scholarly journals Ultrasonic Acoustic Surveys of State Endangered Northern Flying Squirrels in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 644-653
Author(s):  
Corinne A. Diggins ◽  
L. Michelle Gilley ◽  
Gregory G. Turner ◽  
W. Mark Ford
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Acoustic Surveys ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Surveying for flying squirrels by using traditional techniques produces extremely low detection rates compared with ultrasonic acoustics. Within Pennsylvania, the northern flying squirrel subspecies Glaucomys sabrinus macrotis is state listed as endangered due to habitat loss and parasite-mediated competition by and hybridization with the southern flying squirrel Glaucomys volans. This subspecies is isolated from adjacent populations in West Virginia and New York and has experienced drastic population declines. The discovery and characterization of ultrasonic vocalizations of G. s. macrotis and G. volans, as well as successful field surveys with ultrasonic acoustic detectors in the southern Appalachian Mountains, highlight the potential use of this technique for determining the presence of G. s. macrotis. To confirm the feasibility of using this technique on declining populations of G. s. macrotis sympatric with G. volans, we conducted 108 nights of passive ultrasonic acoustic surveys for G. s. macrotis at six survey sites by using two detectors per survey site (N = 12 detectors) in June 2017. We considered sites high quality (“high”) or low quality (“low”) based on the number of physical capture records during the past 2 decades and the dominance of boreo-montane conifer tree species in the overstory. We detected G. s. macrotis at four study sites and G. volans at all six study sites. We found higher average probability of detection for G. s. macrotis in high vs. low sites (0.28 ± 0.06 [mean ± SE] and 0.09 ± 0.07, respectively), whereas probability of detection was similar for G. volans between high and low sites (0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.17 ± 0.05, respectively). We also found G. s. macrotis had lower latency of detection at high vs. low sites (2.7 ± 0.8 and 7.83 ± 1.5 nights, respectively) but G. volans did not vary in latency of detection between sites (5 ± 1.6 and 3.8 ± 1.5 nights, respectively). Our study shows acoustics can be successfully used to efficiently survey G. s. macrotis in Pennsylvania, where populations are small and monitoring these populations more effectively is critical to determining changes in persistence due to climate- and disease-induced factors.

Photoperiod synchronizes reproduction and growth in the southern flying squirrel,Glaucomys volans

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa M. Lee ◽  
Irving Zucker
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Seasonal Rhythms ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Natural Photoperiod ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Southern Flying Squirrel

Southern flying squirrels were housed in a simulated natural photoperiod for 40°N latitude and held at a constant temperature of 23 °C with food and water provided ad libitum. Body weight and reproductive condition were monitored weekly for 2 years. Males were in reproductive condition between January and mid-August and females were in estrus from late February to mid-April and again from mid-June until early August. Young were conceived during both estrous periods and several squirrels produced two litters in the same year. Minimum body weights were recorded in adults in mid-October each year. Pups born in the spring grew more rapidly than those from summer litters, and reached puberty at 2.5 months as compared with 6–8 months of age for the summer litters. Several seasonal rhythms appear to be controlled by photoperiod in this species.

scholarly journals A de novo genome assembly and annotation of the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse F Wolf ◽  
Jeff Bowman ◽  
Sonesinh Keobouasone ◽  
Rebecca S Taylor ◽  
Paul J Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Genome Assembly ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Secondary Contact ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Short Read ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Southern Flying Squirrel

Northern (Glaucomys sabrinus) and southern (Glaucomys volans) flying squirrels are widespread species distributed across much of North America. Northern flying squirrels are common inhabitants of the boreal forest, also occurring in coniferous forest remnants farther south, whereas the southern flying squirrel range is centered in eastern temperate woodlands. These two flying squirrel species exhibit a hybrid zone across a latitudinal gradient in an area of recent secondary contact. Glaucomys hybrid offspring are viable and can successfully backcross with either parental species, however, the fitness implications of such events are currently unknown. Some populations of G. sabrinus are endangered, and thus, interspecific hybridization is a key conservation concern in flying squirrels. We sequenced and assembled a de novo long-read genome from a G. volans individual sampled in southern Ontario, Canada, while four short-read genomes (2 G. sabrinus and 2 G. volans, all from Ontario) were re-sequenced on Illumina platforms. The final genome assembly consisted of approximately 2.40Gb with a scaffold N50 of 455.26Kb. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs reconstructed 3,742 (91.2%) complete mammalian genes, and genome annotation using RNA-seq identified the locations of 19,124 protein-coding genes. The four short-read individuals were aligned to our reference genome to investigate the demographic history of the two species. A Principal Component Analysis clearly separated re-sequenced individuals, while inferring population size history using the Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent model noted an approximate species split one million years ago, and a single, possibly recently introgressed individual.

