Effects of food and predators on the home-range sizes of Arctic ground squirrel ( Spermophilus parryii )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Hubbs, Anne H, Boonstra, Rudy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1998
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Yukon; Arctic ground squirrel
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z97-215; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z97-215

We used radiotelemetry to study the effects of food addition and predator reduction on the home-range sizes of adult Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) on large-scale experimental grids in the boreal forest of the southwestern Yukon Territory. Home ranges were 2-7 times smaller on food-supplemented grids than on nonsupplemented grids, regardless of whether large mammalian predators were present. Similarly, core areas (where 50% of activities occur) were 8-11 times smaller on food-supplemented grids. Food availability rather than predator presence primarily determined the sizes of home ranges and core areas of Arctic ground squirrels.