Perspectives on Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus
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1 PERSPECTIVES ON RED SQUIRREL (TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS) AND EASTERN CHIPMUNK (TAMIAS STRIATUS) DISTRIBUTION AND DETECTABILITY IN NEWFOUNDLAND FROM CITIZEN SCIENCE AND OCCUPANCY MODELING by Heather E. Spicer © A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science, Honours Environmental Science (Biology), Grenfell Campus Memorial University of Newfoundland May 2017 Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador 2 Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland Environmental Science Unit The undersigned certify that they have read, and recommend to the School of Science and Environment for acceptance, a thesis entitled “Perspectives on red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) distribution and detectability in Newfoundland from citizen science and occupancy modelling” submitted by Heather E. Spicer in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science, Honours. __________________________ Dr. Erin Fraser (Supervisor) __________________________ Dr. Ian Warkentin __________________________ Dr. Lakshman Galagedara May 3rd, 2017 3 Acknowledgements Thank you to my honours thesis supervisor, Dr. Erin Fraser, for her guidance throughout this entire project, as well as to my committee members, Dr. Ian Warkentin and Dr. Lakshman Galagedara for their feedback and support. Thank you to all the citizen scientists, teachers, and school board members of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District who took part in this project. Special thanks also to Dr. Darroch Whitaker, Bruce Rodrigues, Jessica Humber, Dr. Dmitry Sveshnikov, Randy Skinner, and to all my family and friends. I also acknowledge the Grenfell Campus Environmental Science program, Let’s Talk Science, and MUN Office of Public Engagement for providing funding to make this all possible. 4 Abstract Red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) are both introduced species on the island of Newfoundland. There is evidence that T. hudsonicus have contributed to significant changes in the ecology of several native animal and plant species. Little is known about the ecological implications of the introduction of T. striatus. The full extent of both the T. hudsonicus and T. striatus ranges across insular Newfoundland and the nearshore islands have not been described. Tamiasciurus hudsonicus reliably respond to broadcasts of recorded conspecific territorial vocalizations, both through calling back and approaching the speaker. However, variation in the responsiveness of T. hudsonicus to call broadcasts (detectability) over time is not well understood. I investigated T. hudsonicus and T. striatus distribution across Newfoundland ecoregions and T. hudsonicus detectability in Newfoundland through a two-part study. First, I recruited elementary school students to participate in a citizen science investigation. Participants submitted data about T. hudsonicus and T. striatus presence at locations across Newfoundland, including the results of surveys using call broadcasts, observations made while walking in the woods, and qualitative data from student interviews with family/friends. I received data from 50 teachers and 899 elementary school students affiliated with 29 schools around the island of Newfoundland. This included 43 class point count/call broadcast surveys (including a total of 85 point counts), as well as 159 individual walks in the woods, and 142 interviews with family and friends. The proportion of sites with T. hudsonicus present did not vary significantly among ecoregions (χ2= 0.725, df=5, p>0.05), however, the proportion of sites with T. striatus did (χ2=12.61, df=5, p<0.05), suggesting that T. striatus are more restricted in their range than T. hudsonicus. Second, I investigated how T. hudsonicus detection probability varied over time and during silent and playback treatments by conducting monthly point count/call broadcasts along standardized survey routes at two locations on the west coast of Newfoundland. Probability of detection estimates steadily declined from autumn to winter and detection probability was always higher during playback treatments than during silent treatments. This demonstrates the efficacy of using call broadcasts during point count surveys for T. hudsonicus, and suggests that call broadcasts are most effectively used for this purpose in the summer and early fall. 5 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 5 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... 6 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. 7 Summary of Project ........................................................................................................................ 8 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................... 9 Study species ............................................................................................................................... 9 Impact of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus and Tamias striatus on Newfoundland ecosystems ........ 13 Chapter 1: Citizen science investigation of red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) distribution among ecoregions in Newfoundland ........................... 16 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 16 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 18 Data collection ....................................................................................................................... 18 Statistical analyses ................................................................................................................ 20 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 30 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 32 Chapter 2: Factors contributing to the probability of detection of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) during call broadcast surveys in western Newfoundland ........................................ 33 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 33 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 35 Study sites .............................................................................................................................. 35 Survey method ....................................................................................................................... 36 Statistical analyses ................................................................................................................ 37 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 38 Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 42 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 45 References ................................................................................................................................. 46 Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 54 6 List of Tables Table 1.1 Variation in the proportion of sites sampled with Tamias striatus present.......... 29 Table 1.2 Presence of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus and Tamias striatus at cabins on nearshore islands................................................................................................................................... 29 Table 2.1 Set of multi-season occupancy models................................................................. 38 Table 2.2 Model selection results......................................................................................... 39 7 List of Figures Figure 1.1 Locations of class point count/call broadcast surveys. ............................................... 22 Figure 1.2 Class point count/call broadcast - mean number of observations per point count ... 23 Figure 1.3 Locations of individual walk in the woods ................................................................... 24 Figure 1.4 Individual walk in the woods - proportion of sites with Tamiasciurus hudsonicus