Behavioral strategies of golden-mantled ground squirrels, <i>Callospermophilus lateralis</i>
Abstract
Observational studies of behavior provide insight into the fitness consequences of varying behavioral strategies in mammals. The behavior of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Callospermophilus lateralis, GMGS), an asocial hibernating species, is constrained by the energetic demands of reproduction, predator avoidance, and a short active season. This study used activity budgets, compiled through daily observations of the GMGS population in Gothic, Colorado throughout the active seasons of 2015 and 2016, to quantify responses to variations in demands for survival across ages and sexes. The percentages of time spent alert and foraging were examined in four groups: adult males, adult females, all adults, and juveniles. The activity budgets of reproductive females were also compared to those of non-reproductive females. Juveniles were found to spend a significantly greater portion of their time foraging than adults (P < 0.01). This effect may be due to the time-constrained pressure to store fat for hibernation. Adult females spent more time alert than males (P = 0.02), and reproductive females spent more time alert than non-reproductive females (P = 0.03). While other behavioral comparisons (foraging ~ sex, foraging ~ reproductive status, alertness ~ age) were not significant, there appears to be a correlation between average body mass and alertness in juvenile males. Future studies might focus on comparisons of temporal variability in activity between different age and sex classes of GMGS in order to account for reproduction-driven fluctuations in behavior and body mass during the active season.
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References (21)
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