scholarly journals A de novo genome assembly and annotation of the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Wolf ◽  
Jeff Bowman ◽  
Sonesinh Keobouasone ◽  
Rebecca S Taylor ◽  
Paul J Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Genome Assembly ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Secondary Contact ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Short Read ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Southern Flying Squirrel

Abstract Northern (Glaucomys sabrinus) and southern (Glaucomys volans) flying squirrels are widespread species distributed across North America. Northern flying squirrels are common inhabitants of the boreal forest, also occurring in coniferous forest remnants farther south, whereas the southern flying squirrel range is centered in eastern temperate woodlands. These two flying squirrel species exhibit a hybrid zone across a latitudinal gradient in an area of recent secondary contact. Glaucomys hybrid offspring are viable and can successfully backcross with either parental species, however, the fitness implications of such events are currently unknown. Some populations of G. sabrinus are endangered, and thus, interspecific hybridization is a key conservation concern in flying squirrels. To provide a resource for future studies to evaluate hybridization and possible introgression, we sequenced and assembled a de novo long-read genome from a G. volans individual sampled in southern Ontario, Canada, while four short-read genomes (two G. sabrinus and two G. volans, all from Ontario) were resequenced on Illumina platforms. The final genome assembly consisted of approximately 2.40 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 455.26 Kb. benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs reconstructed 3742 (91.2%) complete mammalian genes and genome annotation using RNA-Seq identified the locations of 19,124 protein-coding genes. The four short-read individuals were aligned to our reference genome to investigate the demographic history of the two species. A principal component analysis clearly separated resequenced individuals, while inferring population size history using the pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent model noted an approximate species split 1 million years ago, and a single, possibly recently introgressed individual.

scholarly journals Known Range Expansion and Morphological Variation in the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in Quebec

2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Louis Lazure ◽  
Patrick Paré ◽  
Nathalie Tessier ◽  
Patrice Bourgault ◽  
Geneviève Dubois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
New Records ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Aire De Répartition ◽  
Southern Flying Squirrel

New records of the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in Quebec expand its known range in the province 150 km east to the appalachian foothills and farther west than previously assumed. We obtained individuals through live trapping, trapper collaboration, and opportunistic discoveries. Species identification was confirmed with morphological traits and molecular analysis. individuals were smaller in the eastern part of the province in terms of mass, total length, and tail length. Some live captures also seem to corroborate the fact that Southern Flying Squirrels are mainly associated with mature hardwood forests.De nouvelles mentions du petit polatouche (Glaucomys volans) au Québec permettent d’étendre son aire de répartition connue jusqu’à 150 km à l’est dans les contreforts des appalaches et plus à l’ouest que présumé. Les spécimens ont été obtenus via des captures vivantes, la collaboration des trappeurs et des découvertes opportunistes. L’identification de l’espèce a été confirmée sur des bases morphologiques et moléculaires. Les individus étaient plus petits dans l’est de la province en considérant la masse, la longueur totale et celle de la queue. Les quelques captures d’animaux vivants semblent corroborer que le petit polatouche est davantage associé, au niveau de l’habitat, aux peuplements de feuillus matures.

