Forested areas can be managed with a wide variety of objectives, ranging from allowing natural processes to dictate long-term condition without active management of any kind, to maximizing production of wood products on the shortest rotations possible. The primary purpose of this document is to show how fish and wildlife habitat management can be effectively integrated into the management of forestlands that are subject to periodic timber harvest activities. For forestlands that are not managed for production of timber or other forest products, many of the principles U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station in this leaflet also apply. Introduction Succession of Forest Vegetation Forests in North America provide a wide variety of In order to meet both timber production and wildlife important natural resource functions. Although management goals, landowners and managers need commercial forests may be best known for production to understand how forest vegetation responds following of pulp, lumber, and other wood products, they also timber management, or silvicultural prescriptions, or supply valuable fish and wildlife habitat, recreational other disturbances. Forest vegetation typically opportunities, water quality protection, and other progresses from one plant community to another over natural resource benefits. In approximately two-thirds time. This forest succession can be described in four of the forest land (land that is at least 10% tree- stages: covered) in the United States, harvest of wood products plays an integral role in how these lands are managed. Sustainable forest management applies Fish and Wildlife Air and Water biological, economic, and social principles to forest Wood Products Habitat Quality regeneration, management, and conservation to meet the specific goals of landowners or managers.
  • Biology, Legal Status, Control Materials, and Directions for Use

    Biology, Legal Status, Control Materials, and Directions for Use

    VERTEBRATE PEST CONTROL HANDBOOK - MAMMALS BIOLOGY, LEGAL STATUS, CONTROL MATERIALS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE Tree Squirrels Sciurus griseus, Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus niger, Eastern Fox Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii, Douglas Squirrel or Chickaree Sciurus carolinensis, Eastern Gray Squirrel Family: Sciuridae Introduction: There are four species of tree squirrels in California, excluding the small nocturnal flying squirrel, which is not considered a pest. Of the four, two species are native and two are introduced from the eastern part of the United States. In their natural habitats they eat a variety of foods including fungi, insects, bird eggs and young birds, pine nuts, and acorns, plus a wide range of other seeds. Squirrels sometimes cause damage around homes and gardens, where they feed on immature and mature almonds, English and black walnuts, oranges, avocados, apples, apricots, and a variety of other plants. During ground foraging they may feed on strawberries, tomatoes, corn, and other crops. They also have a habit, principally in the fall, of digging holes in garden soil or in turf, where they bury nuts, acorns, or other seeds. This ‘caching’ of food, which they may or may not ever retrieve, raises havoc in the garden and tears up a well-groomed lawn. They sometimes gnaw on telephone cables and may chew their way into wooden buildings or invade attics through gaps or broken vent screens. Tree squirrels carry certain diseases such as tularemia and ringworm that are transmissible to people. They are frequently infested with fleas, mites, and other ectoparasites. Identification: Tree squirrels are active during the day and are frequently seen in trees, running on utility lines, and foraging on the ground.
  • Mammal Watching in the Pacific Northwest, Summer 2019 with Notes on Birding, Locations, Sounds, and Chasing Chipmunks

    Mammal Watching in the Pacific Northwest, Summer 2019 with Notes on Birding, Locations, Sounds, and Chasing Chipmunks

    Mammal watching in the Pacific Northwest, summer 2019 With notes on birding, locations, sounds, and chasing chipmunks Keywords: Sciuridae, trip report, mammals, birds, summer, July Daan Drukker 1 How to use this report For this report I’ve chosen not to do the classic chronological order, but instead, I’ve treated every mammal species I’ve seen in individual headers and added some charismatic species that I’ve missed. Further down I’ve made a list of hotspot birding areas that I’ve visited where the most interesting bird species that I’ve seen are treated. If you are visiting the Pacific Northwest, you’ll find information on where to look for mammals in this report and some additional info on taxonomy and identification. I’ve written it with a European perspective, but that shouldn’t be an issue. Birds are treated in detail for Mount Rainier and the Monterey area, including the California Condors of Big Sur. For other areas, I’ve mentioned the birds, but there must be other reports for more details. I did a non-hardcore type of birding, just looking at everything I came across and learning the North American species a bit, but not twitching everything that was remotely possible. That will be for another time. Every observation I made can be found on Observation.org, where the exact date, location and in some cases evidence photos and sound recordings are combined. These observations are revised by local admins, and if you see an alleged mistake, you can let the observer and admin know by clicking on one of the “Contact” options in the upper right panel.