Spatial relationships and social organization of adult Richardson's ground squirrels

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail R. Michener
Keyword(s):  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Active Season ◽  
The Core ◽  
Uniform Dispersion ◽  
Usual Concept ◽  
Core Areas

The spacing patterns among a group of adult Spermophilus richardsonii were studied in 1975 and 1976. Major features of the social structure were as follows: relatively uniform dispersion of the Squirrels, overlap of ranges with overlap reaching a maximum after weaning of young and before hibernation, and dominance within the core area (defined as the area in which a squirrel concentrated 50% of its aboveground time). Although there was greater proximity among kin than among nonkin, each adult maintained a separate core area. Adult males played no role in assisting females to rear young, and males were dominant to females only when within their own core areas. Throughout the active season the size of the core area remained relatively constant at about 225 m2 and the average distance between a squirrel and its nearest neighbor remained at about 20–25 m. The core area differed from the usual concept of a territory in that it was characterized by reduced submission rather than increased aggression by the resident toward intruders.

Territoriality and dominance in male Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus)

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 2402-2412 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. O. Murie ◽  
M. A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Length Of Residence ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Spermophilus Columbianus ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Columbian Ground Squirrels ◽  
Spacing System

We describe the spacing system and associated aggressive behavior of male Columbian ground squirrels in southwestern Alberta for the 2 months following emergence from hibernation. Adult males (> 2 years old) were classified as dominant if they chased other males more than they were chased by them within their core areas and subordinate if the reverse was true. For dominant males, the proportion of interactions in which they were chased was much less within their core areas than outside them, and defended boundaries between some pairs of adjacent males were apparent from locations of chases and chase reversals. We consider these males to maintain spatiotemporal territories. For subordinate males, the proportion of interactions in which they were chased was similar inside and outside their core areas; they were subordinate in most interactions with any territorial male. Status (dominant–territorial or subordinate) was related to age. Most 2- and 3-year-old males were subordinate; all males of 4 years or older were territorial. Among different groups of male Columbian ground squirrels, variation in expression of the spacing system may depend on habitat features that affect visual contact among squirrels and age and length of residence of the males in the area.

Home-Range Size and Fidelity of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus Fuliginosus) Living in Remnants of Wandoo Woodland and Adjacent Farmland.

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
GW Arnold ◽  
DE Steven ◽  
A Grassia ◽  
J Weeldenburg
Keyword(s):  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
The Core ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Eucalyptus Wandoo ◽  
Older Males

The home ranges were studied from 1977 to 1981 of western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) living in a 300-ha remnant of wandoo [Eucalyptus wandoo] surrounded by farmland at Baker's Hill, Western Australia. The M. fuliginosus population varied from 140 to 200 animals during the study. In 1979, four females (>30 kg) and 2 adult males (31 kg and 47 kg) were fitted with radio-transmitters and their movements recorded. The home ranges of these animals varied from 39 to 70 ha; the average overlap in the area used during the day and that used at night was 16.4%. Many of the kangaroos fed on farmland at night. The night ranges of 51 marked kangaroos were recorded using a spotlight. The animals showed a strong fidelity to their home ranges. Only 3 males (about 5-yr-old) shifted their night ranges; the centres of the ranges moved only 600-800 m. Older males had significantly larger night ranges than younger males and females. Individual females and the younger males showed preferences for using particular access points to get onto farmland; the older males showed no preferences. The core areas of the night ranges of many adult females overlapped closely in 'groups', but there was no evidence of 'mob' home ranges that were socially separated.

Spatial ecology and core-area protection of Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 1098-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Congdon ◽  
O.M. Kinney ◽  
R.D. Nagle
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
High Probability ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Temporary Wetlands ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Protection Zone ◽  
Protection Zones ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Males And Females

We documented sizes of terrestrial protection zones around wetlands that are necessary to protect all of the core area of Blanding’s Turtles ( Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) on the Edwin S. George Reserve (ESGR) in southeastern Michigan. Data collected over three decades indicated that 39% of the 83 females and 50% of the 60 males maintained the same residence wetland for more than 20 years, and 33% of the 182 nonresident females used nesting areas on the ESGR for more than 20 years. Approximately 20% of resident males and females were captured in 21 temporary wetlands on the ESGR. Nesting areas were located from 100 to 2000 m from residence wetlands, and some of 45 females (18%) used up to six different nesting areas, some separated by >1000 m. Terrestrial protection zones 300 and 450 m around all wetlands (residence and temporary) protect 90% and 100% of nests, respectively. Terrestrial protection zones of 300, 1000, and 2000 m around residence wetlands only are required to protect 14%, 87%, and 100% of adults, respectively. A protection zone that encompasses the activities of most or all Blanding’s Turtles has a high probability of including the core areas of most other semiaquatic organisms.

