scholarly journals Geographic variability in the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Schneiderová ◽  
Lucie Štefanská ◽  
Lukáš Kratochvíl
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Geographic Variability ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
Different Origins

Abstract Geographic variability in vocalizations has been documented in many mammalian species. We examined to what extent it applies to the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus. We recorded the calls of 82 adult individuals from 5 natural colonies in the Czech Republic and 24 adult individuals from an artificial seminatural colony located in a Czech zoo. The founders of this colony originated from 4 different natural colonies in the Czech Republic. Our results showed that there are hardly any differences in the acoustic structure of the alarm calls between male and female European ground squirrels. Discriminant function analysis showed the highest degree of discriminability for the most isolated sites (54–74% of individuals classified correctly), whereas the lowest degree of discriminability was found for 2 interconnected colonies (38–40% individuals classified correctly). Individuals from the artificial seminatural colony were often classified correctly to this colony (58% classified correctly); however, the precision of the classification was comparatively relatively low, that is, many individuals from other colonies were incorrectly classified into this seminatural colony. This likely corresponds to the different origins of its founders. These findings indicate that there is a rather substantial geographic variability in the alarm calls of the European ground squirrel, and our study highlights its possible impact on conservation measures such as establishing artificial colonies or reintroductions.

scholarly journals Frequency-modulated second elements of two-element alarm calls do not enhance discrimination of callers in three Eurasian ground squirrels

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Schneiderová
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Limited Frequency ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
Individual Distinctiveness ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Alarm calls of the European Spermophilus citellus (EGS), Taurus S. taurensis (TGS) and Anatolian S. xanthoprymnus (AGS) ground squirrels share the same basic structure. They are tonal sounds consisting primarily of two different elements. The first element, often produced without the second element, has limited frequency modulation, while the second element is more frequency modulated. The present study examined whether this frequency-modulated element enhances the individual distinc-tiveness of calls, allowing calls to be ascribed with greater confidence to individual callers of the three species. Cross-validated discriminant function analysis (DFA) based on five acoustic parameters of the first element successfully classified calls to correct individuals (EGS: 90%, TGS: 98%, AGS: 96%). Cross-validated DFA based on five acoustic parameters of the second element was also successful in classifications (EGS: 88%, TGS: 86%, AGS: 96%), though discrimination of callers based on parameters of the second versus first element was the same for the AGS, lower for the EGS and significantly lower for the TGS. Cross-validated DFA based on five acoustic parameters of two-element calls also successfully classified calls to correct individuals (EGS: 93%, TGS: 98%, AGS: 97%), though did not improve the extent to which calls could be classified to individuals beyond that based on the first element alone. Thus, the second element does not enhance the individual distinctiveness of calls, but may convey other information such as the location of the caller.

scholarly journals Individual-based acoustic variation of the alarm calls in the long-tailed ground squirrel

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Goncharov ◽  
Richard Policht ◽  
Lucie Hambálková ◽  
Viktor Salovarov ◽  
Vlastimil Hart
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Vocal Individuality ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Acoustic Variation

Based on their phylogenetic position, Nearctic ground squirrels are closest relatives to the long-tailed ground squirrel Urocitellus undulates even though it has Palaearctic distribution. We aimed to investigate the variability of alarm calls of the long-tailed ground squirrel to test the individual variation in alarm calls. This species is known to produce two types of alarm calls: whistle alarms and wideband calls. Although ground squirrels are a model group for the study of vocal individuality, this phenomenon has not yet been studied in a species producing two such completely different types of alarms. Most of ground squirrel species produce either whistle or wideband alarms and this species represents a unique model for testing the degree of individual variability depending on completely different acoustic structures. We analysed 269 whistle alarms produced by 13 individuals and 591 wideband alarms from 25 individuals at the western part of Lake Baikal. A discriminant function analysis (DFA) assigned 93.5% (88.9%, cross-validated result) of whistle alarms to the correct individual and 91.4% (84%) of wideband alarms. This is the first evidence of individual variation in wideband alarms compared with whistle alarms and occurrence of vocal individuality in two warning signals of a completely different acoustic structure produced by a ground squirrel.

Differences in alarm calls of juvenile and adult European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus): Findings on permanently marked animals from a semi-natural enclosure

Zoo Biology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Schneiderová ◽  
Petra Schnitzerová ◽  
Jitka Uhlíková ◽  
Pavel Brandl ◽  
Jan Zouhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

scholarly journals The adaptive utility of Richardson’s ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) short-range ultrasonic alarm signals

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 1322-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Wilson ◽  
James F. Hare
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Alarm Signals ◽  
Active Space ◽  
Spermophilus Richardsonii ◽  
Ultrasonic Calls ◽  
Audible Alarm ◽  
Signal Type

Richardson’s ground squirrels ( Spermophilus richardsonii (Sabine, 1822)) produce audible (ca. 8 kHz) and (or) ultrasonic (ca. 48 kHz) alarm vocalizations that warn conspecifics of impending danger. Audible calls have a larger active space than ultrasonic calls because they travel farther, are louder, and contain frequencies to which conspecific and allospecific recipients are more sensitive. In our first experiment, we presented an alarming stimulus to 103 squirrels to examine the effect of threat proximity on signal type. The ratio of ultrasonic to audible alarm calls increased with increasing distance from the stimulus. We conclude that the size of the active space influences signalling strategy and that squirrels emitting ultrasonic calls can signal conspecifics to the exclusion of distant predators. As recipients of ultrasonic calls must be close to the signaler, one context in which ultrasonic calling may be most adaptive is during natal emergence when juveniles are particularly abundant, highly vulnerable to predation, and clustered in space. In our second experiment, we broadcast ultrasonic alarm signals to emerging juveniles and found that they, like older individuals, responded to calls by increasing vigilance. We discuss the adaptive utility of multiple signalling strategies in light of our findings.

