Effects of food and den-site supplementation on populations of Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamiasciurus douglasii
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Published source details
Ransome D.B. & Sullivan T.P. (2004) Effects of food and den-site supplementation on populations of Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamiasciurus douglasii. Journal of Mammalogy, 85, 206-215.
Published source details Ransome D.B. & Sullivan T.P. (2004) Effects of food and den-site supplementation on populations of Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamiasciurus douglasii. Journal of Mammalogy, 85, 206-215.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide supplementary food to increase reproduction/survival Action Link |
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Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees Action Link |
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Provide supplementary food to increase reproduction/survival
A replicated, randomized, paired sites, controlled, before-and-after study in 1996–1999 in three forest sites in British Columbia, Canada (Ransome & Sullivan 2004) found that supplementary feeding did not alter the abundance and body mass of northern flying squirrels Glaucomys sabrinus and Douglas squirrels Tamiasciurus douglasi, but it did increase survival of northern flying squirrels. Between June 1997 and April 1999, the survival rate of northern flying squirrels was higher in plots with supplementary feeding (0.93) than without supplementary feeding (0.79). Survival did not significantly differ between plots before feeding began (plots to be fed = 0.84; control plots = 0.92). The survival of Douglas squirrels was similar between fed (0.72) and unfed (0.80) plots. The abundance and body mass of squirrels did not differ significantly between plots with supplementary food (northern flying squirrel abundance: 11.8/ha; body mass: 131 g; Douglas squirrel abundance: 14.2/ha; body mass: 200 g) and plots without supplementary food (northern flying squirrel abundance: 7.7/ha; body mass: 128 g; Douglas squirrel abundance: 20.1/ha; body mass: 207 g). From April 1997 to May 1998 and from September 1998 to April 1999, supplementary food was provided at 90 feeding stations, 60 m apart in a 9×10 grid, in each of three 30-ha forest plots. Stations were filled with 7 kg of sunflower seeds at 5–6-week intervals or when seed was depleted. Three other 30-ha plots had no feeding stations. In each plot, squirrels were trapped every 5–6 weeks (when snow-free), from June 1996 to March 1999, using 80 baited Tomahawk live traps, at 40-m intervals in an 8×10 grid.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
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Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees
A replicated, randomized, paired sites, controlled, before-and-after study in 1996–1999 in three forest sites in British Columbia, Canada (Ransome & Sullivan 2004) found that nest boxes were used by northern flying squirrels Glaucomys sabrinus and Douglas squirrels Tamiasciurus douglasii but did not increase their abundance or body mass. Northern flying squirrels occupied 68–83% of boxes with Douglas squirrels occupying 0–29%. However, two years after boxes were erected, the abundance and body mass of northern flying squirrels did not differ significantly between plots with nest boxes (abundance: 9.8/ha; body mass: 134 g) and plots without nest boxes (abundance: 7.7/ha; body mass: 128 g). At the same time, the abundance and body mass of Douglas squirrels also did not differ significantly between plots with nest boxes (abundance: 15.1/ha; body mass: 198 g) and plots without nest boxes (abundance: 20.1/ha; body mass: 207 g). In February–March 1997, thirty nest boxes (12.8 × 13.6 × 15.5 cm), 100 m apart in a 5×6 grid and 5.5 m above ground, were mounted in each of three 30-ha plots. Three other 30-ha plots had no nest boxes. In each plot, squirrels were trapped every 5–6 weeks during the snow-free period, from June 1996 to March 1999, using 80 baited Tomahawk live traps, at 40-m intervals in an 8×10 grid.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
