Experimental trials of the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) traversing managed rainforest landscapes: perceptual range and fine-scale movements

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
pp. 1050-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Flaherty ◽  
W. P. Smith ◽  
S. Pyare ◽  
M. Ben-David
Keyword(s):  
Forest Edge ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Perceptual Range ◽  
Cost Of Transport ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Fragmented Forests ◽  
Experimental Trials

Successful dispersal in many species may be a function of the distance at which animals can perceive a particular landscape feature (i.e., perceptual range), as well as energetic costs associated with traversing the distance towards that feature. We used a model, relating perceptual range to body size of mammals, to predict the perceptual range of the northern flying squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw, 1801)) in fragmented forests of Southeast Alaska. We hypothesized that the perceptual range of flying squirrels would be 325.5–356.5 m in clearcuts and 159.7–174.9 m in second-growth stands. The distance advantage in clearcuts may, however, be lost if the cost of transport in that habitat is higher. Our results suggest that as heuristically predicted by the model, the perceptual range of flying squirrels was greater in clearcut habitats than in second-growth stands. Nonetheless, for both habitats the actual perceptual range was significantly shorter than predicted by the model. We found that precipitation, and associated cloud cover and illumination, and wind speed, which affect olfaction capabilities, influenced orientation success. Although squirrels more often oriented towards the forest edge in clearcuts, they paused more often during their movements, which may lead to higher costs of dispersing through this habitat. The application of the mass-based model to nonagricultural landscapes should be done with caution, and variables such as wind and illumination be measured concurrently. Our data illustrate that dispersing squirrels likely will not venture into managed habitats because logging creates clearcuts larger than the perceptual range of these mammals.

Characteristics of northern flying squirrel populations in young second- and old-growth forests in western Oregon

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel K. Rosenberg ◽  
Robert G. Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Second Growth

We compared density, sex ratio, body mass, and annual recapture rate of northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) populations in second-growth and old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands in the Oregon Cascade Range. Densities averaged 2.0 and 2.3 squirrels/ha in second- and old-growth stands, respectively. Although densities varied between years within stands, average densities were similar between years. Body mass and annual recapture rate were similar between stand–age classes, although a higher proportion of females was recaptured in subsequent years in second-growth than in old-growth stands. Similarly, there was a higher proportion of females than males in second-growth but not in old-growth stands. Squirrel densities were not correlated with habitat characteristics; we concluded that flying squirrels may be habitat generalists, and not a species associated with old-growth stands, as was previously hypothesized. We suggest that studies be carried out with radiotelemetry to more accurately assess the habitat associations of this species.

Den trees used by northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) in southeastern Alaska

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 1623-1633 ◽  
Author(s):  
V J Bakker ◽  
K Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Random Trees ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Den Site Selection ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrels

Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) dens are reportedly associated with features characteristic of older forests, and den availability is a potential limiting factor in younger forests. We assessed den sites used by northern flying squirrels in southeastern Alaska, where we expected den-site selection to differ from more southerly forests, owing to increased thermal stress but reduced predation and competition. We located 27 squirrels in 76 dens and compared den trees with 1875 matched random trees. Most dens ([Formula: see text]73%) were in cavities and 21% were at heights of [Formula: see text]3 m. This high rate of cavity use, including cavities low in the bole, likely reflects the importance of weatherproof dens in this cool wet region. Northern flying squirrels preferentially used trees with indicators of cavity presence, selecting for snags and for larger diameter trees with bole entries, conks, abundant mistletoe, and dead tops. Although cavity availability is probably not limiting populations in this region currently, cavity-supporting trees would be one of the last elements of old-growth forests to develop in intensively logged stands. Retention of small groups of large snags and live trees exhibiting evidence of disease or physical defects would ensure availability of denning structures after logging.

