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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Seasonal Body Temperature Fluctuations And Energetic Strategies In Free-Ranging Eastern Woodchucks, Carmen M. Salsbury Mar 2010

Seasonal Body Temperature Fluctuations And Energetic Strategies In Free-Ranging Eastern Woodchucks, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

During a 2-year period, radiotelemetry was used to continuously monitor body temperature ( T b) of free-ranging woodchucks (Marmota monax) in southeastern Pennsylvania. Hibernation was preceded by daily T b fluctuations ("test drops") of 2-4°C. During hibernation, woodchucks exhibited the characteristic pattern of torpor bouts. Time of arousals occurred randomly, but onset of torpor occurred predominantly between 1800 and 0000 h. Males had shorter hibernation periods (mean of 104.8 days) than did females (121.8 days). Males had shorter torpor bouts, but euthermic bouts were the same length as in females. Males also maintained higher T b during torpor. Overall, the …


The Distribution Of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Leaf Nests Within Forest Fragments In Central Indiana, Carmen M. Salsbury, Rebecca W. Dolan, Emily B. Pentzer Mar 2010

The Distribution Of Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Leaf Nests Within Forest Fragments In Central Indiana, Carmen M. Salsbury, Rebecca W. Dolan, Emily B. Pentzer

Carmen M. Salsbury

We examined the abundance and placement of leaf nests by fox squirrels in six urban woodlots in central Indiana ranging in size from 1.06 to 8.28 ha. Four of the woodlots were disturbed, or subject to extensive human impact, whereas the remaining two were nature preserves. We counted all leaf nests present in each woodlot and recorded nest tree characteristics. We then conducted a quantitative vegetation analysis of trees present and estimated percentages of herbaceous and shrub cover along a minimum of two 100 m transects at each site. Fox squirrels showed a preference to build nests in certain species …


Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographic And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, C A. Conner, B A. Douthitt, S C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury Mar 2010

Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographic And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, C A. Conner, B A. Douthitt, S C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of …


Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographica And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, Christopher A. Conner, Brooke A. Douthitt, Sean C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury Feb 2010

Movement And Habitat Use Of Two Aquatic Turtles (Graptemys Geographica And Trachemys Scripta) In An Urban Landscape, Travis J. Ryan, Christopher A. Conner, Brooke A. Douthitt, Sean C. Sterrett, Carmen M. Salsbury

Carmen M. Salsbury

Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of …


Reproductive Energetics Of Adult Male Yellow- Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris), Carmen M. Salsbury, K. B. Armitage Feb 2010

Reproductive Energetics Of Adult Male Yellow- Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris), Carmen M. Salsbury, K. B. Armitage

Carmen M. Salsbury

We examined the energy expenditure of adult male yellow-bellied marmots and its relationship to various female-defense characteristics critical to male reproductive success. Resting metabolic rates of males were estimated in the laboratory via oxygen-consumption analysis, and field metabolic rates were estimated using a doubly Labeled water technique. Male home-range size, number of females defended by males, dispersion of females in the habitat, and date into the active season were considered to be predictors of male energy expenditure in excess of maintenance costs (field metabolic rate minus resting metabolic rate). Energy expenditure was best explained by a defensibility index based on …