Pasch, B. S., J. L. Koprowski. 2011. Impacts of fire suppression on space use of Mexican fox squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy 92: 227-234

thackerk1 — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 23:08:26 +0000

Authors

Bret Pasch

John L. Koprowski

Human suppression of fire has resulted in altered species composition and dense forest stands across the western United States. Accumulation of understory shrubs makes forests vulnerable to catastrophic fire and can impact animal use, whereas fire prescription can ameliorate negative impacts of suppression. We used radiotelemetry to determine patterns of habitat use and survival of Mexican fox squirrels (Sciurus nayaritensis chiricahuae) in fire-suppressed and fire-prescribed areas of the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona. Core areas of squirrels within fire-suppressed areas were larger and contained more understory shrubs than core areas of squirrels in fire-prescribed areas. Shrub cover and canopy heterogeneity influenced core-area size and distance traveled, and squirrels that were depredated traveled farther than conspecifics that survived, but shrub cover and canopy heterogeneity were not directly associated with squirrel survival. Suppression-induced increases in understory vegetation might force squirrels to travel greater distances to meet energetic requirements and thereby increase predation risk. Retention of mature forested canyons and restoration of natural fire regimes will be important for the persistence of Mexican fox squirrels.

Additional Information

Impacts of fire suppression on space use by Mexican fox squirrels

Date of publication:

2011

Topics

fire suppression

Mexican fox squirrels

space use

Koprowski, J. L. and M. C. Corse. 2005. Time budgets, activity periods, and behavior of mexican fox squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy 86(5): 947-952.

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:31:09 +0000

Authors

John L. Koprowski

Michelle C. Corse

Resources that limit reproductive success differ between the sexes in many vertebrates. We used focal animal observations to determine sex-specific activity periods, time budgets, and movements of endemic Mexican fox squirrels (Sciurus nayaritensis chiricahuae) in montane forests of southeastern Arizona during June, August, and December 1994 and January 1995. Activity periods during summer were bimodal with peaks in morning and afternoon separated by a midday lull in activity; winter activity was unimodal. No sex differences were detected in activity periods, although males retired later than females in winter. Resting, feeding, and locomotion were the most common behaviors and accounted for .75% of activities of each sex. Activity by females did not differ between seasons. Males spent more time in locomotion in summer and more time feeding in winter than in other seasons. Differences in time budgets of the sexes suggest that males and females apportion daily activity to maximize access to resources that limit fitness of each sex.

Additional Information

TIME BUDGETS, ACTIVITY PERIODS, AND BEHAVIOR OF MEXICAN FOX SQUIRRELS

Date of publication:

2005

Topics

Arizona

sex differences

sexual dimorphism

Mexican fox squirrels

conservation.arizona.edu - Mexican fox squirrels

Pasch, B. S., J. L. Koprowski. 2011. Impacts of fire suppression on space use of Mexican fox squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy 92: 227-234

Authors

Additional Information

Topics

Koprowski, J. L. and M. C. Corse. 2005. Time budgets, activity periods, and behavior of mexican fox squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy 86(5): 947-952.

Authors

Additional Information

Topics