scholarly journals Social organization in a North African ground squirrel

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 670-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemarie van der Marel ◽  
Jane M Waterman ◽  
Marta López-Darias
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cape Ground Squirrel

Abstract Research on sociality in temperate ground-dwelling squirrels has focused on female philopatry and other life history trade-offs, which are influenced by constraints in the duration of the active growing season. Temperate ground-dwelling squirrels that experience high predation pressure, are large in body size, and have a short active season, show a more complex social organization. In contrast, African ground squirrels are active year-round, suggesting that instead of a short active season, distinct selective pressures influence their social organization. We examined the social organization of Barbary ground squirrels, Atlantoxerus getulus, and compared the social organization of temperate and African ground-dwelling sciurids. Anecdotal accounts on Barbary ground squirrels’ social organization suggested that they were either solitary or gregarious, or live in small family groups. We recorded the group size, composition, cohesion, and genetic relatedness, of the population on the arid island of Fuerteventura, Spain. Our data indicate that females live in small (1–8) all-female kin groups separate from adult males, and that unrelated adult males share sleeping burrows with immature individuals of either sex. We observed sex-biased dispersal with males primarily the dispersing sex and females primarily philopatric. Females sleep solitarily during gestation and lactation and nest either communally or singly after juvenile emergence. During the day, males and females can be active in the same area. Barbary ground squirrels are social because the squirrels share sleeping burrows and show spatiotemporal overlap. Barbary ground squirrels’ social organization resembles that of the closely related Cape ground squirrel rather than that of the temperate ground-dwelling sciurids, although the former are more temperate, seasonal breeders. In addition to describing the social organization of a previously unstudied species, this paper sheds light on the ecological drivers of sociality, and the evolution of distinct social organizations in ground-dwelling sciurids.

scholarly journals Mortality in relation to season, age, sex, and reproduction in Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus)

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Neuhaus ◽  
N Pelletier
Keyword(s):  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Life History Data ◽  
Spermophilus Columbianus ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Maternal Survival ◽  
Mortality Increase ◽  
Columbian Ground Squirrels

We investigated the timing of and age at mortality in Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) in relation to sex and reproductive status. Life-history data were collected from 1994 to 1999 in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada. We predicted increased mortality for males during mating and for females during lactation. Further, we expected reproductively successful females to have higher mortality than females that did not reproduce successfully. Finally we assumed that at some age reproductive success of females would decrease and mortality increase because of old age. For both sexes, survival over winter was high (ca. 90%) for adults. While there was a significant increase in mortality of adult males during the mating season, females did not have higher mortality during lactation than during the rest of the active season. Reproductive status influenced mortality in females: non-reproducing females had a higher chance of surviving than reproducing females. Females that weaned young were more likely to die after the weaning period than females that lost their litter during lactation. There was a positive correlation between maternal survival and survival of offspring to yearling age. Our results showed evidence of trade-offs between reproduction and survival of male and female Columbian ground squirrels.

scholarly journals Street Trading and Condition of Sidewalk Space in the Core Area of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
J. T. Owolabi ◽  
O. A. Bamisaiye ◽  
O. O. Ojo ◽  
A. A. Shittu
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Core Area ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Core ◽  
Street Trading ◽  
Engineering Designs ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Core Areas

The paper assessed street trading and condition of sidewalk space in the core area of Ado Ekiti. A total of 200 copies of questionnaire were administered altogether. The copies of questionnaire were administered to the people in the core area of the city as well as street traders. Data analysis was done with descriptive analysis method with the use of frequency table and percentage table. Findings revealed that sidewalk space in the core area of Ado Ekiti is not adequate. The study further revealed that majority of the sidewalk spaces in the core are of Ado Ekiti can be considered narrow; which is a result of the low level of concentration of the engineering designs of the road during the construction phase. Most especially in areas such as Matthew Street, old garage among others, the width of the space allocated for sidewalks are often very narrow among others. It is recommended that there should be development of the rural areas as there is high rate of inequality of in the distribution of resources and facilities that facilities development. If the rural areas are developed, there will be lesser population concentration in the core areas. It is also recommended that government at all levels should ensure the creation of neighborhood market in several towns and villages as well as different neighborhood in the urban centres as this will foster the decongestion of core areas of urban centres among others.

scholarly journals Strategies for Improving Urban Fabric in Core Area of Mysore City

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 3262-3267
Keyword(s):  
Focal Point ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Urban Fabric ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The Core ◽  
Heritage Buildings ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
The City

