Influences of mating strategy on space use of Arizona gray squirrels

Cudworth, Nichole L.; Koprowski, John L.

doi:10.1644/09-mamm-a-426.1

Cited by 11 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In our study, even though males had always larger home ranges than females, males that monopolized females had even larger home ranges than those that did not overlap with any female. This suggests that A. azarae males involved in reproduction would employ a strategy of home range placement as mechanism evolved to increase the number of receptive females to ensure optimal mating (Cudworth and Koprowski, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating strategies of Pampean mouse males

et al. 2012

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Patterns of space use and sexual dimorphism are frequently used to infer mating systems. We examined body size and home range size and intra-and intersexual overlap degree in order to elucidate mating strategy of Akodon azarae males. We studied spacing patterns using 113 and 129 home ranges established by males and females, respectively, in four 0.25 ha enclosures during the breeding season. Significant differences between sexes in home range size and overlap degree were found. Male home ranges were always larger than those of females. We observed exclusive space use among males and among females. Considering only those males that shared their home ranges with females, average intersexual overlap value was about 50%. Males mainly overlap their home ranges with home ranges of two or three females. Significant differences in body size were found between males and females, with males being larger. We concluded that space use and sexual dimorphism in this species is consistent with patterns characteristic of polygynous rodents, and we propose a polygynous system in A. azarae.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating strategies of Pampean mouse males

et al. 2012

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“…Between April 2007 and December 2008, we trapped and uniquely marked 48 individuals, 37 of which received radio‐collars (18 F, 19 M; Cudworth and Koprowski 2010). We used a Yagi antenna (Model F164‐165‐3FB, Wildlife Materials International, Inc., Carbondale, IL) and receiver (Model R‐1000, Communications Specialists Inc., Orange, CA) to track squirrels to nocturnal nests once per month and a GPS unit to record night‐nest locations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite being federally listed as threatened in Mexico as a consequence of habitat loss (Alvarez‐Castañeda and Patton 1999) and the subspecies in the Catalina Mountains in Arizona ( S. a. catalinae ) being listed as sensitive by the United States Forest Service (Best and Riedel 1995), data on the species are sparse. In fact, with only 2 publications in the primary ecological literature (Frey et al 2008, Cudworth and Koprowski 2010), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated the species data deficient (IUCN 2009). A better understanding of the ecology of the Arizona gray squirrel may enhance understanding of environmental conditions necessary to promote forest health; however, no information exists on nest‐site selection by Arizona gray squirrels.…”

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confidence: 99%

Importance of scale in nest‐site selection by Arizona gray squirrels

Cudworth

Koprowski

2011

J Wildl Manag

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Nests provide a place for individuals to rest, raise young, avoid predators, and escape inclement weather; consequently, knowledge of habitat characteristics important to nest placement is critical for managing species of conservation concern. Arizona gray squirrels (Sciurus arizonensis) are endemic to mountains of southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. We investigated factors influencing nest‐site selection at 4 spatial scales (forest‐type, nest‐site, nest‐tree, and within‐canopy placement) to provide ecological information and management recommendations for this sensitive species. Nest densities were 2.6 times higher in riparian than pine‐oak woodlands. Nest sites had more large trees, snags, logs, and canopy cover and had lower slope. Arizona gray squirrels selected tall trees with more interlocking trees and tended to place nests adjacent to the main trunk. Regardless of scale, Arizona gray squirrels seemed to select nesting areas for their ability to provide protection from predators and the elements as well as access to food. Consequently, maintaining large trees with closed canopies and downed logs should be considered when determining land management plans. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

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“…These observations suggest that each male in this population monitors the estrous condition of most or all nearby females every few nights, that is, that mate searching is an important component of male-male competition. In this regard, male D. spectabilis are similar to male Tamiasciurus (and many other sciurids), which increase home-range size and overlap with female home ranges during the breeding season (e.g.. Waterman 2007;Lane et al 2009;Cudworth and Koprowski 2010).…”

Section: Mobility As Indicated By Capture Locations-duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behrends et al (1986) found that aboveground activity by female D. merriami increased markedly during the period immediately prior to and dtiring estrus. Cooper and Randall (2007) reported that home ranges of radiotagged female Dipodomys ingens did not significantly increase in size during the breeding season, but the small sample size (7 females) and associated probability {P = 0.08) suggest that breeding-season ranges might prove to be larger with increased sample size In tree squirrels with overlapping male and female home ranges, female home-range size and mobility remain stable or even decrease during the breeding season (Edelman and Koprowski 2006;Pasch and Koprowski 2006;Cudworth and Koprowski 2010). However, populations of Tamiasciurus with unisexual territoriality demonstrate a pattern more like that of D. spectabilis: female home-range size doubles during the breeding season (Lane et al 2009).…”

Section: Mobility As Indicated By Capture Locations-duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female mobility and the mating system of the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis)

Steinwald¹,

Swanson²,

Doyle³

et al. 2013

J Mammal

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Like some species of pika {Ochotona) and tree squirrel {Tamiasciurus), the banner-tailed kangaroo rat {Dipodomys spectabilis) is a solitary, philopatric larder-hoarder that practices unisexual territoriality. Seeking to understand how this unusual combination of traits might influence the mating system, we used systematic trapping at mounds (burrows) and spool-and-line tracking to examine male and female visits to each other. Where genetic data exist, unisexual larder-hoarders such as D. spectabilis have been found to be polygynandrous. We asked whether the fact that females sometimes mate with more than 1 male is a passive side effect of imperfect mate defense by males, or whether females actively engage in behaviors that encourage multiple mating. During the nonbreeding season, adults of both sexes were rarely captured at mounds other than their own. In contrast, during the breeding season females as well as males were significantly more likely to be captured away from their home mounds, most often at mounds belonging to adults of the opposite sex. Spooland-line tracking during the breeding season confirmed these results. Consistent with the expectation that they engage in competitive mate searching, adult males visited adult females' mounds significantly more than expected by chance and without regard to age, size, or relatedness. More surprisingly, adult females exhibited similar behavior, expanding their home ranges and disproportionately visiting the mounds of large adult males during the nights preceding estrus. Increased (and apparently directed) female mobility during the days preceding estms may serve as a means of shaping the pool of competing mates and is worthy of more attention in this and other, ecologically similar species.

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Influences of mating strategy on space use of Arizona gray squirrels

Cited by 11 publications

References 54 publications

Mating strategies of Pampean mouse males

Mating strategies of Pampean mouse males

Importance of scale in nest‐site selection by Arizona gray squirrels

Female mobility and the mating system of the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis)

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