|
Article Excerpt
ABSTRACT
We investigated home-range size of the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in a forested riparian landscape peninsula in the Georgia Piedmont. Mean home-range size for males (0.74 ha) and for females (0.79 ha) did not differ significantly between sexes (W = 53.5, P = 0.59) but was considered smaller than most reported values in non-riparian, peninsular habitats.
Key Words: Forested riparian habitat. Glaucomys volans, home-range size, landscape peninsula, southern flying squirrel
INTRODUCTION
Several studies have examined population dynamics, patterns of movement, habitat use, food habits, and patterns of distribution of the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in forested habitats (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Although numerous studies have estimated home-range size of the southern flying squirrel (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), there is a paucity of information addressing the role of landscape patch size on flying squirrel home-range size. To address this need we conducted a long-term study focusing on home-range size of southern flying squirrels inhabiting a forested, riparian landscape peninsula. We hypothesized that a 14.2-hectare landscape peninsula composed of high-quality habitat would decrease home-range size of males and females compared to mean home-range size values reported in non-peninsular forest habitat types.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This investigation was conducted at the University of Georgia HorseShoe Bend Experimental Site, located in Clarke County, near Athens. Georgia (33[degrees]57'N, 83[degrees]23'W). The research site consisted of a 14.2-hectare forested riparian peninsula created by a meander of the North Oconee River. The North Oconee River is a fifth-order river (mean = 32.2 [+ or -] 3.4 SD meter width) at the site of this investigation (12). This site is dominated by water oak (Quercus nigra), white oak (Q. alba), river birch (Betula nigra), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The understory contains abundant green brier (Smilax), Japanese honeysuckle...
|
|
More articles from Georgia Journal of Science
A comparison of teaching college algebra courses in the morning versus..., June 22, 2009
Shorter communication tardigrades from Fayette County, Georgia.(Report..., June 22, 2009
Looking for additional articles?
Search our database of over 3 million articles.
Looking for more in-depth information on this industry?
Search our complete database of Industry & Market reports by text, subject, publication
name or publication date.
About Goliath
Whether you're looking for sales prospects, competitive information, company
analysis or best practices in managing your organization,
Goliath can help you meet your business needs.
Our extensive business information databases empower business
professionals with both the breadth and depth of credible,
authoritative information they need to support their business
goals. Whether it be strategic planning, sales prospecting,
company research or defining management best practices -
Goliath is your leading source for accurate information.
|
|