The core of historical cities in India is complex areas; having historical urban fabric symbolizing the origins of the city usually endowed with significant heritage buildings and serving as a place of identity for the entire city. The core of Mysore is one such historical and prime heritage city in India. The city is known as the ‘city of palaces’. The City of Mysore originated as a small nucleus with Ambavilas palace as the focal point and has expanded around the palace as when required. The origination point is currently the core area which is the oldest city part having many prevailing heritage buildings. The core of Mysore has historic urban fabric and exhibits unique characteristics that contribute significantly to the good imageability of the city. The core is in the phase of transformation due to rapid urbanization. The disharmonious developments have resulted in the loss historical urban fabric and character, thus tarnishing the image of the city. The methodology for the study is based on field survey adopting visual survey method for data collection by techniques like photography, diagrams or maps and analyzing various literatures to comprehend the elements of urban fabric, historic evolution, growth and development of urban core areas. The paper attempts to analyze the urban fabric of Mysore core, factors affecting and suggest strategies and measures for improving the urban fabric for conserving the character of city core. The paper also intends to emphasize on challenges of core areas undergoing constant pressure of transformation prone to consequential effects of urbanization resulting in loss of character. The proposed strategies are some of the tools and techniques that could be adopted by urban designer, planner, and local planning authorities in improving the urban fabric of core area.

Full-Field Deformation Measurement via one Element Q-DIC

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 183-188
Author(s):  
Xiao Chuan Zhang ◽  
Jin Long Chen ◽  
Nan Zhan
Keyword(s):  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
Image Correlation ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Bending Test ◽  
Full Field ◽  
Three Point Bending ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Measured Deformation

Based on the principle of quadrilateral element digital image correlation (Q-DIC) method, this paper proposes one element Q-DIC method, which takes the region used to correlation calculation as one element of the finite element method (FEM). Simulated images are used to verify the accuracy of this method. Since the pixel points with the maximum error are located at the node or on the boundary of the element, measured deformation of the core area (area surrounding the center point of the calculation region with a smaller size) is taken as the reliable measured value. Comparison of one element Q-DIC with various displacement hypotheses shows that the key to improve the measurement accuracy which is choosing the suitable displacement hypothesis. The region of interest (ROI) is divided into several core areas. Then, the full-field deformation of ROI could be obtained by interpolating the measured deformation of the core area. One element Q-DIC is used to measure the elastic constants of polycarbonate. And a three-point bending test is used to verify the performance of one element Q-DIC. The measured deformation is in accordance with the numerical simulation. The method proposed in this paper has a widely prospect for the practical application.

Evaluating Weaving Section Designs Using INTEGRATION

1996 ◽  
Vol 1555 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stewart ◽  
M. Baker ◽  
M. Van Aerde
Keyword(s):  
Design Procedure ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
The Core ◽  
Current Design ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Levels Of Service

The current design procedure shown in Calculation 6 of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) requires an exhaustive analysis of a family of possible solutions. The design is selected on the basis of minimum speeds of weaving and nonweaving vehicles for different levels of service. In this paper the use of the INTEGRATION modeling tool to evaluate the same family of possible solutions is examined. Because INTEGRATION has the ability to determine volumes in addition to speeds, it was used to select the design solution based on the ratio of demand volume to capacity. Both procedures determined that five-lane Type B weaving sections greater than 610 m (2,000 ft) in length would provide level-of-service C for the origin-destination demand pattern found in Example Calculation 6 in Chapter 4 of the HCM. Analysis of the design results also showed that the number of lanes in the core area was the most critical factor in determining weaving section capacity. The length of the core area was also found to have an impact but was less important as core length increased. Finally, the type of weaving section was found to have the least impact on capacity, especially at core areas longer than 305 m (1,000 ft).

Seasonal activity and body mass of Columbian ground squirrels

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1364-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Stephen Dobson ◽  
Michael J. Badry ◽  
Christine Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Spermophilus Columbianus ◽  
High Elevations ◽  
Columbian Ground Squirrels ◽  
Plant Growing Season

Recent research on Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) has invoked the lengths of the active season and plant growing season to explain differences in life history and social behaviours among populations at different elevations. We evaluated an assumption of these studies that the active season for individual ground squirrels is significantly shorter at high than at low elevation. Adult males and females were active for about 100 days at low elevation and about 86 days at high elevation. Juvenile ground squirrels also had a longer active season at low (50 days) than at high elevation (45 days), but for yearlings the active season was similar (about 87 days). The active season for adults was about 2 weeks shorter than the plant growing season at low elevation, but up to 2 weeks longer than the plant growing season at high elevation. Differences in body mass of adult ground squirrels between low and high elevations at spring emergence from hibernation and at fall immergence into hibernation were consistent with a shorter active season and lower annual energy intake at high elevation, where adults were generally lighter. Examination of rates of weight gain during the active season showed that differences in adult weight could be explained by the length of the active season, but that yearlings and juveniles grew more rapidly at low than at high elevation. These results support the assumption that the active season for individual ground squirrels is generally shorter at high than at low elevation.

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