Determinants of social dominance in eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis): a quantitative assessment

Allen, Douglas S.; Aspey, Wayne P.

doi:10.1016/0003-3472(86)90009-6

Cited by 20 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is increasing evidence that the two sexes of squirrels should be considered separately (e.g. with respect to space use, aggressive behaviour, dominance and the use of critical resources; Thompson 1978; Allen & Aspey 1986;Wauters & Dhondt 1989, 1992Wauters & Lens 1995) and we use male and female densities in our analyses. Residency (from year t to year t + 1) was estimated as the ratio of the number of animals present in October-November of year t and still alive in October t + 1 to the number of animals present in October of year t .…”

Section:      mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although there is no evidence of interference competition between adults of the two species (Wauters & Gurnell 1999), body size may represent a correlated asymmetry that determines the outcome of interactions between individuals of the two species without overt aggression. Body size and age are believed to play such a role in intraspecific interactions and the establishment of social hierarchies within each species (Thompson 1978; Allen & Asprey 1986; Gurnell 1987; Wauters & Dhondt 1989, 1993, 1995; Wauters et al . 1995a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alien species and interspecific competition: effects of introduced eastern grey squirrels on red squirrel population dynamics

Gurnell

Wauters

Lurz

et al. 2004

Journal of Animal Ecology

234

195

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Summary1. Throughout much of Britain, Ireland and north Italy, red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris L.) have been replaced by alien grey squirrels ( S. carolinensis Gmelin) introduced from North America. We have studied squirrels in two mixed woodlands in north Italy and two conifer forests in north England. In each country, one site was occupied by red squirrels and one site by both species. 2. We have previously considered interference competition and exploitation competition for food and space between red and grey squirrels and have showed that grey squirrels caused reduced body growth in juvenile and subadult red squirrels, and compete for tree seeds cached by adult red squirrels in spring. Here we report on the effects of grey squirrels on three fitness components in red squirrels that have consequence at the population level: fecundity, residency and recruitment. 3. Litter production peaked in the spring and summer, but fewer females bred in the summer with grey squirrels present. In addition, fewer individual red squirrel females produced two litters per year in the sites with grey squirrels. Moreover, red squirrel recruitment rate and, in the mixed broadleaf sites, red squirrel juvenile residency, decreased with increasing grey squirrel density. 4. Fecundity of individual female red squirrels was lower in red-grey than in red-only sites because they had a lower body mass in sites with grey squirrels. 5. Overall, there was no significant effect of grey squirrels on residency of adult red squirrels or on population turnover rate. However, the presence of grey squirrels resulted in a reduction in red squirrel fitness which was evident by lower population summer breeding and a lower recruitment. Over time, this will result in a decline in population size and eventually population extinction.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section:      mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alien species and interspecific competition: effects of introduced eastern grey squirrels on red squirrel population dynamics

Gurnell

Wauters

Lurz

et al. 2004

Journal of Animal Ecology

234

195

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“…(1990) found that heavier male red squirrels (which are not necessarily larger in skeletal size; Wauters & Dhondt 1989) were ranked highest in a dominance hierarchy. Conversely, Allen & Aspey (1986) found that body mass did not influence social status in grey squirrels. Factors such as age and residence status may better explain dominance in tree squirrels and chipmunks (Farentinos 1972; Wauters et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

`Little Chipmunk' Syndrome? Male Body Size and Dominance in Captive Yellow‐Pine Chipmunks (Tamias amoenus)

Schulte‐Hostedde

Millar

2002

Ethology

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In mammals, large males are often assumed to have higher mating success because they have greater success at contest competition. This relationship is often used to explain the prevalence of male‐biased sexual size dimorphism in mammals. However, in many small vertebrates, large individuals are not always dominant. Using staged dyadic encounters, we examined the relationship between male body size and social dominance in captive male yellow‐pine chipmunks (Tamias amoenus), a species with female‐biased sexual size dimorphism. The yellow‐pine chipmunk has a mating system in which males participate in mating chases and dominant males may have an advantage in acquiring matings with oestrous females. Captive male chipmunks were aggressive in only 28% of 144 paired encounters; however, several lines of evidence indicated that smaller chipmunks were dominant over large chipmunks: (1) small males were dominant in more dyads than large males; (2) within dyads, dominant males were smaller than subordinate males; and (3) small males performed more aggressive behaviour than large males. These results are not consistent with the prediction that large males are typically dominant. If large chipmunks are able to gain matings with females because of qualities other than dominance (such as the ability to successfully find and/or chase receptive females), then the costs of aggression to large chipmunks may outweigh any potential benefits. Small males, but not large males, may improve their mating success by being aggressive.

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“…Behavioural observations have shown that a linear dominance hierarchy exists within populations of Sciurus squirrels and that social rank is related to weight, sex and age (Taylor 1966, Pack et al 1967, Thompson 1977, Wauters and Dhondt 1985, Allen and Aspey 1986. However, the spatial extent over which one particular hierarchy operates within a forest has not been determined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the relatedness in a population of grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis, using DNA fingerprinting

David-Gray

Gurnell²,

Hunt³

1999

Acta Theriol.

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. 1999. Estimating the relatedness in a population of grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis, using DNA fingerprinting. Acta Theriologica 44: 243-251.Studies on the behaviour of grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788 and other species belonging to the same genus, suggest they exhibit dominance hierarchies among both males and females, and their mating strategy is promiscuous or polygynous. However, there is little information available on how dominance translates into reproductive success or on the levels of genetic variation or genetic substructuring within a population. To address these questions, we used multilocus DNA fingerprinting to quantify genetic diversity and estimate relatedness amongst individuals in a free--ranging population of grey squirrels. Background band-sharing values revealed a high degree of genetic diversity existed. The frequency distribution of band-sharing values between known first order relatives and presumed unrelated animals was significantly different. Estimates of relatedness between individuals were therefore based on threshold levels of genetic similarity and used as a tool to infer close kinship. Possible kinship groups were identified using the spatial distribution of the home ranges of adults and juveniles. Levels of relatedness between neighbouring adults was low with five family units identified comprised of putative parents and their offspring. Several juveniles from the single cohort revealed levels of relatedness intermediate between first order relatives and unrelated animals, suggesting possible second order relationships (eg half siblings) existed. The implications of these relationships are discussed.

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Determinants of social dominance in eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis): a quantitative assessment

Cited by 20 publications

References 20 publications

Alien species and interspecific competition: effects of introduced eastern grey squirrels on red squirrel population dynamics

Alien species and interspecific competition: effects of introduced eastern grey squirrels on red squirrel population dynamics

`Little Chipmunk' Syndrome? Male Body Size and Dominance in Captive Yellow‐Pine Chipmunks (Tamias amoenus)

Estimating the relatedness in a population of grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis, using DNA fingerprinting

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