Date of Award:
5-1978
Document Type:
Dissertation
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department:
Wildland Resources
Department name when degree awarded
Wildlife Ecology
Committee Chair(s)
David F. Balph
Committee
David F. Balph
Abstract
This research describes and analyzes the behavior of free-living Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) temporally, spatially and with reference to differences in sex, age, population density and habitat. In addition, the relationships between local meteorological parameters and time spent above ground are described and analyzed. The frequency of eight behaviors, feeding, moving, encounters, upright, motionless, grooming, nest gathering and calling, among ground squirrels was found to be labile, varying in frequency with time of day, period of the season, sex, age, population density and habitat, and varying in spatial distribution within the home range. The dominant behavior, feeding, was most frequent during the first and last two hours of the day and tended to occur within the home range core during these hours. During the midday periods home range use became more general and the frequency of the other behaviors increased as feeding frequency decreased. During periods of sexual activity (the beginning and end of the homeothermic season), male ground squirrels displayed high frequencies of encounters, moving and calling behaviors.
Checksum
1eb0c83c17834a2ffde552b124a87077
Recommended Citation
Morse, Thomas Earl, "A Description and Analysis of Behavior Patterns Among Uinta Ground Squirrels" (1978). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 2001.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/2001
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