Habitat use and population density of the red squirrel, <i>Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis</i>, in the Sila Grande mountain range (Calabria, South Italy)

Cagnin, Mara; Aloise, Gaetano; Fiore, Fabiola; Oriolo, Vincenzo; Wauters, Luc A.

doi:10.1080/11250000009356299

Cited by 28 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Home-range sizes of all species (Sciurus carolinensis, n = 11; S. niger, n = 9; S. vulgaris, n = 12) were positively related to woodlot size for both males (F 1,33 = 37.90, P < 0.0001, R 2 = 0.542) and females Williams, 1936;Baumgartner, 1939Baumgartner, , 1943Moore, 1957;Flyger, 1960;Brink, 1964;Cordes, 1965;Taylor, 1966;Smith, 1967;Wood, 1967;Mosby, 1969;Barkalow, Hamilton & Soots, 1970;Geeslin, 1970;Kemp & Keith, 1970;Cordes & Barkalow, 1972;Silva, 1972;Erossy, 1973;McCloskey, 1975;Adams, 1976;Whitehead, 1976;Fancy, 1981;Manski, Van Druff & Flyger, 1981;Nixon, Havera & Hansen, 1984;Herkert, 1985;Koprowski, 1985;Wauters & Dhondt, 1985Sullivan & Moses, 1986;Weigl et al, 1989;Kantola & Humphrey, 1990;Andren & Delin, 1994;Wauters et al, 1994aWauters et al, ,b, 2001Shuttleworth, 1996;Halliwell, 1997;Münch, 1998;Delin & Andren, 1999;Smith, 1999;Cagnin et al, 2000;Cartmel, 2000;Magris & Gurnell, 2002. (F 1,33 = 36.43, P < 0.0001, R 2 = 0.532...…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The response of tree squirrels to fragmentation: a review and synthesis

Koprowski

2005

Animal Conservation

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Habitat fragmentation is often considered a major threat to biodiversity; however, our understanding of how fragmentation impacts populations is poor. Identifying appropriate models for such studies is difficult. Tree squirrels are dependent on mature forests for food, cover and nests; these are habitats that are being fragmented rapidly and that are easily defined by humans. Squirrels represent excellent models for study of fragmentation. The literature on tree squirrels was reviewed to glean data on density and home-range size in forest fragments. Sufficient data were available on four species (Sciurus carolinensis, S. niger, S. vulgaris, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Density was negatively related to fragment size for S. carolinensis and S. niger and marginally so for T. hudsonicus. Sciurus vulgaris did not exhibit this relationship. Home-range size was analysed for three species of Sciurus and was positively related to forest fragment size for S. carolinensis and S. niger. Again, only S. vulgaris did not to show this relationship. Sciurus vulgaris is rarely found in small forest fragments and is believed to be especially sensitive to fragmentation; other tree squirrels appear to be sensitive to fragmentation in more subtle ways. Home range compaction provides a mechanism by which densities may increase in small fragments. The demographic consequences resultant from the high densities of squirrels found in small woodlots are not known but may explain the forest damage, avian nest predation and reduced diversity often cited to occur in woodland fragments.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The response of tree squirrels to fragmentation: a review and synthesis

Koprowski

2005

Animal Conservation

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“…, 1964). It is often a dominant conifer and an important food resource for crossbills and Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris L.) (Cagnin et al. , 2000; Molinari et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coevolution between crossbills and black pine: the importance of competitors, forest area and resource stability

BENKMAN,

PARCHMAN

2009

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Studies of predator-prey interactions have found that geographically structured coevolution has played an important role in the adaptive diversification of crossbills (Loxia spp.). We extend those studies by considering common crossbills (L. curvirostra) in the Mediterranean where they rely on seeds in the cones of black pine (Pinus nigra). On the continent, where tree squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are present, enhanced defenses against crossbills were most evident in larger areas of pine forest. On islands in the absence of tree squirrels, crossbills and black pine have coevolved in a predator-prey arms race on Cyprus but not Corsica. In contrast to other conifers that island endemic crossbills rely upon, black pine does not hold seeds in its cones year round. Consequently, key to the strong crossbill-pine interaction on Cyprus is likely the presence of an alternative conifer that provides seeds during early summer when black pine seeds are scarce.

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“…The relatively small number of observed individuals is due to comparatively low squirrel densities (\0.1 animals/ha) in suburban coniferous forests in north-central Greece, with extended forested areas entirely lacking signs of squirrel presence (Wauters and Dhondt 1988;Lurz et al 1995Lurz et al , 2005Cagnin et al 2000). The animals were not trapped, but individual and sex identification was feasible through continuous observation by considering the external genitalia, the use of the different dreys (n = 12) and the utilization of relatively distinct, but partly overlapping forest areas.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arboreal locomotor and postural behaviour of European red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.) in northern Greece

Youlatos

Σαμαράς

2010

J Ethol

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The study of the locomotion and postures of arboreal squirrels may provide important contextual information on the evolution of the morphology and ecology of sciurids. In this context, we studied the positional behaviour and habitat use of four adult European red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.) in a mixed coniferous forest in northern Greece. Our results show that, during the study period, S. vulgaris extensively used the forest canopy and the terminal branch zone. The use of small and medium supports of all orientations was also particularly frequent. The positional profile of the species was characterized by the dominance of quadrupedal, clawed and airborne locomotion along with seated and standing postures. Quadrupedalism and sitting appeared to promote terminal branch use for food access and manipulation, while claw climbing favored vertical ranging and retreat to trees after terrestrial foraging. Finally, leaping reduced energetic costs during travelling between food sites within the relatively dispersed forest. These results and those of previous research on the positional behaviour of other squirrels reveal several trends related to body size, arboreal or gliding habits and tropical or temperate forest distribution and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary novelty in multiple levels within the sciurid radiation.

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Habitat use and population density of the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis, in the Sila Grande mountain range (Calabria, South Italy)

Cited by 28 publications

References 20 publications

The response of tree squirrels to fragmentation: a review and synthesis

The response of tree squirrels to fragmentation: a review and synthesis

Coevolution between crossbills and black pine: the importance of competitors, forest area and resource stability

Arboreal locomotor and postural behaviour of European red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.) in northern Greece

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