Sylvatic Typhus Associated with Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) in New York State, United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Prusinski ◽  
Jennifer L. White ◽  
Susan J. Wong ◽  
Maureen A. Conlon ◽  
Christina Egan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
York State ◽  
Flying Squirrels

scholarly journals A wood-warbler produced through both interspecific and intergeneric hybridization

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 20180557 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. L. Toews ◽  
Henry M. Streby ◽  
Lowell Burket ◽  
Scott A. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Intergeneric Hybridization ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Early Generation ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Vermivora Chrysoptera ◽  
Hybridization Event ◽  
Wood Warblers ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Female Hybrid

Hybridization between divergent taxa can provide insight into the breakdown of characters used in mate choice, as well as reproductive compatibility across deep evolutionary timescales. Hybridization can also occur more frequently in declining populations, as there is a smaller pool of conspecific mates from which to choose. Here, we report an unusual combination of factors that has resulted in a rare, three-species hybridization event among two genera of warblers, one of which is experiencing significant population declines. We use bioacoustic, morphometric and genetic data, to demonstrate that an early generation female hybrid between a golden-winged warbler ( Vermivora chrysoptera ) and a blue-winged warbler ( V. cyanoptera ) went on to mate and successfully reproduce with a chestnut-sided warbler ( Setophaga pensylvanica ) . We studied the product of this event—a putative chrysoptera × cyanoptera × pensylvanica hybrid—and show that this male offspring sang songs like S. pensylvanica , but had morphometric traits similar to Vermivora warblers. The hybrid's maternal parent had V. chrysoptera mitochondrial DNA and , with six plumage-associated loci, we predicted the maternal parent's phenotype to show that it was likely an early generation Vermivora hybrid . That this hybridization event occurred within a population of Vermivora warblers in significant decline suggests that females may be making the best of a bad situation, and that wood-warblers in general have remained genetically compatible long after they evolved major phenotypic differences.

Distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in Karnataka, India / Distribution et abondance relative des espèces d'écureuils géants et volants à Karnataka, Inde

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honnavalli N. Kumara ◽  
Mewa Singh
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Eastern Ghats ◽  
Northern Population ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Evergreen Forests ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Distributional Range ◽  
Abondance Relative ◽  
The Western Ghats

AbstractWe assessed the distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in the state of Karnataka, India. Two species of giant squirrels, the Indian giant squirrel and the grizzled giant squirrel, and two species of flying squirrel, the large brown flying squirrel and the small Travancore flying squirrel, were found to occur in Karnataka. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels were more widely distributed than the other two species. The distributional range included the forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats. However, their distribution was confined only to forests with tall trees. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels occur in both deciduous and evergreen forests. Small Travancore flying squirrels occupied high-rainfall evergreen forests on western slopes in the Western Ghats, and the grizzled giant squirrels occupy riverine forests. This report of the small Travancore flying squirrel is the first of this species from Karnataka, and this population is the most northern population of its distributional range. Hunting was found to be a major threat, and influenced the abundance of all species except the grizzled giant squirrel. Hunting was primarily for domestic consumption.

Photoperiod and Reproduction in Flying Squirrels, Glaucomys Volans

1969 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 542-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Muul
Keyword(s):  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Flying Squirrels

Corticosteroid-binding globulin levels in North American sciurids: implications for the flying squirrel stress axis

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (10) ◽  
pp. 1090-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanna M. Desantis ◽  
Jeff Bowman ◽  
Erin Faught ◽  
Rudy Boonstra ◽  
Mathilakath M. Vijayan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Stress Axis ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Glaucomys Volans ◽  
Flying Squirrels ◽  
Total Cortisol ◽  
Corticosteroid Binding Globulin ◽  
Tree Squirrels ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) helps to regulate tissue bioavailability of circulating glucocorticoids (GCs), and in most vertebrates, ≥80%–90% of GCs bind to this protein. New World flying squirrels have higher plasma total cortisol levels (the primary corticosteroid in sciurids) than most vertebrates. Recent research suggests that flying squirrels have either low amounts of CBG or CBG molecules that have a low binding affinity for cortisol, as this taxon appears to exhibit very low proportions of cortisol bound to CBG. To test whether CBG levels have been adjusted over evolutionary time, we assessed the levels of this protein in the plasma of northern (Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw, 1801)) and southern (Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758)) flying squirrels using immunoblotting, and compared the relative levels among three phylogenetically related species of sciurids. We also compared the pattern of CBG levels with cortisol levels for the same individuals. Flying squirrels had higher cortisol levels than the other species, but similar levels of CBG to their closest relatives (tree squirrels). We conclude that CBG levels in flying squirrels have not been adjusted over evolutionary time, and thus, the uncoupling of CBG levels from cortisol concentrations may represent an evolutionary modification in the lineage leading to New World flying squirrels.

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