Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Play Behavior And The Development Of Boldness And Caution In Juvenile Ground Squirrels, Madelene Shehan

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

We evaluated the relationship between play behavior and the development of boldness in juvenile Belding’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi). We observed the play behavior of juvenile U. beldingi, and conducted boldness tests at the beginning and toward the end of the developmental period during which play primarily occurs. Behavioral tests consisted of a researcher acting as an intruder, walking toward a juvenile, and noting the distance between the squirrel and intruder at which the juvenile first became aware of the intruder, and the distance at which the squirrel fled. The age of mothers was a significant predictor …