Habitat selection by arctic ground squirrels (<i>Spermophilus parryii</i>)

Barker, Oliver E.; Derocher, Andrew E.

doi:10.1644/10-mamm-a-030.1

Cited by 27 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This microtopography selection is influenced not only by flooding risk but also by a better view of predators. The same result was obtained by Barker and Derocher (2010) for Artic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii), proving selection for well-drained habitats and sloped or convex terrain.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…In Macedonia, the European ground squirrel is linked to heavily grazed mountain pastures and it is being affected by the decline in livestock grazing (Kryštufek et al, 2012). The Artic ground squirrel, which inhabits tundra, alpine meadows, and clearings within boreal forests (Woods, 1991), also uses areas with low vegetation, together with sloped terrain that offers more effective vigilance behavior (Barker and Derocher, 2010). The same habitat (low vegetation) and slope gradient is used by long-tailed ground squirrels, whose optimal vegetation is up to 10 cm in height (Ricankova et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Site selection of European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) in Eastern Romania and how they are influenced by climate, relief, and vegetation

Zaharia¹,

Petrencu²,

Baltag³

2016

Turk J Zool

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Climatic and relief factors could limit the distribution of nonmigratory animals, and especially those that inhabit temperate areas. The limitations are stronger for habitat specialist species and a good understanding of these influences can contribute significantly to the development of conservation measures to protect them. The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small mammal inhabiting pastures and areas of short herbaceous vegetation from Central and Southeastern Europe with limited data about their colony site selectivity. During the first wide survey of the European ground squirrel in Eastern Romania we identified a strong influence of annual precipitation, aspect, slope, vegetation height, and tree/bush coverage on the species' distribution and density. Lower precipitation values were associated with higher densities of European ground squirrel as well as slope. The same relationship was found with vegetation height and the amount of tree and bush coverage. The European ground squirrel uses areas with a southern and eastern aspect and slopes with a higher gradient. The elevation and the summer-winter temperatures do not have a significant influence on European ground squirrel colonies. Our results will contribute to the species' conservation across its distribution range and will help to determine the most appropriate sites for future relocation and repopulation programs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Site selection of European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) in Eastern Romania and how they are influenced by climate, relief, and vegetation

Zaharia¹,

Petrencu²,

Baltag³

2016

Turk J Zool

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“…However, contrary to these studies and to our predictions, the overall nonsignificant effect of the addition of an Arctic ground squirrel habitat covariate to the seasonal pooled sexes, pooled females, and pooled males RSF models suggest that Arctic ground squirrels may not be as important a food source for Mackenzie Delta bears as previously reported. Arctic ground squirrels are ubiquitous across large parts of our study area (Barker and Derocher 2010) and yet we did not find significant correlation between the bears' trophic level (d 15 N value) and bears' selection for Arctic ground squirrel habitat. However, our observation of 28 % of the bear-seasons during the hyperphagic period showing positive selection for Arctic ground squirrel habitat matched the occurrence of Arctic ground squirrels in brown bear diet from the same area reported by Nagy et al (1983).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 60%

“…We used environmental variables collected at each 'available' and 'used' locations from each bear, by season and year, to build exponential RSF using logistic regression (Manly et al 2002). We used variables for terrain, vegetation, and an index of Arctic ground squirrel habitat (i.e., the value of the habitat selection raster) from a probability of occurrence model for Arctic ground squirrels developed for the same area (Barker and Derocher 2010). The Arctic ground squirrel habitat from the resource selection model demonstrated good fit to the data (R 2 = 0.89) (Barker and Derocher 2010) but had uncertainty because of errors inherent in the model.…”

Section: Resource Selection Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike most other tundra-dwelling rodents, Arctic ground squirrel populations are noncyclic and maintain relatively constant densities from year to year (Reid et al 1997). In the Mackenzie Delta, Arctic ground squirrels have a widespread but patchy distribution (Barker and Derocher 2010). As prey, Arctic ground squirrels are of particularly high value in late summer and autumn when they have reached peak body mass, of which up to 40 % is accumulated fat stores (Galster and Morrison 1976;Buck and Barnes 1999a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii) by brown bears (Ursus arctos)

2014

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Brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Mackenzie Delta in the Northwest Territories of Canada are at the northern edge of their range and persist in a nutrient poor environment with limited available protein. Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii) are widespread across northern Canada and are often cited as an important protein source for brown bears. We hypothesized that Arctic ground squirrels form an important part of brown bear diet in the Mackenzie Delta region, and that their importance varies seasonally, with peak use occurring during bears' pre-dormancy hyperphagic period, as well as annually with fluctuating availability of other food. To investigate the seasonal use of Arctic ground squirrels by brown bears, we used resource selection function analysis to describe habitat use, stable isotope analysis to determine individual trophic level and examine its relationship with habitat use, and GPS satellite telemetry to facilitate site investigations. Arctic ground squirrel habitat was not a significant covariate in resource selection functions for pooled sexes, pooled females, and pooled males. However, at the individual level, bears displayed a range of behaviors from selection against, no selection, to selection for Arctic ground squirrel habitat. We found no significant interannual variation in use of Arctic ground squirrel habitat. Site investigations and stable isotopic values for individual bears also suggest a range of foraging behaviors for Arctic ground squirrels. Individual resource selection models combined with trophic level and site investigations provide support for limited use of Arctic ground squirrels that varied between individuals and provided additional evidence for the diversity of niches exploited by individuals.

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Distribution and occupancy of wolverines on tundra, northwestern Alaska

Poley

Magoun²,

Robards

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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Understanding wildlife distribution and habitat use is needed for effectively balancing resource development, wildlife conservation, and Alaska Native subsistence on the North Slope of Alaska, USA. This region includes the National Petroleum Reserve‐Alaska (NPR‐A), a 96,000‐km2 remote area of largely undeveloped lands that is important for wildlife, including caribou (Rangifer tarandus), wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo). We focused our study on spring distribution and occupancy of wolverines in the NPR‐A because a baseline distribution estimate is required to understand current distribution and track changes over time. We conducted aerial surveys of wolverine tracks in snow during March and April of 2014 and 2015, surveying over 84,400 km2 using 100‐km2 hexagonal sampling units. We used hierarchical Bayesian occupancy modeling to determine wolverine distribution and estimate probability of occupancy within each hexagon, relative to measured covariates with potential to affect either detection or occupancy. Probability of wolverine occupancy increased as well‐drained soils increased, suggesting that wolverines prefer drier areas or habitat features associated with well‐drained soils. In addition, as standard deviation of elevation increased, wolverine occupancy also increased, indicating that wolverines may prefer areas with more rugged and variable terrain. Mean elevation was not retained as a covariate in the best‐fitting model, supporting the importance of terrain ruggedness rather than elevation on wolverine distribution within the NPR‐A. Spatially, areas of highest wolverine occupancy occurred within the southern and northeastern portions of the study area, with lowest occupancy in the northern portion of the study area west of Teshekpuk Lake. Based on the spatial pattern of wolverine probability of occupancy, we proposed 4 potential wolverine management zones with varying priorities for monitoring and managing wolverine populations. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Habitat selection by arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii)

Cited by 27 publications

References 39 publications

Site selection of European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) in Eastern Romania and how they are influenced by climate, relief, and vegetation

Site selection of European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) in Eastern Romania and how they are influenced by climate, relief, and vegetation

Use of Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii) by brown bears (Ursus arctos)

Distribution and occupancy of wolverines on tundra, northwestern Alaska

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