scholarly journals Research of foraging and resting behaviour of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) in conditions of zoological garden as a tool for its restitution back to the wild

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-185
Author(s):  
Sandra Fraňová ◽  
Ivan Baláž
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Resting Behaviour ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
Long Term Observation ◽  
Two Peaks

AbstractWe decided to focus our research on two basic forms of behaviour occurring in colonies of ground squirrels in semi-natural conditions of zoological gardens-foraging and resting behaviour. Our main goal was to perform an analysis of behaviour of ground squirrels living in captivity and to compare these two categories of behaviour on a set timeline. Our research has been performed throughout the span of years 2011and 2012, during which we were able to observe two separate ground squirrel colonies (A, B). In the analytical part, we described the two main forms of ground squirrels’ behaviour in Zoo Bojnice and we subjected the compiled information to a thorough statistical analysis with the aid of main comparison tools. Based on long-term observation and the analysis of the results, we were able to gather detailed information about the two behaviour categories and their duration within a time frame. The results from the year 2011 confirmed that ground squirrel’s behaviour, bred in captivity, the display of foraging behaviour is the most frequent during the day, as was also observed in wild ground squirrels recorded by Ambros (Ambros, 1999). Within the year 2011 (without human activity) foraging behaviour reaches two peaks with raised frequencies of display, in the daily time periods, the first from 9 to 11 am and the second from 2.30 to 5 pm. We noted a change in behaviour in 2012, when there was a reconstruction nearby the enclosures. These reconstructive activities influenced the behaviour (significant decrease of activity) of the ground squirrels in the presence of the assigned workers approximately until 3 pm, from which time-also in connection with the lessening of the worker’s presence-the foraging behaviour of ground squirrels began to rise rapidly, which held the peak on until 5 pm. Resting behaviour had only one peak with rising trend during the day in dependence on rising temperature of bedding in the enclosure, on which ground squirrels used to sunbathe. These findings give us valuable information about ground squirrels’ behaviour in captivity as well as behaviour influenced by human presence, what can be used in behavioural research of ground squirrels in the wild.

scholarly journals The morphology of the circulus arteriosus cerebri in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 537-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Aydin ◽  
S. Yilmaz ◽  
Z.E. Ozkan ◽  
R. Ilgun
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Basilar Artery ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Vertebral Arteries ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus ◽  
The Right

In this study, the circulus arteriosus cerebri of the ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus citellus</i>) was investigated. Five ground squirrels were used as subjects. Coloured latex was injected from the left ventriculi of the hearts of all the squirrels. When the vertebral arteries of two of the animals were ligatured, it was found that there was no internal carotid artery. After careful dissection, the circulus arteriosus cerebri (the circle of Willis) was investigated. The right and left vertebral arteries gave rise to the caudal cerebellar artery before forming the basilar artery. The basilar artery formed the caudal communicans artery that was the caudal part of the circulus arteriosus cerebri on the pontocrural groove (sulcus pontocruralis). The caudal, medial, rostral cerebellar, the common root formed by the caudal cerebral and choroid arteries, the rostral choroid, the rostral and medial cerebral arteries arose from the vertebral, basilar and caudal communicans arteries and dispersed to the cerebrum and cerebellum from caudal to cranial. The termination and the branches of the rostral cerebral artery in ground squirrels varied. It was observed that the internal carotid artery does not supply the circulus arteriosus cerebri in ground squirrels.

scholarly journals DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEPATIC BLOOD VESSELS OF THE GROUND SQUIRREL (SPERMOPHILUS CITELLUS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miloš BLAGOJEVIĆ ◽  
Ivana NEŠIĆ ◽  
Milena ĐORĐEVIĆ ◽  
Drago NEDIĆ ◽  
Marija ZDRAVKOVIĆ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Portal Vein ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Hepatic Artery ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Celiac Artery ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Hepatic Veins ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Spermophilus Citellus

The aim of this paper was to study distribution of the hepatic artery and portal vein of theportal system of the liver in ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) and compare these data withthose concerning the rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and nutrias. The liver of the ground squirrel receivesthe oxygen and nutrients through blood from two large blood vessels: portal vein and hepatic artery(a. hepatica propria). The portal vein is formed by the confluence of three main venous bloodvessels: v. gastropancreaticoduodenalis, v. gastrolienalis and v. mesenterica cranialis. It collectsvenous blood from the stomach, pancreas, spleen and all of intestines except the rectum. The portalvein enters the porta hepatis on the liver together with the hepatic artery. Five venous branches ofdifferent size separate from the portal vein and ramify into the respective liver lobes.Blood leaves the liver through the hepatic veins that start with the central veins. Three large hepaticveins and two venous trunks drain lobes of the liver and enter the caudal vena cava as it passesthrough the liver.A. hepatica propria supplies the liver and gallbladder with oxygenated blood. It raises from thehepatic artery (a. hepatica) wich is the third branch of the celiac artery. A. hepatica propria in theportal fissure is divided into two branches, of which the left branch brings arterial blood to the lefthepatic lobe, and the right branch brings it into other liver lobes.

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