scholarly journals Prevalence of Strongyloides robustus in tree squirrels (Sciuridae) in South-Central Pennsylvania and potential impacts for the endangered northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Jessica L Espenshade ◽  
Richard L Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Sciurus Carolinensis ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Flying Squirrel ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
South Central ◽  
Central Pennsylvania

Strongyloides robustus is a unique parasite that has conservation impacts for sciurid populations in North America. In some squirrel species, like the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans), the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), pathology is relatively benign. However in the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), S. robustus infestation can result in high mortality. The objective of this project was to survey the prevalence of S. robustus within the squirrel species currently found in south- central Pennsylvania so that the risk to the northern flying squirrel could be evaluated in light of the parasite mediated competition hypothesis. Fecal samples from eastern gray, red, and southern flying squirrels were obtained through nest boxes, road kills and hunting. A modified Sheather’s sugar floatation was prepared with a specific gravity of 1.27 to evaluate parasite prevalence. Ten of the 40 nest boxes examined had flying squirrel evidence in the form of feces deposited within the nest. Strongyloides robustus was present in 30% of the 10 samples. The prevalence of S. robustus was 77.3% in the 22 road-killed and hunter-killed eastern gray squirrels. The single hunter-killed red squirrel examined in this study demonstrated S. robustus infestation. This study evaluated infection in possible reservoirs that are understudied in Pennsylvania and supported the idea of parasite mediated competition.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Composition of Cavity-Nesting Bird Communities in Montane Aspen Woodland Fragments: The Roles of Landscape Context and Forest Structure

The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 890-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Lawler ◽  
Thomas C. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Landscape Context ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Northern Flying Squirrel ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Cavity Nesters ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Structure Tree ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Abstract We compared cavity-nesting bird communities in aspen (Populus tremuloides) woodland fragments classified on the basis of vegetation structure (tree density) and landscape context (surrounding vegetation). We found very few cavity nesters in fragments predominantly surrounded by forests. Fragments adjacent to meadows contained more species and a greater abundance of cavity nesters. Species richness and abundance were higher in sparsely than in densely treed meadow fragments. Because secondary cavity nesters are often limited by cavity availability, we augmented natural cavities with nest boxes. Although only five boxes contained bird nests, these were all in sparse aspen fragments predominantly surrounded by meadows. However, we found 25 northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) nests in boxes, none of which were in sparse meadow fragments. In addition to highlighting the importance of landscape context in avian and mammalian habitat relationships, our results suggest that predator or competitor interactions may help structure this cavity-nester community. Composición de las Comunidades de Aves que Nidifican en Cavidades en los Fragmentos de Bosque Montano de Álamo: El Papel del Contexto del Paisaje y la Estructura del Bosque Resumen. Comparamos comunidades de aves que nidifican en cavidades en fragmentos de bosque de álamo (Populus tremuloides) clasificados en base a la estructura de la vegetación (densidad de árboles) y al contexto del paisaje (vegetación circundante). Encontramos muy pocas aves que nidifican en cavidades en los fragmentos rodeados predominantemente por bosque. Los fragmentos adyacentes a prados presentaron más especies y mayor abundancia de aves. La riqueza y la abundancia de especies fueron mayores en fragmentos con baja densidad de árboles que estuvieron rodeados por prados. Debido a que las aves que nidifican en cavidades secundarias están a menudo limitadas por la disponibilidad de cavidades, aumentamos las cavidades naturales con cajas de anidaje. Aunque solamente cinco cajas contuvieron nidos de aves, éstas estuvieron todas en los fragmentos con baja densidad de álamos rodeados predominantemente por prados. Sin embargo, encontramos 25 nidos de ardillas voladoras norteñas (Glaucomys sabrinus) en las cajas de anidaje, de las cuales ninguna estuvo en fragmentos con baja densidad de árboles rodeados por prado. Nuestros resultados destacan la importancia del contexto del paisaje en las relaciones entre el hábitat y las aves y mamíferos, y sugieren que las interacciones con depredadores o competidores pueden influenciar la estructura de la comunidades de aves que anidan en cavidades.

Genetic structure of the arboreal squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in the North American Black Hills

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1191-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Kiesow ◽  
E.M. Monroe ◽  
H.B. Britten
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Allelic Diversity ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Glaucomys Sabrinus ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Red Squirrels

We selected two isolated mammalian populations, the Black Hills northern flying squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw, 1801)) and red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben, 1777)), to elucidate their genetic structure. We trapped both squirrels from 2005 to 2007, in three regions of the Black Hills, differing in geology and vegetation, to collect ear samples for genetic analyses. Microsatellite loci (northern flying (9) and red squirrel (13)) were used to examine genetic structure. Data analyses estimated genetic variability, substructure, and gene flow. Northern flying and red squirrel populations have allelic diversity and observed heterozygosity similar to other isolated populations. Each species shows weak substructure from STRUCTURE and GENELAND analyses, suggesting squirrel movements may be inhibited by topography or unsuitable habitat. Recent gene flow estimates from BAYESASS indicate that both species experience some within population gene flow and red squirrels may be more structured than northern flying squirrels because of lower migration rates. Concordant patterns of genetic structure in northern flying and red squirrels indicate that other species’ movements in the Black Hills may be affected by topography and habitat. Because their habitat is isolated in the Black Hills, management practices and conservation measures are recommended to promote viability and survival of each species.

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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