The northern flying squirrel: a mycophagist in southwestern Oregon

Abstract

Fecal samples were collected over 27 months from the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw)), a mycophagist in the Pacific Northwest portion of its range. Nine genera of hypogeous Basidiomycetes, 10 of hypogeous Ascomycetes, and 1 of hypogeous Zygomycetes were identified from fecal samples (hypogeous fungi fruit underground). The squirrel food habits generally paralleled the seasonal availability of the hypogeous fungi, but with notable exceptions. Our data demonstrate the functional diversity an individual species lends to its habitat when viewed in a functional context.

Truffle abundance and mycophagy by northern flying squirrels in eastern Washington forests

“…Fungi are the primary food of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and are important in the diet of Douglas' squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii), chipmunks (Tamias spp. ), and other small mammals (Fogel and Trappe, 1978;McIntire, 1984;Maser et al, 1986;Carey et al, 1999)-all important prey for avian and mammalian forest carnivores (Carey, 1993;Carey and Johnson, 1995). EMF form symbiotic relationships with trees and other vegetation in which trees supply carbon from photosynthesis to the fungi, and fungi facilitate uptake of essential minerals and nutrients from the soil by tree roots.…”

“…Much is known about EMF diversity (Fogel and Trappe, 1978;Luoma et al, 1991;North et al, 1997;Colgan et al, 1999;Smith et al, 2002) and rodent mycophagy (Fogel and Trappe, 1978;Maser et al, 1986;Carey, 1995;Carey et al, 1999) in wet Douglasfir forests in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) west of the Cascade Range crest. Others have studied relatively mesic mixed-conifer fir forests in the interior West Rosentreter et al, 1997;Currah et al, 2000;Pyare and Longland, 2001); but, there is scant data for dry low-elevation forests dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), dry Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), or dry grand fir (Abies grandis) plant associations outside of Arizona (States and Gaud, 1997).…”

Animal’s Functional Role in the Landscape

“…In places where these small mammals defecate they inoculate the soil with spores of mycorrhizal fungi that are essential for nutrient uptake of the trees. Thus, the small mammals essentially contribute to maintenance of the forests (Maser et al 1978a , b ;Kotter and Farentinos 1984a , b ;Maser et al 1985 ;Hayes et al 1986 ;Maser et al 1986 ;Maser and Maser 1987 ;Carey et al 1999 ). One gram of dried feces has been estimated to contain between 200 million and one billion spores (Kotter 1981a , b ).…”

Analyzing lichen indicator data in the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

“…In a typical southeastern forest, 20 to 60 lichen species are recorded in a single FIA plot sample (McCune et al 1997b). Lichens play numerous functional roles in temperate forest ecosystems (Nash 2008), including significant N-fixation and nutrient cycling (Pike 1978) and serving as forage for mammals and arthropods (Dawson et al 1987;Maser et al 1985Maser et al , 1986Rominger and Oldemeyer 1989;Servheen and Lyon 1989;Sharnoff and Rosentreter 2008).…”