Food habits of the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) in Oregon

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1084-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zane Maser ◽  
Chris Maser ◽  
James M. Trappe
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrels

Digestive tracts of 91 northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) were analyzed for food items; 28 were from northwestern Oregon and 63 from northeastern Oregon. Ninety percent or more of the ingested materials were fungi and lichens, including 20 genera of hypogeous fungi. The northern flying squirrel, in using hypogeous fungi as a major food source, is an important nocturnal disperser of the spores. In Oregon coniferous forests, these fungi are obligatory ectomycorrhizal symbionts with the trees in which the squirrels live.

Scent marking by cheek rubbing in the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2377-2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Ferron
Keyword(s):  
Scent Marking ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Marking Behaviour ◽  
Ethological Study

Scent marking is relatively well documented in ground squirrels. Some work has been conducted on arboreal sciurids, but no detailed study on scent marking has yet been published on flying squirrels, a distinct subfamily of the Sciuridae. The objective of the present study is to fill this gap by analysing scent-marking behaviour by cheek rubbing in the Northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus. The presence and importance of oral glands are demonstrated histologically, and a detailed ethological study of 78 cases of scent marking is presented. A contextual analysis, as defined by Drummond, and a comparison with other sciurids are carried out in order to understand the role played by scent marking in this semisocial species. It appears that scent marking by cheek rubbing is used by G. sabrinus to maintain the animal's familiarity with its home range by "reassuring" and orienting it in that environment. In addition, scent marking by cheek rubbing may also function in intraspecific communication, notably with regard to sharing or avoidance of the same grooming, resting, and feeding sites.

scholarly journals Home range and habitat use of the Vulnerable Virginia northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus in the Central Appalachian Mountains, USA

Oryx ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Menzel ◽  
W. Mark Ford ◽  
John W. Edwards ◽  
Tamara M. Terry
Keyword(s):  
West Virginia ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Kernel Method ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Ecosystem Research ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel

The Virginia northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus is a Vulnerable sciurid that has experienced a 90% reduction of suitable high elevation boreal montane forest habitat over the last century in the central Appalachians of West Virginia and Virginia, USA. Using radiotelemetry and GIS analyses we examined the species' home range size and habitat use in the Monongahela National Forest, Kumbrabow State Forest and the MeadWestvaco Ecosystem Research Forest in West Virginia during the summers of 2000–2003. The mean home range sizes of male and female squirrels were 54.2 and 15.3 ha, respectively, based on the adaptive kernel method. Euclidean distance analysis indicated the squirrels used spruce, mixed spruce-northern hardwood, and open habitats more than was available across the landscape. Selection of spruce and mixed spruce-northern hardwood habitats indicates that forest management activities designed to restore and increase these types in the central Appalachian landscape are required to conserve and increase this Vulnerable species.

Differences in trapping mortality rates of northern flying squirrels

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 660-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel K. Rosenberg ◽  
Robert G. Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Differential Mortality ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrels ◽  
Juvenile Males

We described trapping mortality rates of northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) populations in western Oregon, U.S.A., and evaluated the effects of sex, age, body mass, and number of times an individual was recaptured on these rates. Although the overall trapping mortality rates were relatively low (7%) during 16–21 day trapping sessions, we observed differential mortality rates among the sex and age cohorts. The order of mortality rates was: juvenile females (32.3%) > juvenile males (11.1%) > adult females (5.1%) = adult males (4.1%). Overall trapping mortality rates were not affected by the number of times an individual was captured. We hypothesize that the differences we found were due to extrinsic factors (weather-related) acting on differential behavioral responses to trapping and thresholds of stress an animal can tolerate.

The northern flying squirrel: a mycophagist in southwestern Oregon

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2086-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Maser ◽  
Zane Maser ◽  
Joseph W. Witt ◽  
Gary Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Functional Context

Fecal samples were collected over 27 months from the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw)), a mycophagist in the Pacific Northwest portion of its range. Nine genera of hypogeous Basidiomycetes, 10 of hypogeous Ascomycetes, and 1 of hypogeous Zygomycetes were identified from fecal samples (hypogeous fungi fruit underground). The squirrel food habits generally paralleled the seasonal availability of the hypogeous fungi, but with notable exceptions. Our data demonstrate the functional diversity an individual species lends to its habitat when viewed in a functional context.

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